True stories and accounts of women leading the way in sustainable development, human and social development, human dignity, and solidarity from various parts of the Arab and Islamic world. Moderated by Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division, UN Department of Global Communications, this programme will highlight the catalytic role women in Islam have played for centuries to ensure women from across the world reach new heights.

How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development in the Region and the World

Women in Arabia & Islam Travel & Connectivity Week

True stories and accounts of women leading the way in sustainable development, human and social development, human dignity and solidarity from various parts of the Arab and Islamic world.

Dr Jemilah Mahmood (virtual), Professor and Director Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Malaysia, Maher Nasser (L), Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Global Communications and moderator, Maya (C), Managi

Huda Jawad, Feminist and Activist, Co-Director of Musawah during the Women in Arabia and Islam event - How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development at the Women’s Pavilion m35247

Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Global Communications and moderator speaks during the Women in Arabia and Islam event - How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development at the Women’s Pavilion

Maya, Managing Director and CEO of the Amanie Advisors’ Global Office, Dubai speaks during the Women in Arabia and Islam event - How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development at the Women’s Pavilion m35243

Image Gallery

Inside Expo_New

Opportunity I: The Global Goals and Expo 2020

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are our global blueprint for a better world, a collective ambition for equal opportunities for all. During the week, Expo will showcase not just how far we have come, but also how we can join forces and unite to achieve this international roadmap. In addition, the Global Goals Week will shed light on best practices in last-mile delivery, livelihood and the women and girls agenda. 

A Global Stage for the SDGs

global-goals-theme-week-800x450n

What do we need to do together today for a better world in 2030?

Global Goals Week

Women in Arabia and Islam | How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development in the Region and the World

World Expos have always been meeting places for people across cultures and geographies; an opportunity to come together and celebrate human ingenuity and forge meaningful human connections. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and with the participation of more than 192 countries, Expo 2020 Dubai looks to take this legacy even further. The Build Bridges track of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that celebrate our common humanity and the vital connections that can help us prosper together as a worldwide community.

Knowing One Another Better

Build Bridges image

Build Bridges 

Build Bridges Icon

In partnership with the Women's Pavilion, Ewaa - the Abu Dhabi Centre for Sheltering and Humanitarian Care - will mark Human Rights Day 2021 with a selection of special programming. Events will include a keynote speech by HE Sarah Shuhail, Director General of Ewaa, a panel discussion on Ewaa as a model for enforcing equality and promoting Human Rights, and a slam poetry session with Emirati poet Salem Al Attas.

Human Rights Day with Ewaa

Human Rights The Future

Ewaa - the Abu Dhabi Centre for Sheltering and Humanitarian Care - mark Human Rights Day 2021 with a selection of special programming in partnership with the Women's Pavilion.

Inside Expo: The Brave Women

Women's Pavilion - Audio Guide

Women's Pavilion 1

stamp Womens

Women's Pavilion Image gallery

Women make tremendous contributions to the world, yet many remain unknown or forgotten. The Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier at Expo 2020 challenges this imbalance by taking visitors on a journey through the remarkable achievements of women across the globe. Our showcase underscores the principle that “When women thrive, all of humanity thrives”.

The pavilion showcases the exceptional accomplishments of women, world-famous and unknown. Immerse yourself in the triumphs of women through history, discover the journeys women have taken to claim their equality and dive into the stories of the inspirational women shaping our future.


Globe-spanning tour of women’s achievements and ongoing challenges

Multisensory exhibition created by actor/artist Mélanie Laurent and Emirati artists

Majlis-inspired social space for live conversations and events

Women's 

WP LOGOMARK B-W-01

Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Women’s Pavilion serves as a catalyst for social transformation, both in Dubai and far beyond. By championing exceptional women, it aims to inspire dialogue, shatter gender misconceptions, and leave a lasting legacy of positive change for women worldwide.

20211002 CARTIER WP PAVILION Victor Picon Victor&Simon-0030

inspiring change

Championing women, 

Women's Pavilion 

Her Excellency Sara Shuhail, General Director, EWAA Shelters for Women and Children and keynote speaker during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17801

Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17798

Her Excellency Bushra Al Mulla, Executive Director of Community Develpment Sector during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17794

Fatima Al Qemzi, Founder, Seven Wellness speaks during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17799

Asareh Ebrahimpour, Dubai based Artist produces artwork during Outlier Series Ewaa – Elimination of Violence Against Women at Women-s Pavilion m13423

His Excellency Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development UAE speaks during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17795

Mahine Rizvi Ahmad (L), Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai and Donya Sabri (R), Social Science Researcher and Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai during Outlier Series Ewaa – Elimination of Violence Against Women at Women-s

Maitha AlMazrouei, Speaksduring the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17791

Neli Hristova, Co-Founder and Sound Healer, Seven Wellness demonstrate during the Outlier Series Ewaa - Women-s Pavilion Event m17800

Human Rights Day aims to ensure human dignity through the guarantee of opportunity and hope for all. It is a celebration that focuses on facilitating access to service provision and the basic rights of every individual. Co-curated with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Human Rights Day at Expo 2020 Dubai will convene experts, thought leaders, youth, policymakers, innovators and changemakers to discuss best practices and success stories in taking a rights-based approach to the Sustainable Development Goals, while considering what we can all do to supercharge a better 2030 for people and the planet.

Human Rights Day

Ewaa: Moments of Pride: Standing Up for Human Rights

Under the title “New Perspectives”, the Women’s World Majlis programme invites you to recognise a fundamental principle: when women thrive, humanity thrives.

The programme highlights the impact women have made on society and shines a light on their often forgotten contributions. By shifting perspectives, we embrace the infinite approaches to a more balanced world.

A common vision for a unique collaboration; sustainable development goals and aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous world cannot be achieved without gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Sharing this vision, Expo 2020 Dubai and Cartier celebrate women changemakers around the globe, asserting our conviction that innovative collaboration between the private sector, civil society and committed individuals is the pathway to meaningful change.

Description

Women's Pavilion

When women thrive, humanity thrives. A common vision for a unique collaboration.

Women’s Pavilion Majlis

WP Logo

This event aims to create awareness around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlight the need for increased commitments to deliver on the promise of the Decade of Action. Only through partnerships, locally, regionally and globally will we be able to achieve the Global Goals.

Here, we will celebrate how far we have come and the progress that has been made so far, whilst observing areas where progress has stalled or, in some cases, regressed due to the pandemic. The Goals hold the solutions needed to help the world recover better from COVID and we will explore and highlight the role innovation, businesses and governments have to play in accelerating progress and advancing the Global Goals in the coming decade.

Get a broad overview of the Goals and take a deeper dive into some of the most urgent and prominent issues the world is currently facing on a global scale, including Gender Inequality and the Climate Crisis. We will hear from key voices on these issues, and discuss the facts and solutions around them so as to inspire action.

The Goals are the Answer

Global Goals for All

Creating awareness, celebrating progress and accelerating action towards a better world by 2030.

Amina J. Mohammed is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Mohammed served as Minister of Environment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where she steered the country’s efforts on climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment. Ms. Mohammed first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the responsibility for post-2015 development planning. She led the process that resulted in global agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

image

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

Amina J. Mohammed

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy was sworn in as Minister of State in the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates in February 2008. She was appointed to her current role as UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation in February 2016. 

Her Excellency is additionally responsible for managing the UAE Vice President’s Office of Political Affairs.

Her Excellency holds the post of Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

Her Excellency chairs the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, which leads the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals in the UAE, aligning them with the UAE’s national development priorities. 

HE Reem Al Hashimy

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy

HE Mariam

Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, United Arab Emirates

H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed bin Saeed Hareb Almheiri

As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates shapes and approves foundation strategies, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and sets the organization’s overall direction. He works with grantees and partners to further the foundation’s goal of improving equity in the United States and around the world. Bill co-founded Microsoft Corporation in 1975 with Paul Allen and led the company to become the worldwide leader in business and personal software and services. In 2008, Bill transitioned to focus full-time on the foundation’s work. Through his private office, Gates Ventures, he pursues his work in climate change and clean energy innovation, Alzheimer’s research and other healthcare issues, interdisciplinary education, and technology. 

Bill Gates

Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Helen Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand for three successive terms from 1999–2008.  
Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister and as a Member of Parliament over 27 years, Helen Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social, environmental, and cultural spheres. 
 In April 2009, Helen Clark became Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was the first woman to lead the organisation and served two terms there. At the same time, she was also Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of all UN funds, programmes, agencies, and departments working on development issues. 

Helen Clark

Former Prime Minster of New Zealand and Former Administrator of UNDP

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark

Sanda Ojiambo of Kenya was appointed CEO & Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in June 2020. As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Ojiambo launched an ambitious new UN Global Compact strategy to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. During her tenure she has also promoted stronger business engagement with UN partners to deliver and finance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ms. Ojiambo brings to the UN Global Compact more than 20 years’ experience in the public, multilateral and private sectors.

CEO and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact

Sanda Ojiambo

Dr. Alaa Murabit a medical doctor, global health and security expert and strategist, women’s rights advocate, and United Nations High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth. Alaa is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goal Advocates appointed by the UN Secretary-General due to her leadership on establishing and advancing the SDGs, and a 2020–2021 Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. She leads The Gates Foundation’s Global Policy and Advocacy Health work, in partnership with the Global Health and Global Development divisions. Her work has shaped policies in over 190 countries and impacted the lives of billions. 

UN High-Level Commissioner on Health, Employment, and Economic Growth; UN SDG Global Advocate

Dr. Alaa Murabit

Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake was appointed as the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth in June 2017 at the age of 26. She is the youngest senior official in the UN and the first woman to hold this position. In this role, Jayathma works to expand the UN’s youth engagement and advocacy efforts across all four pillars of the organization’s work — sustainable development, human rights, peace and security, and humanitarian action — and serves as a representative of and advisor to the Secretary-General. 

In 2019 Jayathma was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the “Time 100 Next: Rising stars shaping the future” and in 2020 she was recognized by Forbes magazine as part of its “30 under 30” list. 

Jayathma Wickramanayake

Richard Curtis is a film writer and director, responsible for films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually and others.
He is co-founder and vice-chair of Comic Relief, which he started after visiting Ethiopia during the 1985 famine and led to the fundraising event, Red Nose Day. He has co-produced the 16 live nights for the BBC since 1988 and the charity has made over £1.3 Billion for projects in the UK and internationally during that time.
Richard was a founding member of Make Poverty History, the campaign for the MDGs and worked both on that and on Live 8 in 2005.  In 2015 he helped found Project Everyone to work to make the Global Goals famous and effective - and is now a UN Advocate for the SDGs. 

Writer, Director, Co-Founder of Red Nose Day and UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate

Richard Curtis

Nisreen Elsaim is an environmental and climate activist who began activism in 2012, with a Bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Khartoum, Sudan. She pursued her Master's degree in renewable energy from the same university. Nisreen is also a junior negotiator with the African Group of Negotiators in technology transfer, focusing on the policies of countries regarding climate change and renewable energies. She has written several policy papers in climate change, renewable energy, gender and youth empowerment; and was recently chosen to chair the UN Secretary General youth adviser on climate change along with six other young climate activists.  

Nisreen Elsaim

Chair, UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change 

Jerome Foster II is an environmental activist, voting rights advocate, and emerging technology engineer. He sits on President Biden’s White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Based in New York City, but born and raised in Washington DC, he served as intern for the late Honorable John Lewis and served as Board Member for the DC State Board of Education. He now serves as Executive Director of OneMillionOfUs which educates and mobilizes young people to register and turn out to vote.

Advocate; Member, White House Advisory Council on Environmental Justice

Jerome Foster II

Dr. Adam Met's interests bridge the worlds of music, sustainability, law, academia, policy, marketing, and technology. As the bassist for AJR, he has traveled the world on sold-out tours, achieved platinum certifications in numerous countries, and recorded a repertoire of music that has garnered more than 2.5 billion streams worldwide. As the founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Partners Inc., he leads a nonprofit that addresses climate change systems through media, academic research fellowships, and incentive-based initiatives. 

Adam received a dual degree in business and philosophy from Columbia University, a Master’s from New York University in constitutional religious law and a PhD in international human rights law.

Adam Met

Dr. Adam Met

Nikhil Taneja is a Mumbai-based writer, producer, storyteller, teacher, entrepreneur, and youth mental health advocate. He is the co-founder and CEO of India’s first Gen Z driven youth media and insights organisation, Yuvaa (@weareyuvaa), that works on creating impact in the lives of young Indians through meaningful content and conversations.

Nikhil also serves on the Global Advisory Board of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's community, Goalkeepers, hosts a podcast that listens to the Gen Z, Main Hoon Yuvaa (I'm the Youth), and is the Festival Creative Director of the India Film Project. He is currently writing his first book on taking the toxic out of masculinity, Be A Man, Yaar, to be published by Penguin RandomHouse India in 2022. Nikhil believes that kindness can heal our broken world.

