Read also: Expo 2020 Dubai tickets and opening hours - plan your visit with a month to go
There is now less than a month to go before the start of Expo 2020 Dubai and organisers of the World Fair have started to reveal details of the attractions and events on offer.
Children can enter Expo 2020 Dubai for free and many of the 190-plus pavilions have been designed with young people in mind.
Organisers promise tonnes of child-friendly activities, interactive exhibits, workshops, shows and a “world of extraordinary possibilities".
The National took a look at how to plan a trip to Expo 2020 Dubai with children and to find out which are the best attractions for those under 18.
How much does it cost to go to Expo 2020 Dubai with children?
Children under 18 as well as tertiary and higher education students can go to Expo 2020 Dubai as many times as they want, free of charge, for the entire six months of the World Fair.
What attractions are there at Expo 2020 Dubai for children?
With street festivals, daily parades, digital theatre, dance routines, stage shows, music and concerts, plus a smattering of A-list stars, there will be plenty of attractions for children at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Also, organisers have designed parks, playgrounds and family areas specifically for children to play and run.
Look out for a Mars-inspired play centre called Latifa’s Adventures, where children can climb their way to the Red Planet on fun nets while learning all about planets and the universe. Trampolines are included, so this could be a good way to tire them out.
After sunset, children will love the immersive light show in Al Wasl Plaza’s garden, and look out - and up - for acrobatic routines and regular firework displays.
Is there a particular pavilion that is good for children?
Children can learn about the natural world through a forest experience in the Belarus Pavilion in the Opportunity District, where an interactive “Tree of Mind” installation will keep them busy. Plus, look out for live performances by national folk and dance groups.
The kaleidoscopic experience at the Monaco Pavilion will delight children and reveal new perspectives through a multisensory mirrored exhibition space.
A “jump and run” game in which children guide a baby penguin back to safety past the deadly dangers of the Arctic is also available. They will also see how robotic baby penguins can be used to observe penguin behaviour.
Are there special shows for children at Expo 2020 Dubai?
Every morning from October 1, thousands of pupils from schools in the UAE will put on song and dance shows in Al Wasl dome, the centrepiece of the entire site.
The entertainment continues during the afternoons, when families can watch international choirs and dance troupes as part of a Music in the Garden series at Al Wasl dome.
The Expo mascot show at Al Wasl Dome is also a must-see event. Children are encouraged to help Rashid and Latifa restore the beauty of our planet as they battle Mr Scrap and find Salama’s stolen secrets.
The action is certain to capture the whole family's attention, as it takes place partly on the 360-degree screen.
Are there special events for children at Expo 2020 Dubai?
Every major holiday that takes place during Expo 2020 Dubai's six-month stint will be celebrated at the World Fair, including Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Expect special events on those days for both children and adults.
Furthermore, every country will be allocated a “national day”, when they will take part in the Colours of the World parade on Ghaf Avenue. This lunchtime event promises to be a colourful, cultural fusion, and a great opportunity for children to learn more about world cultures.
Budding astronauts will love Expo Space Week, which runs from October 17-23, and on Christmas Eve, December 24, Sri Lanka will host a book reading under the stars event for children.
Can schools arrange trips to Expo 2020 Dubai?
The World Fair is also running an Expo School Programme, with four interactive tours designed especially for school pupils.
The curated tours are titled “Legacy of the UAE”, “World of Opportunities”, “Sustainable Planet” and “Universe in Motion”, and aim to inspire pupils as they discover the latest technologies and ideas featured at the 200-plus pavilions.
Schools can book the tours now.
How can I tour Expo 2020 Dubai with children?
Strollers and wheelchairs (manual and electric) are available for rent at Information Points, which are located by the four main entrance gates and throughout the Expo 2020 site.
Little legs can also recover on the Expo people mover, a free bus system that runs around the perimeter of the Expo site and is fully accessible for families with strollers.
There are also a limited number of golf buggies available for hire at each of the four main entrance gates.
Where and what can children eat at Expo 2020 Dubai?
Many of the 200-plus restaurants, cafes and kiosks have special children’s menus and tempting snacks for even the pickiest of eaters.
Organisers have also ensured there are also plenty of family-friendly dining areas, plus green park areas for picnics.
Keep an eye out for delicious vegan cookies from Floozie Cookie in Terra - the Sustainability pavilion, pasta and pizza at Scarpetta, burgers at Adrift Burger Bar and all-day American food at The National.
What facilities do you have for parents at Expo 2020 Dubai?
Family toilets, breastfeeding rooms and changing facilities are available for family use.
Expo's Visitor Centres include dedicated family toilets and breastfeeding rooms equipped with bottle-warming facilities, plus there are changing and shower facilities in all men and women's restrooms.
If a child should take a tumble and graze a knee, there are seven first aid posts staffed with medics who are equipped to provide visitors with the necessary care in any emergency.
What if my child gets lost at Expo 2020 Dubai?
If a child becomes separated from their parent, they will be escorted to the nearest Information Point.
The staff there will help locate the parents and reunite the child with their family.
Watch: spectacular drone footage of Expo 2020 Dubai
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Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
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Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
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Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
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Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
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Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
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Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
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Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
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Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
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Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
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Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
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Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
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“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
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Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
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“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
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In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
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