If you’re already getting excited about Expo 2020, you’re in luck – as now’s your chance to have a sneak peek at the massive site in Dubai South.
Expo 2020 kicks off on October 20, 2020, but this summer you can hop on a bus and take a free tour around to see how building work is coming on.
Billing itself as “The World’s Greatest Show in the Making”, the free bus tours will run three days a week until the end of August, and you can be one of the first to see behind the scenes of the 4.38sq km site.
The tours will begin this Saturday (July 20) and run through until Saturday August 31. Visitors can be collected from pick-up points around the UAE including The Dubai Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall. The tours will run every Monday and Wednesday afternoon and all day on Saturday.
On arrival to the site, you’ll have a look around the visitor centre and take part in activities, before embarking on a fact-filled tour. All you need to do is bring your ID and book your seat in advance.
Expo 2020 will feature 173 days of spectacular celebration across the city. The site will feature pavilions dedicated to 192 countries, with 75 entertainment events hosted every single day. It’s all happening in the Dubai South district, near Al Maktoum International Airport.
There will be everything from live music, to celebrity chefs and more at the six-month event. And the site itself is set to look visually impressive.
“World Expos are famous for their groundbreaking architecture, from the Eiffel Tower in 1889 to the Space Needle in 1962,” said Manal AlBayat, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for people in the UAE to come with their friends and families and take an early look at our own incredible structures that will soon be known far and wide – such as Al Wasl Plaza, the site’s beating heart, the falcon-inspired UAE Pavilion and the Sustainability Pavilion, which pushes the boundaries of eco-conscious design.
“We can’t wait to welcome the world in 2020, but before then, we look forward to welcoming people from across the UAE to experience our site, which will host six months of unforgettable events and celebrations from October 2020.”
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-ever 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. Back in November 2013, Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020 – becoming the first country ever in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia to do so. The team are expecting more than 25 million visitors over the six month period.
Earlier this year ticket prices were revealed, with adult passes costing Dhs120, while a three-day pass, offering access on any three days throughout the event, is priced at Dhs260. Kids aged six-17 and students get a 50 percent discount, while children aged five and under as well as seniors over the age of 65 can visit for free. People of determination will also get complimentary access, while their carers can enter for half-price.
They will go on sale in April 2020, so there’s still a bit of a wait, but it’s more than worth getting excited about it now. Want to find out more? Here’s everything you need to know about Expo 2020.
Tour runs Sat Jul 20-Sat Aug 31. To book tickets visit: www.expo2020dubai.com/hayyakum. Expo 2020: Oct 20, 2020-Apr 10, 2021, Dubai South, expo2020dubai.com
