This African country makes the list of Coolest Country Pavilions at #Expo2020Dubai

The coolest country pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai:

Australia

Get ready to say G’day to the men and women from the Land Down Under. Australia’s Expo 2020 pavilion comes complete with music stage at the very entrance, meaning we can expect plenty of live performances, musicians and dancers to throughout the six-month run of the world fair. Talk about putting talent front and centre.

Belgium

The Belgian pavilion mirrors the country’s reputation of being the powerhouse of European mobility. But the key talking point here is the lush Green Arch exterior that champions biomimicry, a concept whereby solutions to modern day issues are modelled on nature. Visually it’s an absolute stunner and truly pays testament to the fair’s principles of sustainability. 

China

Dubai loves to do things large, and so does China. Boasting the largest country pavilion at the show, China’s impressive pavilion has floated into town in the shape of a traditional lantern. It is home to a fusion of ancient innovations cast in a modern light, but it is after dark that this behemoth structure comes to life, delivering a dazzling digital light show on its façade.

Cuba

Rumba music. Vintage cars. Sensational beaches. Cuba is known for lots of things, and one of our favourites is a certain mixed drink that has made its way onto bar menus across the globe. Head to the Cuban pavilion at Expo 2020 and you’ll be able to try a faux mixed drink version of the sweet, minty beverage while you learn about the history of the sugar cane capital of the world through a collaborative game. Once you’re refreshed and well-versed in Cuban history, you’ll also get to learn to dance the nation’s iconic cha-cha-cha in an enlivening true South American experience. Consider it a holiday without the air miles.

Finland

An Arabic tent made of snow. That’s how the Finland pavilion is being billed and, in homage to the host nation, the Finns have delivered a mightily cool design. The sweeping, drape-like exterior mimics a curtain opening, which we think is a pretty apt nod to the curtain raising on this blockbuster event at long last.

Hungary

Hungary has more thermal hot springs than any other country in Europe, and that fact is something that is championed all throughout this H20-centric pavilion. Guests can dip into an interactive exhibition showcasing Hungary's unique water resources, curative waters, bathing culture and balneology. We think the mushroom-cap-style architecture will make a splash, too.

Jamaica

Shipping containers take the centre stage at Jamaica’s spontaneous street party-style pavilion. Guests here will come face to face with some of the nation’s greatest sports people (fingers crossed Bolt himself is racing into town in the next six months) as you learn their stories and revel in the country’s rich art and history. But it’s not just in the arena where the Caribbean island has struck gold. Inside the music studio, tune into the likes of Bob Marley and celebrate the nation’s inimitable rhythm.

Luxembourg

Easily one of Expo’s most aesthetically appealing pavilions, Luxembourg’s space is designed to reflect the country’s ideas of openness, taking the shape of a Möbius ribbon, an infinite form. And get this: within the exhibit, if you aren’t in the mood to go down a flight of stairs, you take a slide that sends you straight to the pavilion’s ground floor. In fact, it’s the only pavilion offering this brilliant alternative to merely walking down the stairs, and we love the innovation.

Monaco

Expo visitors, start your engines. Monaco has made use of a sense-spinning kaleidoscope design to explore art, culture and innovation. Just by looking around, visitors can go on a Grand Prix of the famed sovereign city-state. To learn more about the natural side of things, passers through can pull into the pavilion’s Garden of Opportunities and immerse themselves in the country’s sunny climate and peak into what the future holds.

Seychelles

Many of the exhibitions and installations we’ve tipped so far have been land-based. So why not take a deep dive into the aquatic side of things? At the Seychelles pavilion guests can go on a treasure hunt below the waves. A strong theme of preservation accompanies visitors through the swell, and the hunt if as engaging as it is enriching.

Singapore

Swing by the Singapore Pavilion and you’ll be hard pressed to find where the architecture begins and the nature ends. It’s a veritable viridescent scene that’s more tropical rainforest than pavilion and arrives in the UAE with the message that architecture should be an extension of nature. It looks wild, and we’re betting it is.

South Korea

Like much of the world around us, the infrastructure surrounding the South Korean pavilion changes as time goes on. During the day, bright hues of red and yellow illuminate the tent-like structure, but in the evening, the pavilion takes on a new complexion as bursts of blue and pink light up the night. Inside, visitors can experience so-called wonder walks to experience South Korea’s developments in science and technology through augmented reality. You’ll find Time Out here pretty early on in proceedings.

The Netherlands

A cone-shaped vertical farm really sets the Dutch pavilion apart, and also gives it one of the smallest footprints in the entire Expo roster. The mushrooms sprouting in the farm will be used for anything from nutrition to construction. Tenders will be keeping the plants fit and healthy with the help or a revolving ladder that scales the cone. Well worth watching the watering process.

Tanzania

Home to Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, Tanzania is a popular destination for adventure tourists. Now, everyone can embark on a lifetime in the country’s Expo 2020 pavilion, all without having to set foot on an aeroplane. Try to spot some of the nation’s most elusive animals on a virtual safari, or take a bird’s eye view of the Tanzanian fields. It’s the only place at Expo 2020 to spot an elephant whetting its whistle.

The Plus

This is our favourite pavilion to date – even as much as we love floppy-eared elephants taking a drink. Potato chip brand Lay’s has teamed up with Pepsi to bring The Plus pavilion to Expo 2020. Inside, along with being surrounded by the tasty snack, guests can learn all about the history of the humble potato chip, and its journey from the farmer’s hand to crunchy crisps in a bag, as well as the recycling possibilities each bag brings. Similar to the bubbles in a can of soda, the pavilion’s Equalization Zone will seek to inspire those visiting to rise to the occasion, and advocates for gender equality through a sensorial football interaction. Drink it in.

UAE

The final entry on this list but by far and away the most important pavilion you need to visit on your Expo exploration. The UAE pavilion showcases Emirati achievements (from construction the world’s tallest building to reaching Mars) and culture, and is set over four enchanting storeys.

Glad Tanzania Pavilion made the Time Out Dubai list, but in my view, also look out for Qatar, Saudi, Malaysia, USA, and Thailand Pavilions.

The Malaysia Pavilion was one of the best 3 at the #Expo2015 held in Italy.