Hamdan bin Mohammed meets with CEO of Whoop, tours pavilions of Morocco, Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg at Expo 2020 Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, today met with Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of the Boston-based company Whoop, a leading developer of next-generation wearable technology for optimising human performance and health. The meeting was attended by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

 

His Highness and the Whoop CEO discussed the latest trends in the wearable technology market. His Highness was briefed on the company’s plans to further enhance its product, software and analytics and play a larger role in the professional sports and health and fitness markets by targeting a wider audience with biometric data visualisation.

 

The CEO of the company praised Dubai’s future-oriented vision and its business friendly environment, which has attracted vast investments from innovative companies especially in the technology sector. He said Dubai has become a destination of choice for technology companies seeking to establish their regional headquarters due to its advanced infrastructure and superior business-enabling services. Dubai’s support has enabled many start-ups to become global players and unicorn companies and sign billion dollar acquisition deals with major international companies.

 

The meeting was also attended by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau; and Malek Al Malek, Director General of the Dubai Development Authority and Group CEO of TECOM Group.

 

Following the meeting, HH Sheikh Hamdan toured the pavilions of Morocco, Switzerland, and Baden-Württemberg, a German state.

 

The Moroccan pavilion located in the Opportunity District invites visitors to discover the country’s history, cultural identity, achievements and vision for the future.  His Highness was introduced to the Pavilion’s immersive experience that showcases the country’s modernity and traditions. One of the highlights of the pavilion is a fascinating insight into Morocco’s commitment to sustainability. The design of the pavilion, themed ‘Legacies for the Future — From Inspiring Origins… to Sustainable Progress’, is inspired by traditional methods of using earth typical of many traditional Moroccan villages.

 

At the Swiss Pavilion, His Highness was introduced to the Swiss pavilion’s curated visual journey that informs visitors about the nation’s history, culture, ecology, natural beauty, innovation, cuisine and arts. Under the theme ‘Reflections’, the Pavilion features iconic cubic architecture, a giant interactive mirrored façade and a ‘Swiss crystal cave’. Based on the concept of a journey, visitors can experience surprising facets of Switzerland by walking through the pavilion. Visitors can go on a hike through a sea of fog or travel on a magic carpet to experience Switzerland‘s breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can also enjoy magnificent landscapes and discover opportunities offered by the country, in addition to tasting Swiss chocolate specialties.

 

Sheikh Hamdan also visited the pavilion of Baden-Württemberg, a German state that is participating for the first time with an independent pavilion in Expo. This southwest German state is home to more than 60 institutions for scientific research and four federal universities. Baden-Württemberg also features the Cyber Valley, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, as research done here is turned directly into innovative applications. His Highness was briefed about 25 pioneering scientific innovations and projects from Baden-

 

Württemberg, as well as paintings and images distributed on high wooden poles in the pavilion that shed light on the scientific and cultural diversity of the city. The German city is home to Daimler, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, the world’s leading luxury car manufacturing companies. The state is also the birthplace of Einstein.

 

The world’s first calculator was made in 1623 in Baden-Württemberg. The city records 15,000 inventions annually. The world’s first autonomous flying taxi that completed its first test flight in Dubai in 2017, was invented in Baden-Württemberg.

 

Also accompanying His Highness Sheikh Hamdan on the tours were HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

 

Source: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum