As the build up to next years much anticipated Expo 2020 gathers pace, not one but six mascots have been unveiled, inspired by the UAE’s history.
Two intrepid Emirati siblings, a brother and sister, a Ghaf tree with magical powers and three "robo-guardians” are the mascots for Expo 2020 Dubai, and will go on a journey through time and space to discover the meaning behind World Expo.
One of the siblings Latifa, is an eight-year-old who has dreams and aspirations of becoming one of the world’s greatest inventors. The confident young girl spends her time with her chemistry set and dismantling gadgets to see how they work. With a thirst for knowledge, Latifa is always looking to learn something new and shares what she discovers with others around her.
Rashid is Latifa’s nine-year-old brother who has an interest in all things related to the the environment and as well as poetry, drawing and tales passed down through the generations.
The third mascot is a desert-dwelling Ghaf tree that is hundreds of years old called Salama. The magical tree that over looks the site of World Expo is known for her storytelling knowledge of the culture and history of the UAE.
A series of short films of the mascots will be made over the next 12 months which will show Latifa and Rashid embarking on exciting adventures guided by the other three mascots, their "robo-guardians” Opti, Alif and Terra, representing the three subthemes of Expo 2020 - Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
The first video on the series, Winds of Change, can now be seen.
Expo 2020 is set to start on 20 October 2020 and run for 6 months to 10 April 2021, and will attract over 25 million visits with over 70% expected to be from outside the UAE. It is the first time World Expo will be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions and will welcome participants from 192 different nations.
