LIVE BLOG: Latest on Expo 2020 Dubai here
Are you looking to pick up a few souvenirs from Expo 2020 Dubai on a budget?
If so, The National has you covered as the event is a true treasure trove of random trinkets that are available free of charge to visitors.
I spent a couple of hours checking out what pavilions were giving away free of charge to visitors on Thursday afternoon.
Now, as I type these very words, I am the proud owner of a pair of VR goggles from Botswana, a book about investing in Mongolia, a coaster from the Dominican Republic, another book about coconuts in the Seychelles and a luggage tag from Antigua and Barbuda.
My hunt for trinkets did not get off to the most auspicious of starts with a visit to the Montenegro pavilion.
“If visitors want something they have to pay for it, it’s the same for everyone,” said the assistant, impervious to my attempts to sway her.
My mission to fill my backpack with as much free stuff as possible was met with more sympathy at the Lesotho pavilion, where it was explained to me there would be plenty of freebies for visitors – they just had not arrived yet.
It was on to the nearby Suriname pavilion where I was told a similar story. It was at this point that I was starting to doubt the wisdom of taking this task on, especially in the searing midday sun.
Thankfully, my faith was restored at the Seychelles pavilion where I received the gift of a hardback book about a type of coconut that is indigenous to the country.
Next up was the Swedish pavilion where I was able to get a free carton of water, most welcome in the desert sun to say the least.
I was informed that it was not just any water, the cartons were being displayed on a table that was made from similar cartons that had been recycled.
I said a hasty thanks and headed to the Azerbaijan stand next door.
The welcome could not have been warmer and I was told there would be plenty of freebies for visitors, from bags to stickers, in a few weeks’ time.
The next stop was the Kuwait pavilion where I was informed they could not give me any trinkets but every visitor could get a free ice cream and coffee.
As refreshing as this was, I was beginning to lose hope that I would be able to proudly display a table full of collector's items at the end of the day.
If ever there was an aptly named section of the Expo though it’s the Opportunity District.
My first stop was at Botswana and I could not believe my luck.
“We’re giving visitors interactive Virtual Reality headsets as well as brochures about Botswana,” said the assistant.
In terms of free swag, it does not get much better than VR headsets.
Mongolia was next up where I continued my streak by getting a free postcard and a book offering tips on how to invest in the country.
I now have no excuses for not understanding the nuances of investment laws in Mongolia.
A trip to the Antigua and Barbuda pavilion also paid off when it came to obtaining random freebies.
“Yes, we’ve got luggage tags that we are giving out to visitors. Of course you can have one,” said the helpful Francine.
At the nearby Dominican Republic there were further goodies waiting to slip into my swag-bag free of charge.
I was given a free coaster here which would have come in useful earlier with my free coffee at the Kuwait pavilion.
I checked in with the Jordanian pavilion finally, where I was told they were not giving anything away for free but in true souq fashion assured me they could do a good deal if I bought several products from the gift shop.
As my mission neared its end I felt that all in all it had been a success.
Visitors can rest assured they will find plenty of hidden treasures available at Expo, and not all of them will have them reaching for their wallets.
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXare%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%2018%2C%202021%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPadmini%20Gupta%2C%20Milind%20Singh%2C%20Mandeep%20Singh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20Raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410%20million%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E28%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMS%26amp%3BAD%20Ventures%2C%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Astra%20Amco%2C%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%2C%20Fintech%20Fund%2C%20500%20Startups%2C%20Khwarizmi%20Ventures%2C%20and%20Phoenician%20Funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Indika
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2011%20Bit%20Studios%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Odd%20Meter%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
