Latest: AR Rahman’s orchestra makes stellar live debut at Expo 2020
There was no doubting the hottest ticket in town this weekend as thousands braved the heat to stand in line for entry to pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Tourists and UAE residents alike made the most of the long weekend by flocking to the Expo site to see what was on show.
Queues were a common sight as visitors waited patiently to be admitted into the pavilions.
Among the biggest queues on Thursday and Friday afternoon were those for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, Italy, India and Switzerland pavilions.
“This is actually my second visit to the UAE pavilion,” said Syed Mohammed, 39, a typist from India.
“I came back again because there’s so much to see and it’s all really beautiful.
“The light displays and the big screens are fantastic – it’s definitely worth queuing for.”
One of the most eye-catching queues took the form of a sea of people holding red and white umbrellas outside the Swiss pavilion.
Visitors were each given an umbrella to protect them from the sun as they waited in line.
“The umbrellas are great in this heat,” said Pakistani Kashif Khan, 28, who works in Dubai as a store supervisor.
“I am sad that I can’t keep it as I have to give it back, but it’s a big help.”
Indian students Dushyant Agola and Nishant Detroja, both 21, came on holiday to Dubai to attend the Expo and queued for more than half an hour to see the Saudi Arabia pavilion.
“We are more than happy to wait because it’s such an incredible opportunity to learn about how Saudi Arabia looks to the future, while not forgetting about its ancient history,” said Mr Agola.
His fellow engineering student was equally upbeat about the pavilion, despite having to wait for 30 minutes to get in.
“It was brilliant to see all the displays and how the country has grown,” said Mr Detroja.
Lawyer Amir Amiri, 35, from Iran, decided to queue for the US pavilion after noticing that it seemed popular with visitors.
“I wasn’t expecting to be interested in the US pavilion but when I saw the size of the queue, I wanted to see what the fuss was about,” said Mr Amiri, who was in Dubai on a work trip.
“I’m eager to see all the culture from the different countries here.”
Shamsheer Sharfudden, 27, from India, spent almost 40 minutes waiting to get inside the Indian pavilion.
“It was a big queue and I was waiting for ages – I am not going to lie – but it was worth it,” he said.
“I already know all about the heritage of my home country but it was good to see so many others soaking it up.”
Luz Ortega, 33, from Venezuela used her technical nous to avoid queuing in the heat outside the Italian pavilion.
“I logged on to the Smart Queue online which meant I was able to get inside straight away and avoid waiting outside,” she said.
The Smart Queue system is available to all ticket holders and can be useful for avoiding long queues.
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Most wanted allegations
- Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
- Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
- Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer.
- Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
- Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
- John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
- Callum Michael Allan, 23: alleged drug dealing and assaulting an emergency worker.
- Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
- Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain.
- Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
- James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
- Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack.
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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'O'
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
