Omanis visiting the UAE found "a pleasant surprise” waiting for them at the Hatta border crossing on Monday.
Oman declared a two-day holiday from Sunday, to celebrate its 51st National Day and many people took advantage of the long weekend to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
Citizens of Oman were given free tickets to the world's fair at the UAE-Oman border, as a gesture from the Emirates to mark their special day.
Mohammed Al Shammas, 32, an Omani driving to Dubai with his family, from Liwa in the Batnah region, told The National they all received free tickets to the Expo.
“It was a pleasant surprise and we are grateful for it,” he said.
The day ticket can be used until December 4. It normally costs Dh95.
Officials said more than 4,000 Omanis crossed the Hatta border to Dubai at the weekend, from Thursday afternoon to Saturday evening.
“It has been a very hectic weekend with people taking advantage of the holiday and today we see the same crowd driving back from Dubai,” an official at the border told The National.
“From Friday, we saw so many Omanis coming to the Expo. They have been everywhere here. It is so easy to spot them with their national dress,” one of the security guards at the Dubai Expo, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told The National.
Omanis at the Expo said they feel privileged to be at the centre of a global event.
“We are lucky. Oman is just a border away and so easy to be here at the world’s biggest event,” said Faisal Al Badai, 44, an Omani from Muscat.
“People come to the Expo after flying for thousands of miles. We get free tickets and all we have to do is to cross the border and be here."
Oman celebrates its National Day on November 18 but normally the holidays are ten days later.
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Visitors queue outside the Singapore pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
The marching band from Tulane University, US, performs New Orleans music at Al Forsan Park. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors walk through the Spain pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Riverdance bring their final performance at Expo 2020 to a close on the Jubilee Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
White umbrellas turn into projection screens at the Netherlands pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Visitors walk through the Singapore Pavilion, whose theme is "nature, nurture, future". Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
People take photographs of exhibits in the Singapore pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
A young visitor stands in front of 'Fluidum', a kinetic statue made up of 85 robotically-controlled mirrors, which can transform the reflection of the spectator, at the Czech Pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Visitors stroll through the Greece pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Members of the UAE's Al Noban Troupe and Morocco's Hassada Troupe in action. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors inside the Netherlands Pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
An exhibition called 'Plastic Oceans - Beauty Destroyed', at the Czech Republic pavilion. 'Water and its conservation is the main focus of the pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Norwegian chessmaster Magnus Carlsen competes against Russia's chessmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi (unseen) during Game 2 of the FIDE World Chess Championship Dubai 2021. AFP -
Members of the Tulane University marching band perform. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
An exhibit in the Czech Republic pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
White umbrellas turn into projection screens at the Netherlands pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
People wait to enter the UAE pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National -
Canadian singer Shawnee Kish on stage in the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
The UAE's Al Noban Troupe and Morocco's Hassada Troupe perform on the Earth Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
The Moroccan Troupe's rhythmic dance is inspired by the harvesting traditions of Had Gharbia. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Russian chessmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi competes against Norwegian chessmaster Magnus Carlsen (unseen) during Game 2 of the FIDE World Chess Championship at Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP
