Hayyakum - welcome to the world - is Expo 2020 Dubai’s greeting as it opens the doors on a six-month celebration of unity and co-operation.
Messages of hope for the future are woven into the opening ceremony of one of the biggest in-person gatherings since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Inside the landmark Al Wasl dome, spectators will see the story through the eyes of a young Emirati girl who receives an ancient golden ring as a gift.
The arches and domed trellis of Al Wasl, also called Expo’s jewel, are the canvas for a glittering show that will be seen inside and outside the structure.
It is a wow experience
Marco Carancini,
lighting engineer
The ring, a 3,000-year-old archaeological find, is the emblem of the Expo, which takes the girl on a journey in an extravagant musical production beamed across the 360-degree dome.
“We are bursting with hope and so happy to spread this to the world,” said Amna Abulhoul, executive creative director of Expo 2020 Dubai.
“This is our moment to share an Emirati story, but it does not reflect only the people of the UAE. It’s about how we can change the world when we come together.”
She said the story told by the young girl reflects “all Emiratis welcoming people to this land and making them feel at home”.
The performance, set in a garden built inside the dome, will feature 900 participants from 64 countries.
Tareq Ghosheh, Expo’s chief events and entertainment officer, said visitors would be enveloped in a sensory experience whether they were inside the Al Wasl dome or watching on screens at home.
“We want to tell an authentic story of this land and its people, to capture the nature and soul of Dubai and the UAE,” he said.
“We want to emphasise the historical moments of this nation, capture its unique spirit and convey it to a global audience in a way that is meaningful to people of all backgrounds and cultures.”
Across the site on Thursday, staff readied the venue with covers removed from chairs and tables, and cafes and restaurants stocked with water and refreshments.
The audio systems were checked by engineers, many of whom have been in the Emirates since June and will remain until the end of the world fair in March next year.
“It is a wow experience,” said Marco Carancini, an Italian engineer handling lighting for the event.
“Al Wasl is one of the biggest in the world. It’s a 360-degree experience and this is not normal to be inside a show, to feel like you are inside the lights, almost inside the video.”
Expo Dubai 2020 before opening night – in pictures
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
