Five things to do at Expo 2020 this weekend


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

Read More: 'Packed schedule' at Expo 2020 Dubai for public holiday weekend

Expo 2020 has more than 190 country pavilions, exhibitions at the Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability pavilions, hundreds of places at which to eat and many shows a day, so visitors have options galore to explore at the world's fair.

UAE residents and tourists are expected to visit the world’s greatest show more than once.

Walking around various pavilions, from hiking in the fog at the Swiss pavilion and soaking in the sights and sounds of old Jerusalem in the Palestine pavilion, there are experiences for every kind of taste at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Live Blog: Updates and live coverage from Expo 2020 Dubai

If you are thinking of heading down to the world’s fair, here are five of the cool experiences you can try out while you are there.

Cool down at the Expo 2020 Dubai's fire-spitting waterfall

The water feature at Expo 2020 Dubai with waves that cascade down stone walls is drawing crowds.

Visitors stopped off to dip their feet in the waterfall that crashes to the ground before disappearing into the stone. The water also dances to music as people frolic in the tumbling stream below.

The gravity-defying illusion is switched on at night, as the water appears to flow upwards and the stone is coloured with rainbow streaks.

The experience is set against a backdrop of specially composed music. An orchestra in London recorded the original score by well-known Game of Thrones music composer and two-time Emmy award winner Ramin Djawadi.

Read more: All you need to know about Expo 2020 Dubai's fire-spitting waterfall

Play games and make a pledge to help save the planet

Learn about how to save water, energy and food and pledge to contribute in a small or big way to saving the planet at the Opportunity pavilion.

The pavilion focuses on how every person can be an agent of change in helping to reach sustainable development goals.

Parallel "tracks" run through the pavilion, focusing on those themes of water, food and energy.

At the pavilion, visitors can play a game in which they help provide the right amount of sunshine and water to a plant to ensure it grows and blossoms.

The final area in the pavilion is the Pledge Room, which delivers a sensory experience giving visitors the illusion that they are in the clouds while looking at Earth and they can make pledges to work towards sustainable development goals.

These pledges are then displayed in panels across the ceiling.

Enjoy a light show at Al Wasl Dome

Al Wasl Dome, often called the beating heart of the Expo, truly comes to life at night.

People gather around the mammoth structure and watch the dazzling dance of lights and patterns as soothing music is played.

The Al Wasl Dome is at its most beautiful after night falls.

Visitors will remember the dome, it was used at the Expo's opening ceremony where its walls were lit with beautiful patterns.

Al Wasl Plaza’s dome is 130 metres in diameter and more than 67 metres tall.

Feel like you are in the Alps with a hike in the fog

If you want to forget the heat and humidity, there is nothing like a quick escape in the Alps.

At the Swiss pavilion, people can walk through a cloud of fog and feel like they are hiking in the Alps.

A hill was built from recycled stone, with high-tech sound and visuals added to recreate a panoramic view from the top of a mountain.

Deeksha Vasanthakumar, a Grade 7 pupil at Delhi Private School Dubai, was excited after her first trip on Wednesday.

Hiking through the fog in the Swiss pavilion was her favourite experience.

“I was in seventh heaven," said the 11-year-old Indian pupil.

Enjoy a kaleidoscope of colours at the Pakistan pavilion

Visitors at the Expo 2020 have been posting their share of photos of the colourful Pakistan pavilion.

Thousands of individual glass units of different sizes and colour were used to create the facade of the pavilion.

The result is an optical illusion for visitors as they walk past the unique structure.

The pavilion, which covers an area of 3,251 square metres in the Opportunity District, has a theme – The Hidden Treasure – intended to boost tourism, commerce and investment in Pakistan.

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Cricket World Cup League Two

Oman, UAE, Namibia

Al Amerat, Muscat

 

Results

Oman beat UAE by five wickets

UAE beat Namibia by eight runs

 

Fixtures

Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia

Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE

Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia

Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE v Ireland

1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets

2nd ODI, January 12

3rd ODI, January 14

4th ODI, January 16

Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

Updated: October 21, 2021, 5:06 AM