• Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
    Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
  • People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
    People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
  • People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
    People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
  • The US pavilion attracted visitors.
    The US pavilion attracted visitors.
  • Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
    Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
  • There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
    There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
  • People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
    People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
  • Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
    Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
  • The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
    The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.

Expo 2020 Dubai visitor numbers expected to reach one million mark in days


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here

Visitor numbers at Expo 2020 Dubai are expected to pass the one million mark within days, organisers have said.

Before the long weekend, ticketed visits were well on course to reach the milestone figure — with 771,477 recorded between October 1 and October 17.

With a bumper weekend reported at the site, starting from the public holiday on Thursday, those numbers are expected to have swelled considerably since then.

“Looking at the numbers, hopefully we will be able to reach this number very soon,” said Mohamed Al Ansaari, vice president of strategic communications, on Sunday morning.

“Every Monday we will be sharing the number of visitors.

“We are very happy with the level of participation and visitors at different pavilions and events.”

  • Originally from Malaysia, Dubai residents, from left, Lai-mei Fong, Justin Tah, Kara Tah, Tah-Kok Fofo, Tah-Kok Hong and Rachel Chiang visit Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Originally from Malaysia, Dubai residents, from left, Lai-mei Fong, Justin Tah, Kara Tah, Tah-Kok Fofo, Tah-Kok Hong and Rachel Chiang visit Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Tourists from Denmark, Stefan Tarp, 50, with sons Benjamin Tarp, 12, and William Tarp, 16, could not wait to explore the site.
    Tourists from Denmark, Stefan Tarp, 50, with sons Benjamin Tarp, 12, and William Tarp, 16, could not wait to explore the site.
  • Friends Raphel, Ashish Nair and Mujeeb Rahman check out the sights.
    Friends Raphel, Ashish Nair and Mujeeb Rahman check out the sights.
  • Family members Sridevi, left, Sreeram, centre, and Santosh Kumar visit the Expo for the first time.
    Family members Sridevi, left, Sreeram, centre, and Santosh Kumar visit the Expo for the first time.
  • Abu Dhabi resident Grace Sebastian and her sister Gelcy Sebastian arrive at the sprawling site.
    Abu Dhabi resident Grace Sebastian and her sister Gelcy Sebastian arrive at the sprawling site.
  • British couple Helene High, 52, a teacher, and Russell High, 55, a chartered accountant, drove from Abu Dhabi to visit the world's fair.
    British couple Helene High, 52, a teacher, and Russell High, 55, a chartered accountant, drove from Abu Dhabi to visit the world's fair.

There were queues at the site on Thursday and Friday, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, Italy, India and Switzerland pavilions proving the most popular.

The number of visitors to the Expo had increased by 12 per cent in a week, when the last set of data was made available.

Figures include all physical ticket holders but exclude representatives, delegations, guests from international participants and Expo staff.

“The level of engagement here is not just about the numbers, but also the meaningful discussions happening,” said Mr Al Ansaari.

“We are truly happy with the numbers so far, and will reveal on Monday exactly what they are.”

Visitors can avoid long queues at popular pavilions by using the Smart Queue system to book a slot ahead of time.

In the first ten days Expo 2020 Dubai attracted more than 400,000 visitors, with about 300,000 dropping in the week after that.

The Expo is proving to have more than a day's worth of exploration on offer as more than 30,000 people have visited the site three times already, and over 100,000 have been there twice.

The world’s fair, which spans more than four square kilometres, has welcomed more than 175 nationalities since its opening week.

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.

Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.

"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

Scores in brief:

Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).

Updated: October 24, 2021, 9:52 AM