The moment I picked up my Expo 2020 Passport, I knew my determined side would kick in. I wasn’t chasing any official contest, but I challenged myself to collect every single stamp, all 192 country pavilions, as quickly as possible.
Working on the Expo site and living in Expo Village gave me an edge, but it wasn’t always easy. What began as a personal challenge soon became an adventure that felt like exploring the entire world - one pavilion at a time.
The Challenge: 192 Stamps
Expo 2020 was the first World Expo where every participating nation had its own pavilion. Spread across three thematic districts, Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability, the grounds stretched over 4.4 square kilometers - about the size of New York's Central Park. At the center was Al Wasl Plaza, the engineering marvel that housed the world’s largest 360-degree projection dome - and the stage for the show we were there to work on.
From the beginning, I treated the site like the world’s greatest playground. But as determined as I was, there were challenges to overcome along the way.
The Pandemic Backdrop
Expo 2020 was postponed a year because of COVID, and by the time it opened in 2021, masks were mandatory. After 18 months of near-isolation, I suddenly found myself among thousands of people.
Every unmasked encounter spiked my anxiety, and mealtimes, when masks naturally came off, were the hardest. But I wasn’t about to give up.
Heat, Crowds, and Other Obstacles
If the pandemic wasn’t enough, there was also the small matter of the 40°C desert heat. It’s hard to imagine humidity that makes your fingers damp the moment you step outside, or sun so fierce it feels like your head is being eviscerated without a hat.
Thankfully, the season cooled as autumn set in. Even so, the combination of daily security checks, long line-ups, and the sheer size of the site meant every day was a marathon.
My original three-month assignment at Expo ended sooner than expected. I had mixed feelings since I would have loved to complete the project, but the unplanned free time gave me a rare chance to explore Expo, and Dubai, more deeply on my own. Not a bad trade-off.
Eating My Way Around the World
The pavilions were beautiful, but let’s be honest: a big part of Expo’s magic was the food. With nearly every pavilion offering a taste of home, you could eat your way around the globe in an afternoon.
Some of my favourites:
Croissants from the French Pavilion (my first stop)
Coffee-flavored croissants from Italy
Cornbread soup from Chile
Tender lamb in Slovakia
Belgian fries
The best mint chutney I’ve ever tasted, at the India Pavilion
I gave new meaning to the term “smart lunch,” spending most of my wages eating my way around the world. My favorite hangout quickly became the Monaco Pavilion terrace. It was shaded and quiet, with frothy cappuccinos and French pastries. From my table, I could watch tourists come and go while listening to the staff chat away in French. Bliss.
Pavilion Highlights & Human Moments
The pavilions themselves ranged from spectacular showstoppers to modest gems, but the moments that stayed with me most came from the people.
The UK Pavilion: Words for the Universe
The UK Pavilion, designed by British designer Es Devlin, was a cone-shaped wooden structure resembling a giant megaphone. Its façade featured illuminated slats displaying an AI-generated “poem” in real time, built from words contributed by visitors. Inspired by Stephen Hawking’s “Breakthrough Message” project, it asked what message humanity might send to other civilizations.
As I sat inside, I had a heavy-hearted moment thinking about my Aunt Gen who had passed away just days earlier. A kind staff member helped me choose three words to send into the universe in her honor: LOVE. GROWTH. MEMORY. It was one of the most moving moments of my time at Expo.
Moldova: A Country with Heart
Some pavilions dazzled with technology; others won hearts with simplicity. Moldova was the latter. Modest in scale but rich in spirit, it showcased the country's pottery, traditions, wine, and agriculture. One host told me: “Organic food may be trendy these days, but in Moldova, it’s always been a way of life.”
After the interesting tour, the friendly staff set me into an egg-shaped chair to watch Moldova’s award-winning VR film Aripi (Wings). It was unexpectedly moving - like floating through an astronaut’s dreams. Moldova proved you don’t need flashy screens to leave a lasting impression.
Showstoppers: UAE & Saudi Arabia
The UAE Pavilion drew inspiration from the nation's iconic falcon. Its striking architecture featured 28 movable wings that opened to reveal solar panels, embodying the UAE's commitment to sustainability. Inside, visitors embarked on a multi-sensory journey through Emirati culture, history, and future aspirations.
The Saudi pavilion was impossible to miss. It was a massive, slanted façade rising toward the sky, its mirrored exterior doubling as the world’s largest LED screen. Inside, a suspended curved walkway gave the effect that I was flying over Saudi Arabia where scenes shifted from a mosque and fields to a Formula 1 race. The pavilion didn’t just impress with scale and spectacle – it also broke several Guinness World Records.
Beyond Pavilions: Expo Moments
Expo wasn’t just buildings and stamps. Every day brought something unique and surprising. I attended a charity run led by Usain Bolt, saw dazzling drone shows, witnessed the World Chess Championship between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi, and teared up listening to Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke share stories from his 1972 moonwalk.
The site was alive with moments you couldn’t plan for; the kind that remind you why you travel in the first place.
The Final Stamp
Expo opened its doors on October 1st, and by October 23rd, I had collected 191 stamps. Only Uzbekistan remained.
When I arrived, I was told it wouldn’t open until November 1st. My heart sank.
Three days later, I tried again. The pavilion had quietly opened early, but was “closed for a private event.” So I waited, passport in hand, like a kid staring through a candy shop window.
When the doors finally opened, I stepped inside, found the counter, and watched as the staff member pressed that final, glorious stamp into my passport.
Since Uzbekistan had opened that very day, I was probably among the first people in the world to collect all 192 country pavilion stamps - Not that I’m competitive or anything.
From Expo to Expo City
Although Expo 2020 closed in March 2022, its legacy remains. The empty desert site is now Expo City Dubai; a permanent community built around sustainability and innovation. Visitors today can still walk under Al Wasl Plaza, explore Terra and Alif, or revisit the UAE and Saudi Pavilions that once drew record lines.
For me, the legacy isn’t just the site. It’s the memories. The thrill of chasing down stamps, the taste of coffee croissants, the words sent into the universe for my aunt, the conversations with proud pavilion hosts.
Expo proved that when the world opens its doors, anything is possible.
A few Extras:
