Nine countries around the world, including Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Malawi, San Marino, Grenada, Djibouti, Suriname, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, are having their Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions designed by young, emerging student talent rather than globally renowned designers or architects.

Teams of students from these nine countries researched their nation’s history, national priorities, and development challenges to create their pavilion designs before working alongside Expo 2020 to bring them to life.

The San Marino Pavilion will designed as a futuristic laboratory, where visitors can take part in building the country’s future.

Visitors to the Malawi Pavilion will experience the country through the inspiring story of a young child, offering insights into the country, as well as its culture and progress.

The wide array of student disciplines – from design and art, to economics, technology, and sustainability – have been reflected in the pavilion designs and experiences. This is also in line with the Expo 2020 Dubai’s core vision of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

The Sri Lanka Pavilion will portray the country’s adaptability and ability to transform challenges into opportunities through a sense of flowing water; while the Myanmar Pavilion will take visitors on a quiet, spiritual journey and promote a value-based lifestyle.

Based on the ‘open for business’ theme, the student designers of the Zimbabwe Pavilion aim to portray a brighter future – showcasing their nation as an untapped jewel of Africa, which is diversifying into new areas of growth.

The ‘spice isle’ of Grenada will introduce its chocolate and nutmeg industries with an abstract nutmeg sculpture, while Djibouti’s shipping container-style pavilion will present the country as a land of trade, tourism, and technology.

Nature, culture, and history have inspired the design of the multi-sensory Saint Kitts and Nevis Pavilion – designed by secondary school students – where visitors will be able to see, touch, taste, smell, and hear the secrets of the islands.

Visitors at the colourful Suriname Pavilion will have the experience of ‘walking through water’, while exploring the country’s nature-based beauty and health products.