Expo 2020

Dream comes true as girl meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at Expo 2020

The youngster had featured in an earlier video saying she wanted to meet the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai

The National

October 30, 2021

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A young girl who wanted to have her photo taken with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at Expo 2020 got her wish.

Sheikh Mohammed invited the girl, 7, to Al Wasl Plaza after seeing a video online of her crying.

In a charming moment, Sheikh Mohammed hugged the child and posed for a photo. He presented her with a gold Expo pin badge.

The meeting was arranged after someone spotted a video posted by her family. In the clip, the girl is crying as she had not seen Sheikh Mohammed at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, head of protocol for the Vice President and Prime Minister, shared the following images.

Sheikh Mohammed is seen at the site most days as he welcomes visiting dignitaries, heads of state and visits each of the 191 pavilions.

Expo witnessed another packed weekend as families took advantage of the cooler weather to visit the world's fair.

Visitor numbers have rapidly risen in the past 10 days, helped by the half-term school break.

In the first 24 days, organisers recorded about 1.5 million visits and, using ticket scanning data, found many have returned for a second or third visit.

Expo 2020 Dubai latest - in pictures

Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
A mixture of Emirati's and Omani's perform a traditional dance routine with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. (Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National)
A mixture of Emirati's and Omani's perform a traditional dance routine with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. (Photo: Antonie Robertson / The National)
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emiratis and Omanis perform a traditional dance with traditional instruments native to the border areas that the two countries share. Antonie Robertson / The National
On Women's Day
Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Updated: November 03, 2021, 7:49 AM
Expo 2020 Dubai