Access to the Surreal water feature, a cascading waterfall, and the massive Al Wasl dome is free from October 1. All photos: Expo City
Access to the Surreal water feature, a cascading waterfall, and the massive Al Wasl dome is free from October 1. All photos: Expo City
The Women's Pavilion depicts the challenges faced by women and optimism for a more equal world.
The Women's Pavilion depicts the challenges faced by women and optimism for a more equal world.
The Vision Pavilion celebrates the life of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The Vision Pavilion celebrates the life of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Entry will be free to Al Wasl dome.
Entry will be free to Al Wasl dome.
Alif - The Mobility Pavilion reopened in September.
Alif - The Mobility Pavilion reopened in September.
Laboratory of Future Values at Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion.
Laboratory of Future Values at Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion.

UAE

Dazzling Al Wasl dome to 'reawaken' for Expo City Dubai opening on Saturday

Shining jewel of world's fair will again take centre stage at legacy site

The National

September 30, 2022

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The dazzling Al Wasl dome will shine bright once more as Expo City Dubai embarks on a new era on Saturday.

The glittering centrepiece of the world's fair is to spring into life in style with a spectacular show planned for the official opening of the legacy site.

Known as Expo’s crown jewel, the 360-degree translucent structure will remain at the heart of Expo City Dubai.

The 'Awakening of Al Wasl' show will get under way at 6.15pm, with organisers promising a celebration of the creative and enterprising spirit of the emirate.

Expo City Dubai opens to the public — in pictures

Expo City Dubai officially opened on Saturday, October 1, a year after the world's fair launched. Expo 2020 Dubai attracted more than 24 million visits. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Expo City Dubai officially opened on Saturday, October 1, a year after the world's fair launched. Expo 2020 Dubai attracted more than 24 million visits. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitor favourite the Vision Pavilion is inspired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Visitor favourite the Vision Pavilion is inspired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
The Vision Pavilion is reopening to visitors at the repurposed site of the world's fair. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
The Vision Pavilion is reopening to visitors at the repurposed site of the world's fair. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
The gravity defying Surreal water feature is also reopening to visitors at Expo City Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
The gravity defying Surreal water feature is also reopening to visitors at Expo City Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Football superstar Lionel Messi was among the millions of visitors entranced by the Surreal water feature. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Football superstar Lionel Messi was among the millions of visitors entranced by the Surreal water feature. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
A panoramic view from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
A panoramic view from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
A member of the French Air Force Patrouille de France aerobatics team flies past the Garden in the Sky during the world's fair. AP
A member of the French Air Force Patrouille de France aerobatics team flies past the Garden in the Sky during the world's fair. AP
A night view of the Expo 2020 Dubai site from the Garden in the Sky. Victor Besa / The National.
A night view of the Expo 2020 Dubai site from the Garden in the Sky. Victor Besa / The National.
Visitors enjoy the view from the Garden in the Sky during the world's fair. The 55-metre tall observation tower is reopening in the revamped Expo City Dubai site. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors enjoy the view from the Garden in the Sky during the world's fair. The 55-metre tall observation tower is reopening in the revamped Expo City Dubai site. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors can explore much of the former site of the world fair and visit the centrepiece Al Wasl dome without charge. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitors can explore much of the former site of the world fair and visit the centrepiece Al Wasl dome without charge. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Alif, the Mobility Pavilion, houses an interactive exhibition. It costs Dh50 ($13) to enter the attraction at the revamped site of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Alif, the Mobility Pavilion, houses an interactive exhibition. It costs Dh50 ($13) to enter the attraction at the revamped site of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An Emirati Bedouin display at Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An Emirati Bedouin display at Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The spectacular glowing globe in the pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The spectacular glowing globe in the pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Many of the same pavilion's popular exhibits from the world's fair will still be on display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Many of the same pavilion's popular exhibits from the world's fair will still be on display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitors explore Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitors explore Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The pavilion was designed by Foster + Partners, known for their modernist steel-and-glass designs. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The pavilion was designed by Foster + Partners, known for their modernist steel-and-glass designs. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A nine-metre statue of Arab mathematician and philosopher Al Kindi is located in the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A nine-metre statue of Arab mathematician and philosopher Al Kindi is located in the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A visitor admires a stunning display in Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A visitor admires a stunning display in Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A historic bas relief carving, inside Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A historic bas relief carving, inside Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A display on 11th-century historian and geographer Abu Ubayd Al Bakri, inside Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A display on 11th-century historian and geographer Abu Ubayd Al Bakri, inside Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitors outside Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Visitors outside Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The hall of consumption inside Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The hall of consumption inside Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A food option at Expo City Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A food option at Expo City Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Expo City Dubai opens. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Expo City Dubai opens. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The vast dome will be lit up with colourful projection displays from Wednesday to Sunday each week and is free to visit.

The October 1 opening event marks one year since the Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed the world to the emirate, going on to draw more than 20 million visits during its six month-run.

Expo City Dubai this week announced a Dh120 one-day pass that will give people admission to at least four main pavilions from Saturday.

The pass will allow visitors access to the Vision and Women’s pavilions, which opens on Saturday. It will also offer entry to Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion and Alif, the Mobility Pavilion. They reopened in September as part of a soft launch.

The Vision Pavilion celebrates the life of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and the Women's Pavilion depicts the challenges faced by women and optimism for a more equal world.

More pavilions will be added to the one-day pass as these open.

Passes can be bought online at www.expocitydubai.com.

Children aged 12 and under and people with disabilities can visit all pavilions free but need a ticket to enter. They can pick up a complimentary pass at any ticketing booth at Expo City Dubai.

Access to the Surreal water feature, a cascading waterfall, as well as Al Wasl dome, is free.

Special programmes can be booked by school groups. There are workshops and science shows tailored for different ages for an in-depth understanding of the links between energy, water, food and transport.

The common areas of Dubai's latest neighbourhood are open to all visitors, with individual pavilion tickets priced at Dh50 per person.

While you're here
Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Updated: September 30, 2022, 7:29 AM`
DubaiUAEExpo 2020 Dubai