One million visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai’s Terra – and 95 per cent pledge to make sustainable change

Terra – Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability Pavilion – hosted its one-millionth visitor on Saturday (26 February) and celebrated its impact on people’s sustainable lifestyle habits.

The pavilion demonstrates the damage being done to the planet, and ways everyone can make a difference before it is too late. The message is hitting the mark, with 95 per cent of visitors making a pledge towards positive change, with promises ranging from meat-free days to swapping cars for public transport.

The millionth visitor was Dubai resident Santhosh Fernandes, who was at Expo 2020 Dubai with his wife Sheetal, children Seona, 11, and Seana, six, and friend Tushar Kawli. They were presented with a basket of gifts, including a meal at Terra’s plant-based rooftop restaurant, Mudra.

Santhosh said: “This was the first pavilion we visited, so it is a lovely surprise! It was really interesting to look around Terra and it made us think. We are definitely going to make some changes to our lives, especially when it comes to using plastic.”

All of Saturday’s visitors were given packets of ghaf seeds – the UAE’s national tree, and a symbol of tolerance – and volunteers performed a dance routine to add to the celebratory atmosphere.

World Wildlife Day will be celebrated at Terra on Thursday (3 March) to raise awareness and highlight the UAE and Expo participant’s success stories.