Dubai's Al Wasl Dome Transforms for Corporate Iftar: A Full Circle Moment for Creative Technology

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — As the sun set over Dubai Wednesday evening, the magnificent Al Wasl Dome—once the crown jewel of Expo 2020—glowed with warm light, welcoming employees of Creative Technology Middle East for a corporate iftar unlike any other. The event marked a poignant full-circle moment for the company that had installed the dome’s groundbreaking audio-visual systems four years earlier.

“There’s something profoundly moving about breaking fast together in a space that our own hands helped create,” said Andy Reardon, Managing Director of CT Middle East, commenting about the employee gathering beneath the 67.5-meter-tall structure. “From installation to celebration—this dome has become an integral part of our company’s story.”

Andy Reardon, Managing Director of Creative Technology Middle East

The Al Wasl Dome, which earned a Guinness World Record as the largest interactive immersive dome, continues to dazzle visitors as the centerpiece of what is now known as Expo City Dubai. But last night, it served a more intimate purpose as CT ME employees came together to share the Ramadan tradition.

The evening featured a specially commissioned immersive experience showcasing arabesque geometric patterns and calligraphy projected across the dome’s 25,380 square meters of surface area—all powered by the same 252 Christie projectors that the company had meticulously installed years before.

The Al Wasl Dome, which earned a Guinness World Record as the largest interactive immersive dome, continues to dazzle visitors as the centerpiece of what is now known as Expo City Dubai.

James Crump, Head of Projects, with several Project Managers from Live Events and the Crewing team.

“The Al Wasl Dome is always a magical place to visit and such a wonderful canvas for creativity,” said James Crump, Head of Projects at CTME. “It’s a great experience to be seated in the dome tonight enjoying a Iftar celebration with colleagues, experiencing our handiwork from the audiences perspective rather than just behind the scenes.“

The technical achievement remains impressive by any standard. The dome’s 27 carefully positioned speaker arrays—each consisting of 16 L-Acoustics KIVA II speakers—delivered the moving background music with remarkable clarity, utilizing the same spatial audio technology that once accompanied the Expo’s grand ceremonies.

Anwar Santoe, Sales Director , and Hassan Kteish, Business Development Projects

For newer employees who joined after the Expo, the evening offered more than just a chance to socialize—it was a moment to connect with the company’s most defining and ambitious project to date. Seeing the installation up close brought to life all the stories that had been shared internally.

“I’ve heard the stories about how this installation came together,” said Anwar Santoe, Sales Director, who joined CT in 2024. “Sitting here now, looking up at what they accomplished—the scale, the detail, the innovation—it gives me a much deeper appreciation for the company’s capabilities, and for the people who made it happen.”

Carlos Aguilar, Head of Video with the Video Team

“The dome was always meant to be a place of connection—it’s even in the name ‘Al Wasl,’ which means connection in Arabic,” noted Carlos Aguilar, Head of Video at CTME. “Seeing it used for this gathering feels appropriate to its spirit.”

Eddie Hirad, Project Supervisor – Venue Services,  Anwar Santoe, Sales Director, Huw Godfrey, Head of Systems Integration (from right to left)

The system integration team also had the pleasure of gathering under the dome for this special occasion, “We didn’t just install technology here. We helped create something that will bring people together for generations,” explained Huw Godfrey, Head of Systems Integration at CTME.