Dubai pupils look forward to once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of history at Expo 2020

Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here

Dubai pupils performing at Expo 2020 will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their talents to a global audience.

UAE pupils will sing in choirs and dance in flash mobs and co-ordinated routines. Some schools will organise performances that will celebrate the themes of Expo 2020.

Every pupil in the UAE will also be given the chance to enjoy a free guided tour of the site during the six months of the event.

Expo 2020 Dubai will open with a spectacular ceremony featuring hundreds of performers in a show to be broadcast live across the world.

Pupils have really missed out in the last 18 months on seeing live shows so that’s something we are very excited about

Georgie Ross,
Dubai British School Jumeirah Park

Sara Shah, an 11-year-old seventh-grader at Gems Modern Academy, was excited to be part of the opening ceremony choir.

“I have had three rehearsals at the Expo 2020 site and it has been an amazing experience so far,” Sara said.

“It is a dream come true for me to perform at such a big platform.

“I am really looking forward to being part of the historical event.”

To audition to the choir, Sara had to record a video of herself singing and send it to the organisers. She heard back this month that she had made the cut and would be part of the opening ceremony.

“It has been so long since we were able to go on field trips and excursions with our peers and teachers ... I am really looking forward to attending the Expo," she said.

World-famous musicians such as opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Golden Globe-winning actress, singer and songwriter Andra Day, platinum-selling British pop star Ellie Goulding will also perform at the ceremony.

Part of history

Elli Mia Toland says her dream is to be a performer in the West End or on Broadway.

Elli Mia Toland, a 17-year-old pupil at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, is a performing-arts student who has missed singing in front of an audience during the past year.

To make up for it, the Swiss-Irish teenager will sing with the Expo 2020 choir at Al Wasl Plaza.

“My dream is to be a performer in the West End or on Broadway. Being able to sing on stage is living the dream for me,” she said.

“It was has been so long since I was able to perform.”

Elli Mia was looking forward to her first rehearsal on Sunday.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Expo 2020 as this is part of history,” she said.

Showcasing children's talents

The choir at Dubai British School, Jumeirah Park pictured during rehearsal.

Georgie Ross, director of performing arts at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, said she expected close to 100 pupils at her school to be part of performances at various events – flash mobs, drama, dances and songs – at Expo 2020.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for pupils. The venue is incredible," Ms Ross said.

“They will be performing on exquisite stages with fantastic equipment and it’s an opportunity for them to showcase their talents in front of people from all over the world."

About 30-50 pupils at the school will participate in the Expo 2020 Young Stars programme.

For this event, each participating school will interpret the Expo themes through a 20-minute performance.

Ms Ross said they were working around music that had been specially produced for Expo 2020.

“We are hoping to be able to offer pupils across primary and secondary schools the opportunity to see some of the live events," Ms Ross said.

“Pupils have really missed out in the last 18 months on seeing live shows so that’s something we are very excited about."

Expand their horizons

“I think it is a big thing to say that I have performed at the Expo," says Lottie Commons.

For Lottie Commons, a 16-year-old pupil at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, she hopes performing at the Expo will set her apart from her peers when she applies for university.

The British performing-arts pupil was excited to be selected as a singer and dancer at the Expo.

“I think it is a big thing to say that I have performed at the Expo. It is a world-known thing and it will put me in good stead.

“When I apply for university, it will be set me apart from the group because not many people would be able to say that they have performed at the Expo.

“I am really excited to do both as I study performing arts as my BTEC but it has been a while since I have been able to perform."

She will dance as part of a flash mob at various locations throughout Expo.

"As a proud Indian, I can come to the Expo and show my dance and culture," says Isha Shukla, grade 11 at Delhi Private School, Jebel Ali. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Pupils at Delhi Private School Dubai will dance at the Indian pavilion.

For Isha Shukla, a 16-year-old 11th grader at the school, performing at Expo is a chance to show her culture to the world.

"We will be dancing to Indian songs. As a proud Indian, I can come to the Expo and show my dance and culture," she said.

"This makes me feel happy and as I am inspiring many Indians."

Sanchith Rao, 16, grade 11 at Delhi Private School at Jebel Ali, Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Isha said she was looking forward to doing the Bhangra, a traditional folk dance from the Indian state of Punjab.

The pupils started rehearsing a few weeks ago.

Sanchith Rao, 16, a grade-11 Indian pupil at Delhi Private School, will also dance at the Indian pavilion and said he was proud to be part of an event at this scale.

The pupil said he was keen to learn new things at the event.

"Exploring the entire Expo may not be possible, but I am looking forward to learning about different cultures and countries, and interacting with technology at various pavilions," he said.

Rashmi Nandkeolyar, principal at Delhi Private School Dubai, said they intend to allow their pupils to explore everything Expo has to offer.

“It’s a great opportunity for our pupils to expand their horizons, become future-ready and be inspired to take on future challenges,” she said.

“We have signed up with the Indian pavilion to put up several shows through the year. We are also participating in the main Expo event.”

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Electric scooters: some rules to remember

Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics