San Marino celebrates National Day at Expo Dubai

The celebrations on Feb. 12 included the San Marino Flagwavers Show across different expo plazas.
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Updated 19 February 2022
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San Marino celebrates National Day at Expo Dubai

San Marino hosted a range of activities over two days to celebrate the country’s National Day at Expo 2020. The six-month long expo gives country pavilions an opportunity to celebrate their culture and achievements while showcasing the special features of their pavilion.

The San Marino pavilion highlighted the country’s unique attractions, treasures, natural resources and heritage elements.

“San Marino’s presence at Expo Dubai reinforces the country’s efforts to position itself as a resourceful country with must-see tourist destinations nestled within Northern Italy and easily accessible via key airports such as Rome and Bologna,” a statement said.

San Marino is an independent country founded more than 1,700 years ago with 33,000 inhabitants. Its pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, is dedicated to the replica of the “Treasure of Domagnano,” discovered in San Marino in the late 1800s. The most important piece of the treasure, the fibula, is now at Louvre Abu Dhabi. The pavilion tells the history and tradition of the country as well as its modern economic system based on tourism as well as on innovative companies.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, minister of tolerance and coexistence of the UAE and commissioner-general of Expo 2020 Dubai, represented the UAE as the host country at the formal ceremony.

The celebrations on Feb. 12 included the San Marino Flagwavers Show across different expo plazas (Arrival, Earth, Sea and Sun). The San Marino Crossbow Men’s Federation, an artistic ensemble founded in 1956 by Master Giuseppe Rossi, dressed in traditional medieval costumes, performed a historical commemoration of a typical medieval show.

This was followed by the San Marino Medalist Event at the San Marino Pavilion VIP Lounge to celebrate the first Olympic medals for a small country in the disciplines of fighting and shooting.

The official ceremony at Al-Wasl Plaza hosted by Expo 2020 Dubai was attended by delegations from San Marino and the UAE. The event included the flag raising ceremony and speeches by delegates from both San Marino delegates and the UAE. This was followed by performances by MSV + Giostremia and the Flagwavers Cultural Performers.


Australian minister Don Farrell launches LuLu festival

Updated 30 January 2026
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Australian minister Don Farrell launches LuLu festival

Regional retail chain Lulu Hypermarket officially launched the Australian Fest on Wednesday at its Diplomatic Quarter branch in Riyadh. The grand inauguration was led by Senator Don Farrell, minister for trade and tourism and special minister of state for Australia, as the chief guest. The event, which celebrated the rich culinary heritage and premium produce of Australia, was attended by a high-level delegation from the Australian government, alongside Mohammed Haris, director of LuLu Hypermarket Saudi Arabia, and senior LuLu officials.
The festivities commenced at the supermarket entrance, where Farrell performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony under a beautifully designed, Australian-themed ceremonial gate. This marked the formal opening of a week-long celebration dedicated to bringing the best of Australian flavors to the Saudi capital. Following the inauguration, the minister led a guided store walk-through, exploring premium product showcases and vibrant displays in the Meat Area. A dedicated thematic showcase of fresh fruits and vegetables from Australia was also highlighted, emphasizing the authenticity and freshness that the country’s agriculture is known for globally.
The tour reached a celebratory peak at the bakery section, where the chief guest was invited for a commemorative cake-cutting ceremony to mark the launch of the festival. During his official address, Farrell shared his insights on the significance of the event, stating that it is a pleasure to witness the Australian Fest in Riyadh. He said that the event is more than just a showcase of Australian products, but rather a testament to the growing partnership between Australia and Saudi Arabia, making these high-quality products easily accessible to shoppers in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Haris expressed his gratitude for the visit, noting that the team is deeply honored to welcome Farrell and the Australian government delegates. He said that the Australian Fest is a cornerstone of LuLu’s commitment to offering customers global diversity and the highest quality products. He further added that LuLu is proud to serve as the bridge connecting Saudi shoppers with the authentic excellence of Australian agriculture.
The Australian Fest is offering residents an exclusive opportunity to explore and purchase a wide variety of Australian-made products at special promotional prices.