DAE was honoured to design, create, and produce Journey to the 50th, a groundbreaking live spectacular celebrating the UAE’s Golden Jubilee at Expo 2020 Dubai. This 30-minute immersive experience blended traditional and contemporary performance, music, puppetry, dance, movement, and cutting-edge projection to tell the story of the UAE—its remarkable past, dynamic present, and ambitious future.
A Spectacle of Unprecedented Scale
Performed inside Al Wasl Plaza, the world’s largest 360-degree projection dome, the show featured:
- 252 D4K40-RGB projectors transforming a 25,380-square-meter surface into a stunning visual canvas—visible inside and outside the venue.
- Aerial flying sequences, fog effects, and large-scale puppetry designed by Michael Curry, the award-winning creator behind The Lion King musical.
- A cast of 370 performers and a crew of 84 international and local staff, bringing the story to life with precision and artistry.
From concept to curtain call, Journey to the 50th was executed in record time—compressing strategic planning, creative development, and production to meet an unprecedented schedule, successfully delivering seven performances across four days, ensuring a seamless, powerful experience for both live audiences and international broadcast viewership.
The show was not only a technical and artistic triumph but also a historically significant moment in the UAE’s cultural narrative—one that left an enduring legacy for Expo 2020 and the nation’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
