Expo City Dubai has revealed a rich calendar of events as it announced that Al Wasl Plaza – the beating heart of the community – has set the Guinness World Records™ title for the largest interactive immersive dome at 24,038 sqm. Al Wasl is a beautiful 360° translucent structure that was also the main centerpiece of Dubai Expo 2020.
Among its latest offerings is a new, groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) experience, with visitors soon able to interact with the Al Wasl dome through their mobile phones. The venue for Expo 2020’s spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as multi-sensory performances by local and international stars such as Nancy Ajram and Coldplay, Al Wasl Plaza can now count the Guinness World Records™ title among its many achievements.
Alwaleed Osman, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records™ said: “Al Wasl Plaza stands as a testament to architectural excellence and a distinguished structure that resonates with those who have had the privilege of experiencing it. Its recognition in Guinness World Records™ underscores the commitment of Expo 2020, and the subsequent Expo City Dubai, to innovation and excellence.”
Amna Abulhoul, Executive Creative Director, Events & Entertainment, Expo City Dubai, said: “Al Wasl, which means ‘connection’ in Arabic, continues to bring people together, and we are thrilled to share details of our new experiences at the same time as our iconic interactive dome has received this prestigious recognition. From interactive augmented reality and a tribute to legendary explorer Ibn Battuta to the launch of a sustainable café and the return of our popular Winter City and Hai Ramadan festivities, our upcoming offerings cement our city as a hub of creativity, innovation, and well-being.”
Rows of speakers are embedded in the structure, which has a 130-meter diameter, to maximize the concert sound quality.
During a hugely popular concert last year, towering holograms of BTS, the biggest K-pop band, flickered across the dome as the Korean stars sang with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Al Wasl, the 67-metre-tall steel trellis has been the backdrop for captivating visual effects over the past two years. Designed by Adrian Smith Gordon Gill Architecture, the trellis pattern of the dome is inspired by a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age ring found in the UAE.
