A guide to what's happening on New Year's Day at Expo 2020 Dubai


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

There's plenty of entertainment lined up at Expo 2020 Dubai for New Year's Eve, but New Year's Day at the site will also be bustling.

From food deals to live performances and new art installations, there are myriad events for all the family to enjoy.

Here's a slice of what's on offer:

A trio of Arab artists

Emirati singer and oud player Jassim Mohammed will perform on New Year's Day at Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Emirati singer and oud player Jassim Mohammed will perform on New Year's Day at Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

One of the day's biggest events is a performance by three Arab artists. Emirati soul musician Arqam, who plays the keyboard and guitar, will perform a set, followed by Saudi singer Hamza Hawsawi, who first found fame on The X Factor Arabia in 2013 with his blend of R&B and his home country's culture.

Emirati stalwart Jassim Mohammed, a singer and oud player who specialises in opera music, will also perform.

The concert takes place from 9.30pm at Jubilee Park.

Veganuary at Expo

A host of restaurants are putting on special vegan meal deals throughout January to mark the beginning of the UK initiative Veganuary, before a full vegan food festival kicks off at Expo on Friday, January 14.

Melbourne Lane at the Australia Pavilion, for example, is serving up hot or iced vegan-friendly lattes, plant-based Milo chocolate and fruit smoothies, plus Vegemite and Bega dairy-free cheese toasties.

Melbourne Lane at the Australia Pavilion will serve vegan treats throughout January. Pawan Singh / The National
Melbourne Lane at the Australia Pavilion will serve vegan treats throughout January. Pawan Singh / The National

Canvas by Coffee + Culture in the Opportunity District will have a purely vegan all-day menu, plus coffee from Emirati Coffee Roastery.

Adrift Burger Bar is offering to make "any burger vegan" throughout January with an Impossible Burger patty, plus vegan bun and toppings, from Dh75.

Over at the Singapore Pavilion's food kiosk, find vegan siew mai, char siew pau and satay, with prices from Dh20. The Korean restaurant at the country's pavilion is also serving up some plant-based Korean specials that cost Dh68 each.

Yemen country day

Yemen kicks off Expo 2020's countru day programme in 2022, as January 1 is dedicated to the Arab country. There will be Yemeni music and dance performances featuring four singers, including Hussain Moheb, one of the nation's biggest selling artists. Ten musicians and traditional Yemeni folkloric dancers will also perform.

The showcase takes place between 8pm and 11pm at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.

A Belarusian folk ensemble

Over at the Belarus Pavilion, a performance by folk music ensemble Vytsinanka will take place between 11am and noon. It'll feature the regional folklore of the Polesie region, author's songs, plus various music styles.

Hungarian swing show

Group'n'Swing is a 10-piece band from Hungary who have represented their country at the Eurovision Song Contest several times. Now they're at Expo, showing off their blend of soul, pop, twist, rockabilly and, of course, swing.

Expect toe-tapping tunes and some eye-catching choreography at the shows, which are taking place at Sea Stage in the Mobility District from 2pm to 3pm on Saturday and again from 3.30pm to 4pm and 6pm to 6.30pm on Sunday.

Dogs with Dubai Police

A new activity for dog lovers has begun at Expo, running every Saturday until March 26. Head to the Main Smart Police Station to discover spaniels, cocker spaniels and border collies, and have your photos taken with the pooches.

It's at the 2020 Plaza in Al Wasl Zone and will take place from 6pm to 8pm on Saturday.

Scroll through our gallery below to see the "local gem" restaurants at Expo 2020 Dubai.

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything

Director: Asif Kapadia

4/5

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While you're here
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster

Squads

India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.

Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.

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How to increase your savings
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- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

 

 

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MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Updated: December 28, 2021, 10:32 AM`