Dubai: A focal point for world’s incredible offerings, the Expo 2020 Dubai became the venue for another fascinating piece of history as a section of Original Eiffel Tower’s staircase was unveiled in a ceremony at Al Forsan Park.
At segment at display was used to climb to the top of France’s iconic landmark when it opened at Expo 1889 Paris. These vintage stairs were replaced with a lift after 4 years of installation.
Janat Paris, a tea house that served its beverages at the opening of the Eiffel Tower is behind the attempt of bringing a piece of French history to Expo 2020 Dubai. The Installation is dedicated to well-known Emirati poet, author, philosopher and explorer Mohammed Saleh Al Gurg, who passed away on 8th November 2020, and whose poems and proverbs continue to inspire curious minds.
A few dignitaries who took part at the ceremony which celebrated French engineer Gustave Eiffel’s famous structure included;
- Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman, Dubai Cares
- Nathalie Kennedy, Consul-General of France in Dubai
- Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo 2020 Dubai
- Machiko Gozen, President of Janat Paris
- Yabunaka Aiko, Secretary-General of Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and
- Bejit Dores, Business Partner of Janat Paris
Our association, as a family, with the French government, goes back 36 years. This is a picture of my father on the Eiffel Tower with his best friend in 1964. My father loves France. He bought a place there in the ’80s, which is where he started, sitting on the balcony working on his poetry and articles. –Dr. Tariq Al Gurg shared while referring to a photograph exhibited at the inauguration.
Ms. Kennedy remarked that, “I’m so happy and honored to have a piece of the Eiffel Tower right next to the Al Wasl Dome – it is very symbolic of travel, discovery, innovation and universal values that are at stake today.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Al Khatib expressed that, “We’re really thrilled to have the opportunity of bringing the Eiffel Tower stairs to, and showcasing them at, Expo. If you talk about sustainability, this is a piece of history that is now also a piece of art. And it has travelled all the way from Paris to so many places, and is now here in Dubai. It is the perfect representation of the values of all World Expos.”