Nikhil Taneja

Co-Founder and CEO, Yuvaa; Global Advisory Board, Goalkeepers

Gail started her career working for advertising agencies, before taking a role in marketing at the BBC where, over an 8 year period, she led the marketing of Radio 1, BBC News, Sport, CBeebies, and BBC Three. As a consultant Gail worked to relaunch non-profit brands such as Children in Need, The Camden Roundhouse and Sports Relief. In 2010 Gail was appointed CEO of the ad agency Fallon, part of the Publicis Group. Adter Co-Founding Project Everyone, Gail had a spell as the CEO of the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. In 2019 she launched Project 17, a consultancy alongside her non-profit work helping the private sector orient their purpose around the Global Goals.

Gail Gallee

Lara Rudar is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and environmental advocate studying at Jumeirah English Speaking School Dubai. Last year, she was named one of the 20 Official UAE Ambassadors for Nature and has been working with Emirates-Nature WWF and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi to empower UAE youth with the experiences, knowledge, and skills to tackle environmental issues. Internationally, she has spoken at numerous panels hosted by the United Nations as a WSIS Youth Campaigner and represented Turkey at the ‘Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition’ conference in Milan to develop concrete proposals for Pre-COP26 in Milan and COP26 in Glasgow. She is currently the Education Coordinator at the Re-Earth Initiative, an international youth-led climate organisation.

Lara Rudar

Artist & Filmmaker, Official UAE Ambassador for Nature, UN Youth PreCOP26 Delegate

Prajakta Koli aka MostlySane is one of India’s biggest digital creators with millions of followers across her social media handles. 
As an ambassador for YouTube’s global program, Creators For Change Prajakta was invited to the UN headquarters in New York on International Day of Tolerance to showcase her project ‘No Offence’ which speaks about hate speech, sexism and homophobia. She was also part of the Creators For Change YouTube Originals documentary on Girls Education along with Michelle Obama, Liza Koshy, Thembe Mahlaba. The documentary has won the Outstanding Daytime Non-Fiction Special at the 48th Daytime Emmy Awards. 

Prajakta Koli

Ms. Christine CONDO has been involved in community development in Africa and works in non-profit leadership roles with nearly two decades of experience enabling communities, especially women and youth cooperatives to realize their dreams and pursue their entrepreneurial skills.  She is currently the Executive Director of Sustainable Growers in both Rwanda and DRC.

Executive Director, Sustainable Growers, Rwanda

Christine Conde

Yande is a vibrant and passionate education, girls and women's rights activist. She is the co-chiar of Transform Education, a feminst youth led coalition hosted by UNGEI. She is also a member of the Global Adolescents Task Force of UN Women the the youngest advisor of the Adolescent Girls Advisory Council for the Global Fund for Women. In 2021, Yande represented the voices of adolescent girls as the youngest speaker at the Generation Equality Forum Paris and brough World Leaders, Presidents, Director Generals, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and heads of Civil Society to their feet in a standing ovation. She has also spoken at high level events such as the Global Education Summitm, and at the UN General Assembly. Yande believes in the power of the collective and in the power of the voices of girls.

Education, Girls and Women's Rights Activist


Yande Banda

Dr. Afra Atiq is an Emirati scholar, teaching artist, and poet. She holds a PhD in Media and Creative Industries at UAE University and a Master’s degree in diplomacy. She has been published in international peer reviewed journals. Her research focuses on mapping the Arab literary sphere, education, literacy, social media effects and collective memory. Over the years, she mentored and coached students and writers. She has also conducted numerous workshops at schools, universities and cultural institutions. She has won multiple awards for her poetry and has been featured on stages across the world. Her art explores a broad range of topics which include heritage, culture, identity, and legacy. She writes and performs in a blend of English, Arabic, and French.

Afra Atiq

Michelle is the youngest professional female DJ in the world performs on the big stages and festivals and successfully represents UAE at the world championships. She became the youngest ever participant of the main world DJ competitions - DMC World Championships and Goldie Awards and instantly drew the attention of the world media and press.

She has been interviewed by NPR, Associated Press, Gulf News, CNN Arabic, Washington Post, Khaleej Times, Lovin Dubai, BFM TV, Sony TV, German TV, Israel TV, Polish TV to name a few. 
Nickelodeon channel chose Michelle for their International Extraordinary Me campaign, featuring 8 unique kids from across the world, telling their inspiring stories.

DJ Michelle

Back in 2015, United Nations unveiled the Sustainable Development Goals as a means to work towards a better future. Expo 2020 Dubai’s purpose embodies the two main pillars of these goals: sustainability and opportunity. The global COVID-19 pandemic has further proved the urgency of this global agenda. As this mega-event takes place, Expo 2020 Dubai will become the center of commitment and action in ensuring that no one is left behind. The Leave No One Behind Track of Expo 2020 Dubai's Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series that spotlight the importance of opportunity for all, gender equality and much more.

Catalysing Opportunity for All

LNOB Image

Leave No One Behind

LNOB Icon

Storytelling is a powerful tool that helps shape narratives and deﬁne cultures. It can help foster empathy and connection, serving as an important tool for promoting tolerance and inclusivity. Tolerance and inclusivity are core pillars of Digniﬁed Storytelling and its 10 Principles. 

Digniﬁed Storytelling unites the voices of content makers, editors, journalists, photographers, ﬁlmmakers, storytellers, and contributors and equip them with the awareness and hands-on knowledge that will enable them to capture moments and tell stories without compromising human dignity. 

Moderated by Getty Images, this session features 11year-old published author, Diaco Taaeb; Surinamese actor, writer and ﬁlmmaker, Ivan Tai-Apin; Friendship’s Founder and Executive Director, Runa Khan; and Disability Empowerment Consultant Fatma Al Jassim. In addition, excerpts of two ﬁlms focused on tolerance and inclusivity will be shared with the audience. 

Storytelling to promote principles of tolerance, coexistence, and inclusivity as fundamentals of justice and peace.

Dignified T&I

An event that brings together development and humanitarian practitioners and storytellers to explore the increasingly vital role of storytelling in overcoming prejudice and fostering intercultural harmony.


Inside Expo: Sustainability I: The World’s Oldest Innovator

Inside Expo: Sustainability II: Harnessing the Sun

The Powerhouse Pavilions

Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion - Audio Guide

Terra

stamp Terra

Terra - Carousel

At Expo 2020, sustainability is an urgent, attainable reality, and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion is the proof. Both immersive exhibition space and exemplar of environmental self-sufficiency, Terra is a pioneering piece of architecture that pushes the limits of renewable design.

The pavilion’s 130-metre-wide solar canopy – so vast that you could park 10 city buses head-to-tail atop it – converts sunshine into electricity for the exhibits below. Artfully funnelled natural light and local plant species, together with technologies that can reduce water consumption by 75 per cent, show the way to a sustainable future.


Inspiring experiential journey through our shared sustainable future

Two immersive paths to choose from: beneath a forest and beneath an ocean

LEED Platinum environmental features, including solar power and water recycling

Terra 

terra

Videos

Terra is a super-sized marvel of forward-thinking design. The pavilion’s technology generates enough energy in a year to power a Nissan Leaf to drive halfway to Mars, while another system captures moisture from the air you breathe and turns it into drinkable water. Enter and take a fantastical journey through the wonders of nature, humanity’s challenges and the promise of our shared future. 


terra 

of harmonious living

A model

The Sustainability Pavilion

Terra is home to five thought-provoking art installations from artists around the world, with each piece demonstrating a response to the issue of sustainability.

Terra Art Installations

Young visitors can explore a fantastical world inspired by Terra's very own octopus, Octavia.

Octavia's Playground

Timelapse of Terra 

With our planet today home to 7.8 billion people, we put the spotlight on co-existence, understanding different faiths, creating inclusive dialogue, and so much more. During this Theme Week, Expo will provide a platform for diverse voices from all corners of the world to reimagine how spaces, environments and storytelling can become more inclusive by focusing on multiculturalism and peaceful co-existence.

tolerance-and-inclusivity-hero-800x450

How can we foster a greater common understanding to enable more tolerant and inclusive societies?

Women in Arabia and Islam | How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development in the Region and the World

How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development in the Region and the World

Image Gallery

Global Goals Week.

This event is part of the
Build Bridges .

How Islam Inspires Sustainable Development in the Region and the World

Image Gallery

Global Goals Week.

This event is part of theBuild Bridges .

This event is part of the
Build Bridges .