It was a time for emotional farewells and last tours of much-loved pavilions for thousands of visitors who returned to Expo 2020 Dubai for its grand finale on Thursday.
On the 182nd and final day of an event that has captivated millions, visitors looked through their yellow passports with stamps from the many country pavilions they had explored over the months.
Others huddled over large expo maps to figure out which attraction they wanted to revisit or sample for the first time before the gates shut at 3am.
Dubai school teacher
Large crowds waited patiently at the gates as the announcer welcomed visitors for the final time. They streamed in and headed directly for their favourite country pavilions, eager to savour every minute of the experience.
For Tanmayi Kamath, the Expo has been a weekend haunt since January.
The 38-year-old school teacher has visited all 215 pavilions, including 192 country pavilions and those hosted by companies and organisations.
After a hectic time collecting stamps and completing a sustainability challenge where visitors pledge to have a positive effect on the planet, Ms Kamath and her son Reyaansh Pai, 7, are emotional about the end of the world fair.
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Final day at Expo: in pictures
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Air show display on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Nearly 23 million visits had been made to Expo by the start of this week after the more than one million visits recorded from Friday to Sunday. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Expo has hosted 30,000 events, including government summits and 5,000 sporting fixtures. Pawan Singh / The National -
A spectacular closing ceremony will be 'end of a beautiful journey' for Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
It's a party atmosphere for the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Some funky costumes to mark the end of the hugely successful event in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Big screens put up on the last day of the world's fair in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
People flock to the merchandise outlet on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Kids enjoying the dance class at the Sustainability pavilion as Expo 2020 Dubai nears its conclusion. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai could watch the closing ceremony on more than 20 giant screens across the site, including at the Jubilee Stage, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre and Festival Garden. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors enjoy the water feature on the last day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors arrive for the expo's final day. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Crowds on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Visitors arrive at the world's fair for the last time. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Preparations going on for the closing ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National -
Reem Al Hashimy, centre, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, on the final day of the Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Ms Al Hashimy opens the Sustainability Portal on the Expo's final day. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors queue to enter the site on the final day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Expo staff at the site entrances faced a busy start to the final day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors queue at the security gate. Pawan Singh / The National -
Early arrivals on the final day of the world fair. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors taking selfies to record their presence on the final day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dubai police prepare for the final day at the world's fair. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors approach Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National -
A rare opportunity to capture a quiet moment at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors on the last day at the EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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“Expo is like home for me because it’s so wonderful and you get to learn so much,” she said.
“We have been coming here every weekend from January. It’s an amazing place and I’m really proud of Dubai for having put up such a wonderful show.
“Now that we have done all the pavilions, we want to make the most of it. We want to enjoy the parks that we never got to do because we were in such a hurry.”
Expo 'brought people together'
Ms Kamath is at a loss about what to do this weekend with a blank space in her diary that the world fair always filled.
“It has brought a lot of people together. I got to meet so many people, experience so many cuisines and educational games along with my son. It has been a wonderful experience," she said.
Taking photographs under the stunning Al Wasl dome became a ritual for many high-school pupils.
Teenagers completing school this year wore their school colours, cape and scarves to pose for pictures and record videos using the world’s largest projection dome as a backdrop.
Mohamdi Sidi Mohamed, an Emirati student from Sharjah, has visited the site several times with his family and school groups.
Learning about countries and cultures in one place was the draw.
“I love to learn about all countries and see people coming from all countries,” he said.
“I have learnt a lot at Expo. This is also the best place for our final-year school photograph."
Expo 2020 Dubai will put on a party to remember for the biggest crowds of its entire run with spectacular fireworks and a emotional closing ceremony.
Called the 'greatest show on earth', the global gathering has drawn more than 23 million visits with thousands flocking to the site during the final weeks.
The six-month world fair moves to Osaka, Japan where the next Expo will be held in 2025.
