TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Expo 2020 Dubai has recorded 10,836,389 visitors as on January 24, 2022, catalysed by a magical new musical from Indian stars Shekhar Kapur and A.R. Rahman, plus a series of high-profile events as part of the first Global Goals Week to be organised outside United Nations in New York.
Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai site, which is four times the size of Dubai Mall and spans the area of 613 football pitches, have safely enjoyed the nearly 200 events being staged daily, thanks to stringent precautionary measures against the pandemic.
Why? The Musical – a mesmerizing show by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Academy and Grammy Award winner A.R. Rahman – opened at Al Wasl Plaza on January 20, featuring more than 100 performers, including Indian actor Jaaved Jaaferi. It will continue to enthral audiences until February 27, 2022, with performances in English language from Thursday to Sunday (except February 4 to 5) at 2000 GST. For more information, visit www.expo2020dubai.com.
The site of Global Goals Week, which ran from January 15 to 22, 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai in association with the United Nations, came alive with post-it pledges and inspiring ‘to-do list’ activations, adding to the range of compelling forums and panel discussions.
The Theme Week advanced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all, tackling global challenges such as poverty, inequality, health and education, and climate change. Expo 2020 Dubai continues to be committed to promoting the SDGs thereby providing a platform to create
an impact for our collective future.
The attractions in the coming week are equally impressive, including a hotly anticipated concert by pop megastars Black Eyed Peas at Al Wasl Plaza on January 25, 2022 – the fourth show in Expo 2020 Dubai’s six-month Infinite Nights series. Expect popular hits and music from new album Translation from Los Angeles trio – will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap
and Taboo.
With Expo 2020 Dubai all set to close its gates for the final time on March 31, 2022, the visitors have only a few short weeks left to enjoy the site’s vast array of attractions. As part of the ‘It’s Now or Never, Only Until March 31’ marketing campaign, the Season Pass Finale ticket is available now for the price of AED 195, with a variety of entertainment and dining options.
Visitors aged 60 and above can now enjoy a number of enhanced services as part of the Senior Guests Programme. Open to any person eligible for a free Expo Senior Citizen Pass, the visitors can access dedicated priority parking spaces, use private buggies for up to five people for 90 minutes, gain fast-track entry to selected pavilions, and obtain a 30 per cent discount on lunch at select restaurants across the site.
For families, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Festival Garden is the perfect cool weather hang-out, with a host of childrens’ activities, music and entertainment. The venue is also hosting the Middle East’s first vegan food festival, running until this month-end.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s virtual visitation reached 72.5 million, driven by the range of entertainment available via Live@Expo, as well as extensive live coverage of the Global Goals Week sessions, which garnered 767,000 visitors across the planet.
Health and safety remain a key priority, with stringent rules in place across the site. Every visitor aged 18 years and above must show the proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative PCR test result taken within the previous 72 hours, while on-site measures include face mask-wearing – indoors and outdoors – for the visitors, staff and participants, PCR testing facilities for Country Pavilion staff, frontline workers as well as entertainers.
The Expo 2020 Dubai will run until March 31, 2022, inviting the world to join in a global celebration that will help shape a brighter, better future for everyone. ‘It’s Now or Never, Only Until March 31, 2022’.
