Expo 2020 Dubai kicks off in exactly 12 months – here’s everything you need to know about “the World’s Greatest Show”.
192 countries. Six months. One year to go. Expo 2020 Dubai is the city’s most-anticipated project yet. Today (Sunday October 20) marks exactly one year until Expo 2020 launches, and we’re already getting excited about it. It’s the world’s first-ever Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and the city is gearing up for what’s set to be an absolutely massive event, which is about ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
In honour of the occasion, a huge concert is taking place in Burj Park tonight (Sunday October 20), with best-selling US artist Mariah Carey and Emirati singing star and Expo 2020 ambassador Hussain Al Jassmi taking to the stage.
Tickets to the 1 Year to Go concert, which kicks off at 5pm on Sunday 20, have already all been claimed, so if you’re one of the lucky ones you’re in for a treat, but there will also be a special Burj Khalifa light show that you’ll be able to see if you’re in the area, counting down to when the clock hits 2020 (8.20pm). This will mark the precise time that the next World Expo is set to launch on 20 October 2020, as the UAE welcomes millions of visitors for what will be a spectacular event.
Meanwhile if you’re in Abu Dhabi you can check out broadcasts of the Dubai concerts plus food, music, graphic art and much more at Louvre Abu Dhabi as well as at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah, Ajman Museum, Umm Al Quwain Corniche, Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Fort.
Sharjah-born Al Jassmi aims to show off the UAE’s culture and talent in the lead up to Expo 2020 Dubai as well as with performances at the show itself. “This is a golden opportunity to showcase the potential and talents of the people in this region,” he says. “I also consider it a perfect opportunity to express pride in my dear country by telling the story of the UAE and Expo 2020 to the whole world.
“I can’t wait until Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes people and cultures from every corner of the planet to the UAE for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration that also aims to make our world a better place. This is a unique opportunity for everyone in the UAE to highlight the nation’s spirit of warmth, optimism and tolerance on the global stage that Expo 2020 provides.”
Expo 2020 Dubai will run for six months from October 20 to April 10 2021, with pavilions open and entertainment scheduled between 10am and 1am on weekdays, and 10am to 2am on weekends. However, we’re already starting to see impacts on the city, and you can be sure to expect a huge build-up. Tickets will be on sale in April 2020, starting from Dhs120.
Billed as “The World’s Greatest Show”, it’s all happening in the Dubai South district, near Al Maktoum International Airport.
There will be a lot of dedicated transport heading to the site 4.38 sq km site, and a metro station is being built that can handle 44,000 passengers per hour. With an influx of international visitors expected, Dubai International Airport is also working to upgrade its runways, while new hotels are springing up near the Expo 2020 site.
Since Expo 2020 was revealed in November 2013, it’s had a huge impact on the city – and that’s only going to grow as we get closer to the date. Officials say that it’s going to create a staggering 111,000 new jobs and the real estate market will rocket. That’s not to mention the huge urban District 2020 that will have a long-lasting legacy for centuries after the event is over. Even the city’s infrastructure is taking part, with Jebel Ali Lehbab Road renamed as Expo Road in honour of the event.
From the 25 million visitors that are expect 70 percent of these are expected to travel from outside the UAE, which will be the largest proportion of international visitors in the 168-year history of World Expos.
But although Expo 2020 Dubai will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors per day on average, its smart site will use artificial intelligence, cutting-edge crowd-flow management systems, smart ticketing and more to ensure everything runs seamlessly.
An expo is a world fair, bringing together hundreds of countries from across the globe – giving them the chance to share ideas and innovations with the rest of the world. The first was held in The Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde Park in 1851, and since then, many of history’s most famous inventions have been exhibited, including the telephone in 1876, the ice cream cone in 1904 and even a humanoid robot in Nagoya in 2005. When Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020. Fireworks exploded from the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab. A national holiday was declared for all educational institutions across the country. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, promised the city would “astonish the world”, come 2020.
The Expo 2020 site will feature pavilions dedicated to 192 countries from around the world, with 75 entertainment events hosted every single day. There will be live performances from world-famous stars and comedy greats, cultural experiences from poetry slams to fashion shows and talks with the world’s top academics. There will be mindfulness sessions, extreme sports and everything in between. And there will be innovation – whether it’s make-your-own robot workshops or exhibitions showcasing the latest 3D printing technology. It’s even possible to go under the sea or walk through a simulated Arabian wadi. Every day a different country will be featured in a cultural showcase that includes parades and other festivities. And the fun doesn’t stop at sunset, because there will be fireworks displays and entertainment.
Feeling excited for 2020 yet? Want to have your once-in-a-lifetime experience as part of the World’s Greatest Show? The Expo 2020 Volunteers programme features a diverse mix of UAE nationals and expats, with 30,000 volunteers to be the ‘face’ of the global celebration. More than 45 roles, from event managing to welcoming guests, are available to register for.
Volunteers will be an essential part of Expo, giving up more than 16 million hours of their time to take part. To be eligible you must be over 18 as of October 20, 2020, and hold a valid Emirates ID and be able to volunteer for more than ten shifts within a two month period from October 2020 to April 10 2021. Once you get through the first stage of the process there will be interviews and four days of training.
Want to find out more? Visit our dedicated Expo 2020 Dubai page for everything you need to know about Dubai’s huge Expo, here.
