Expo 2020 Dubai visit numbers have surged past 8 million after a packed festive schedule helped to draw in the crowds.
The international extravaganza continues to be the biggest show in town as people flock to the sprawling site from all over the Emirates and beyond.
Organisers arranged a star-studded line-up, including a concert by Academy and Grammy award-winning composer A.R. Rahman and shows featuring actress and singer Lea Salonga and singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe.
Many visitors took advantage of the Dh95 festive pass to enjoy the attractions at Expo during the Yuletide period.
On Christmas Eve, The Holy See held a prayer service for humanity, Lebanese singer Tania Kassis and the Festival Chorus performed a special carol service, while the UK’s most successful gospel choir group, the London Community Gospel Choir and American soul artist Naia Izumi performed.
The wide variety of themed events helped push visits to 8,067,012 to date.
The world's fair opened to the public on October 1.
Organisers have put in place stringent Covid-19 safety measures to safeguard the health of the thousands of people who visit each day.
Protocols include the mandatory wearing of masks - both indoors and outdoors - for visitors, staff and participants.
Venues may also close temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitisation in response to positive tests.
Visitors can look forward to ringing in the New Year at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Two of the world's top DJs will be taking to the decks on New Year's Eve at Jubilee Park, with Dimitri Vegas taking centre stage from 10.30pm and Armin Van Buuren providing the soundtrack for the first hours of 2022 from 1.30am.
The 2022 curtain-raiser will also include an international cast of Arab, Filipino and Indian DJs.
Dubai Metro will run throughout New Year’s Eve.
About 37 million online visits to Expo have been logged to date.
The dazzling opening ceremony raked in the highest views at 6 million.
More than 3 million viewed Alicia Keys' concert this month as she made a debut performance of her new double album, Keys.
Expo 2020 Dubai topped the list of most popular event hashtags in the UAE for 2021, Twitter said.
The social media platform tallied up the number of times certain big events were tagged in tweets and crowned the six-month world's fair the winner.
The global gathering has enjoyed a number of high-profile appearances since its launch.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has paid a number of visits, often touring pavilions with international leaders.
Sports star Lionel Messi - with football in hand - delighted fans after paying a surprise visit to Expo 2020 Dubai earlier this month.
The prolific forward, widely viewed as one of the best players in the history of the sport, met Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, during his tour.
Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31.
It features pavilions from more than 190 countries celebrating their culture, customs and visions for the future, as well as a programme of live events.
Honeymoonish
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
