With 192 pavilions, myriad exhibitions, hundreds of restaurants and non-stop activities, there are experiences for every taste at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here.
Each week, we round up some of the key highlights not to be missed at the world's fair. Celebrating their country days this week are New Zealand (January 31), Israel (January 31), Rwanda (February 1), Vanuatu (February 1), Spain (February 2), Cabo Verde (February 3), Nepal (February 3), Republic of Congo (February 4), Belgium (February 5) and Montenegro (February 6).
Here are our top picks of concerts happening at the fair this week:
1. Six60
Named New Zealand's most streamed artist on Spotify two years in a row, the five-piece, known to blend funk, dance, reggae and electronic music, will bring their sound to the Jubilee Stage to mark their country's day on Monday. Six60 have three albums to their name, all self-titled, and in 2019 became the first band from New Zealand to sell out the 50,000-capacity Western Springs Stadium in Auckland.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: January 31
Time: 9.30pm
2. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
A powerhouse in Bollywood music, the trio of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa have numerous hits to their name, starting with the 1999 film Shool. From their first major hit album, for the soundtrack of Mission Kashmir (2000), to the acclaimed Dil Chahta Hai (2001), all the way to Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), fans can expect non-stop hits from a career now spanning 25 years.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: February 4
Time: 8pm
3. Omar Khairat
Egyptian maestro Omar Khairat has lit up stages across the UAE on an annual basis, leading his large ensemble through an enviable catalogue of timeless compositions that bridge contemporary Egyptian and Western music.
Born in Cairo in 1948, Khairat has built up an impressive reputation in the Arab world and beyond, and has been commissioned to write or perform at the inauguration of numerous historic landmarks and events, including the 1996 opening of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina cultural centre and the new Suez Canal in 2015.
“[Dubai] is good place for me to play, as it’s often said my music crosses cultural boundaries and [it] is certainly a melting pot of a place where that now happens,” he once told The National in an interview.
Where: Al Wasl Plaza
When: February 5
Time: 8.30pm
4. Myriam Fares
Lebanese pop sensation Myriam Fares has recently been making all the right moves on and off stage. The singer, who performed in Abu Dhabi in July last year, also released a documentary earlier in 2021, one of the first Arab pop stars to do so.
The film, Myriam Fares: The Journey, on Netflix gave fans a closer look into the Ghmorni singer's life during the pandemic, from pregnancy to album preparations, and it was trending on the platform soon after its debut.
“Normally I try to keep my private life away from the spotlight, but I realised this was an opportunity to show people what my life looks away from the stage. And in many ways, it’s the normal things and everyday moments we spend with family," Fares told The National, while also confirming that a new album was in the works.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: February 5
Time: 9pm
5. Lucky Ali
Known for his distinct voice, Lucky Ali was one of the biggest names in pop in India in the 1990s with chart-topping albums such as Sunoh (1996) and Sifar (1998). Coming from a Bollywood family, he has also starred in a number of hit films including Sur – The Melody of Life in 2002, which featured the viral song Aa Bhi Ja Aa Bhi Ja, performed by him.
"I’m coming to the UAE after a decade and I’m so excited that it’s at Expo 2020 Dubai," the singer posted on Instagram.
Where: Jubilee Park
When: February 5
Time: 7pm
6. Firdaus Orchestra featuring AR Rahman
Specially created for Expo 2020 Dubai, the pioneering all-woman orchestra returns with its maestro after a number of stellar performances at the world fair. Rahman will join his team for a performance that will feature a mix of classical music as well as soundtracks from Bollywood and Hollywood films.
First debuted in October, Firdaus Orchestra has received wide acclaim, with one performance even featuring Rahman's daughter Khatija, who performed her Oscar-winning father's composition at a show in November.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: February 6
Time: 6.15pm
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from football star Cristiano Ronaldo's appearance at the Expo 2020 Dubai:
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
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RESULTS
Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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World Cup qualifier
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
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Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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