Last Updated on December 2, 2020 by Darrif William
Dubai is set to be the first country in the Middle East to host a World Expo event. Starting in October 2020, this will be a celebration of human brilliance, innovation and achievement. A total of 192 countries will be participating and millions of visitors from across the globe are expected to descend on the UAE for this event. It will be your chance to experience the best of art, culture, technology and invention from different corners of the world and set in motion new thoughts and ideas that will impact our lives in the coming years. Every major city across the globe can be easily reached from Dubai, making it a major hub and the perfect hosting nation for the Expo 2020. Dubai will be putting on quite the show, come at the end of 2020. There are three main sub-themes to the event: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Dubai expo 2020 will commence on 20th October 2020 and will end on 10th April 2021. Here is everything you need to know about the Dubai Expo 2020.
What is Expo 2020?
Expo 2020 Dubai is a world fair or mega international event to showcase and explore the ideas and achievements of nations all around the world. It is a platform where people from every corner of the world come together, connect and share ideas, learn and innovate. A festival is a mega event in terms of size, scale and visitors, promoting progress and innovation. It is also a place where you can come, learn and have fun. Dubai Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to be hosted by an Arab nation and first ever to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
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Where in Dubai is the Expo Being Held?
The Expo 2020 site is located in Dubai South, close to Al Maktoum International Airport. It is spread over 4.38 square kilometres of area and has four main entrances. Dubai South holds numerous high-profile exhibitions and events, but Dubai Expo 2020, undoubtedly will be its crowning glory. The Dubai Metro route 2020 will be transferring 46,000 passengers per hour to and from the Expo site in under 16 minutes from Dubai Marina.
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How Can You Reach the Site?
You can reach the Expo site by car in 40 minutes from Downtown Dubai or you can take Dubai Metro to reach the Dubai Metro Station dedicated to Expo 2020 on the route 2020 line.
Site Opening Hours
- Weekdays: 9 am-1 am
- Weekends and special days: 10 am-2 am
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What to Do at the Expo 2020 Dubai?
There will be a variety of things to dazzle you, from music, technology and architecture to gastronomy and entertainment. Get to know Rashid and Latifa, the Expo 2020 Dubai mascots as they embark on an exciting new journey led by Salama the Ghaf tree. A day is not enough to discover the magic of the largest event ever held in the Arab world. This will be a journey where you’ll get to visit 192 different countries and learn all about their history and culture.
Start your day at the Al Wasl Plaza and admire the artwork and interactive installations from local and international artists. You’ll find cutting-edge architecture at every turn including the world’s biggest 360-degree projection surface on the steel dome and the all-natural Opportunity Pavilion made from 2,500 tonnes of stone and 111 km of rope. Enjoy live shows, from operas to pop-up theatres, flash mobs to sports events and enough to make you keep coming back here. For tech enthusiasts, there is a whole new world waiting with autonomous vehicles, robotics, augmented reality and space explorations.
If you’ve seen enough of the Expo 2020 from the ground, get a bird’s eye view of the place from the top of the rotating observation tower. You’ll find Arab-style vistas throughout the site with desert scenes, palm groves, jasmine trees and wadi figs. When tired of all the explorations, sit under the shaded canopies of the Ghaf tree, which is also the national tree of the UAE.
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What to Eat at the Expo 2020?
There are over 200-plus ways to treat your taste buds at the Expo 2020 with food offerings from Dubai and the 190 participating nations, joining this global mega event. Taste dishes from every corner of the world with a variety of options – from street food, haute cuisine and family-friendly meals to sustainable dining and unique culinary dishes prepared from locally-sourced produce that promotes wellness.
You can expect to see the food of all shapes and sizes with cultural influences from around the planet, suiting different budgets. There will be over 200 different restaurants celebrating more than 50 different cuisines from every part of the world.
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Can Kids Visit the Expo Site?
Yes, you can take children to the Expo site. There are two parks – Al Forsan and Jubilee – where children can play.
How to Buy Tickets for Expo 2020?
Tickets will go on sale in April 2020 and you can buy tickets through the Expo 2020 website and at the Expo 2020 gates during the event. However, monthly and season passes are available right now. So if you’re planning to visit Dubai during the Expo 2020, you can easily buy your passes from the website.
How Much are the Tickets?
To access this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you’ll have to shell out Dh120 (USD 33) for a single-day entry ticket, whereas a three-day pass is priced at Dh260 (USD 71) and can be used on any three days during the 173 days of the Expo.
Children under the age of five and seniors over 65 years have free access to the Expo. Youngsters from 6 to 17 years of age and students of any age will receive a 50 per cent discount on the ticket. People of determination or those with special needs will be granted complimentary access, with their carers entering for half price.
Where to Stay for the World Exhibition in Dubai?
It’s a good idea to stay in a hotel that is close to a metro station if you are visiting Dubai during Expo 2020 so that you can directly access the Expo 2020 Pavilion using the metro. This 6-month mega event will be from October 20, 2020, till 10 April 2021, and over 25 million visitors are expected to visit. There are more than 200 international participants, including 190 nations, businesses, non-government organisations and educational institutions. It is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity where you’ll get to witness the most exciting technology projects and innovations that are happening around the world. The theme of Expo 2020 is “connecting minds, creating the future” and it will attract some of the smartest minds in the world to Dubai. It would be a good idea to have long term accommodation and rent an apartment in Dubai during this period to take full advantage of the Expo 2020.
Is There Any Dress Code for Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai?
There is no dress code for visitors. Any light, casual and comfortable clothing keeping in mind the sunny weather of the UAE is good. However, you might need slightly warmer clothes such as a jumper during the winter in December and January, or in a place of powerful air conditioning (for example, a cinema or a hotel lobby). Avoid revealing clothes when out in public especially in family-friendly environments such as malls and restaurants and cover your head when you enter a place of worship. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes.