Kadim Al Sahir will perform as part of Expo 2020 Dubai's Infinite Nights series on October 15. Photo: Sahara
Kadim Al Sahir will perform as part of Expo 2020 Dubai's Infinite Nights series on October 15. Photo: Sahara
Kadim Al Sahir will perform as part of Expo 2020 Dubai's Infinite Nights series on October 15. Photo: Sahara
Kadim Al Sahir will perform as part of Expo 2020 Dubai's Infinite Nights series on October 15. Photo: Sahara

21 October events at Expo 2020 Dubai worth putting in your diary


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

From October 1, no one in the UAE will be able to complain about having nothing to do, as Expo 2020 Dubai provides entertainment galore for its millions of visitors across six months.

Next month, as festivities kick off at the "world's greatest show", expect a wide range of performances, including from Hungarian troupe Fricska Rhythm, Pakistani chart-topper Atif Aslam, Israeli electronic duo Infected Mushroom and Iraqi superstar Kadim Al Sahir, to name a few.

Events spanning art, culture, theatre and music are planned throughout, with regular daily and weekly showings, but this list is made up entirely of one-off gigs.

Access to every one comes free with an Expo 2020 Dubai pass.

Al Wasl Plaza is one of the venues at Expo 2020 Dubai where performances will take place. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Al Wasl Plaza is one of the venues at Expo 2020 Dubai where performances will take place. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Fricska Rhythm

Country pavilion: Hungary

What it is: An interactive 30-minute performance and celebration of contemporary dance drawing from the Hungarian tradition of Fricska. The dance form gained international fame after a trio appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2015 and took the title of world’s fastest folk dancers.

Venue: Earth Stage (2pm), Sea Stage (5.30pm) and The Bowl (8.30pm)

Timings: 2pm, 5.30pm, 8.30pm

Date: Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2

Street performers for France National Day

Country pavilion: France

What it is: In time for France’s national day, the first national day to be marked during the World Expo, a number of street performers will be roaming around Expo 2020 Dubai, including Bleu-Blanc-Rouge balloon clown, with his madcap antics that will surely entertain children.

Venue: 2020 Plaza (10am), Sun Plaza (11.30am and 5.30pm), The Campfire (3pm)

Timings: 10am, 11.30am, 3pm, 5.30pm

Date: Saturday, October 2

Kapa Haka

Country pavilion: New Zealand

What it is: Experience the soul and spirit of Maori culture via this Kapa Haka performance that showcases the history and power of its language and music. This indigenous group dance is unique to Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand.

Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

Timings: 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 4pm

Date: Sunday and Monday, October 3 and 4

Step Afrika!

Country pavilion: America

What it is: Step Afrika! Is one of the top African-American dance companies in the US, founded in 1994 as the first professional brand dedicated to the tradition of stepping. The troupe, which has toured more than 60 countries, demonstrates a percussive, contemporary dance form integrating songs, storytelling, humour and audience participation.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: Various times each day

Date: Sunday and Tuesday to Saturday, October 3 and 5 to 9

Expo Beats: World Beats

What it is: This festival, part of the official Expo 2020 Dubai programming, will take place monthly, with a line-up of dance, spoken word and other performances. The sets will change each month and be based on a distinct musical theme, with the first bringing together disparate talents from around the world. Specific acts are yet to be announced, but the show will run until 1am each night.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: From 4pm

Date: Thursday to Saturday, October 7 to 9

Kerekes band

Country pavilion: Hungary

This band, formed in 1995, performs folk music from Moldova, with influences from Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, as well as jazz, funk and Balkan tunes. The group refer to their genre as “ethno-funk”, and they'll perform 30-minute sets throughout two days.

Venue: Sea Stage

Timings: 11.30am, 2.30pm, 5.30pm, 1.30pm

Date: Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9

Atif Aslam and Pakistan celebrations

Country pavilion: Pakistan

What it is: In the presence of Pakistan’s prime minister, different performers representing each region will showcase their talents. A concert by chart-topping singer-songwriter Atif Aslam will also take place as part of the two-and-a-half-hour celebrations.

Venue: Yet to be confirmed

Timings: 9am, 8.30pm

Date: Saturday, October 9

Singer Atif Aslam will perform as part of Pakistan's celebrations. Photo: Atif Aslam
Singer Atif Aslam will perform as part of Pakistan's celebrations. Photo: Atif Aslam

Ocean by Tallinn Sinfonia and World Cleanup Day

Country pavilion: Estonia

What it is: Tallinn Sinfonia, a creative ensemble that produces theatrical concert performances, showcases its production of Ocean, which premiered in July, to mark World Cleanup Day, which took place on September 18. This performance of sound and art addresses one of Expo 2020 Dubai’s key themes: sustainability.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: 7pm

Date: Saturday, October 9

Le Ballet National du Senegal

Country pavilion: Senegal

What it is: This one-hour ballet showcase by Le Ballet National du Senegal, a leading dance company in West Africa, will take place on Wednesday, October 13. Expect a high-energy performance with plenty of percussion and cultural diversity.

Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

Timings: 9pm

Date: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, October 12, 13, 15 and 16

Artefactum: Christian, Arab and Sephardic music

Country pavilion: Spain

What it is: Learn about the development and culture of Spanish people via this two-hour musical show that spans periods from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and Baroque, and encompasses tunes from Christian, Arab and Sephardic traditions.

Venue: Terra Auditorium

Timings: 6pm, 6.30pm

Date: Wednesday and Thursday, October 13 and 14

Kadim Al Sahir

What it is: One of the most successful Arab artists in history will return to the stage for the first time since the pandemic began for Expo 2020 Dubai’s Infinite Nights series. Expect a performance of the Iraqi superstar’s biggest classical and pop hits. Ticket holders can also watch the concert via screens at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre and Jubilee Park.

Venue: Al Wasl Plaza

Timings: 10pm

Date: Friday, October 15

Kadim Al Sahir will perform at Al Wasl Plaza. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Kadim Al Sahir will perform at Al Wasl Plaza. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Los Rabanes

Country pavilion: Panama

What it is: This performance by the Latin Grammy-winning ska-rock fusion band will be supported by emerging Panamanian acts Idania Dowman and Margarita Henriquez. During a two-decade career, the group has released eight albums, the latest of which came out this year. They’re widely credited as pioneers in their genre, becoming the first band from Central America to win a Latin Grammy in the Best Rock Album category.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: 10.30pm

Date: Thursday, October 21

Gala concert

Country pavilion: Lithuania

What it is: This three-hour gala concert will present a fusion of classical and contemporary opera with electronic music that plays into the Expo 2020 Dubai theme “connecting minds, creating the future”. The Lithuanian president and / or the head of state is slated to be in attendance.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: 8pm

Date: Friday, October 22

EU Honour Day Gala

What it is: As part of the Expo’s programme of “honour days”, the European Union will be in focus on Saturday, October 23, and with that comes a 70-minute gala of classical music and dance that symbolises the conception and evolution of the allyship. It will encompass works from composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, Paganini, Schubert and Beethoven.

Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

Timings: 8am, 5pm, 6pm, 8pm

Date: Saturday, October 23

Infected Mushroom

Country pavilion: Israel

What it is: As one of the bestselling groups in Israeli music history, the musical duo Infected Mushroom will be representing their homeland via a performance of trance, electronic and psychedelic music. Expect to dance.

Venue: Yet to be confirmed

Timings: 9.30pm

Date: Saturday, October 23

Rosario La Tremendita’s ‘Delirium Tremens 2.0’

Country pavilion: Spain

What it is: Flamenco singer Rosario La Tremendita will no doubt have the audience on their feet, clapping their hands along to tracks from her new album, Delirium Tremens.

Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

Timings: 8pm

Date: Sunday, October 24

Veronika Harcsa and Balint Gyemant

Country pavilion: Hungary

What it is: These world-famous Hungarian jazz musicians will perform a short gig together for one day only. Harcsa describes their music in this way: “Our songs have verses, bridges and refrains like a pop song, but the melodies and harmonies are rooted in jazz aesthetics and modern music.”

Venue: Earth Stage

Timings: 8.30pm

Date: Monday, October 25

The Relations

Country pavilion: Seychelles

What it is: Award-winning band The Relations from the Seychelles will perform their top tunes in a two-hour concert.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: 8pm

Date: Wednesday, October 27

Robot Radius

Country pavilion: Czech Republic

What it is: This technologically advanced pantomime is based on the 1920s science fiction play Rossum’s Universal Robots by Czech writer Karel Capek. It premiered in Prague in 1921, and was performed in New York in 1922, garnering worldwide acclaim for Capek and popularising the word “robot”.

Venue: DEC Hall 2A South

Timings: 6pm and 8pm

Date: Thursday, October 28

Olga Pericet

Country pavilion: Spain

What it is: The globally renowned Spanish dancer and choreographer, who fuses flamenco and contemporary styles, embarks on a personal journey through dance based on memories and her own life experiences.

Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

Timings: 7pm

Dates: Thursday and Friday, October 28 and 29

Samhain Gaelic festival by Siamsa Tire

What it is: This Irish dance and musical experience celebrates Samhain, or Halloween, through ancient Celtic folklore with performers dressed in animal costumes as they dance around a bonfire, marking the end of the harvest and the arrival of winter.

Venue: Jubilee Stage

Timings: 5pm, 6pm, 9pm

Date: Friday to Sunday, October 29 to 31

Read more

Inside Rove Expo 2020, the only hotel at 'the world's greatest show' in Dubai

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Herc's Adventures

Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
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)
Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Florida: The critical Sunshine State

Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991. 

Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.

In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

EPL's youngest
  • Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
    15 years, 181 days old
  • Max Dowman (Arsenal)
    15 years, 235 days old
  • Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
    15 years, 271 days old
  • Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
    16 years, 30 days old
  • Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
    16 years, 68 days old
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

The bio:

Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.

Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.

Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.

Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.

 

Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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Company Profile

Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

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.

 

Updated: September 18, 2021, 2:30 PM`