Dubai Expo 2020: you can take a free bus tour of the site this summer

The tours will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and run until August 31

UAE residents will have chance to tour the Expo 2020 Dubai site this summer. Courtesy: Expo 2020

All eyes will be on Dubai next year as the world prepares to descend on the emirate for Expo 2020.

And as the impressive pavilions continue to take shape, people in the UAE will be offered a chance to see the site and structures before anyone else.

Taking place throughout the summer, free bus tours will transport visitors around the 4.38 square-kilometre site as it nears its completion.

While images and impressions of various pavilions have been released, this will be the first chance for people to see the Expo 2020 site for themselves.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid surveys the grand vision for Expo 2020 Dubai with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation. Courtesy Dubai Media Office

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai called on young people to be at the heart of the landmark event.

Sheikh Mohammed observed the speedy progress being made on the construction site.

Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the progress of the event - which will feature 190 countries and is expected to attract more than 25 million visitors during its six-month run - by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation.

"The youth should play a key part in this mega event and get opportunities to observe, learn and contribute creative ideas so that they can develop innovative solutions for creating a better future for our region and the world," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed’s visit took place in one of the anchor buildings on the site overlooking the Al Wasl Plaza.

Eighty percent of the Expo-built structures on site will be retained as part of District 2020, an integrated community that will be a new destination in Dubai.

‘The World’s Greatest Show in the Making’ tours will take place on Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays between Saturday July 20 and Saturday August 31. Once on board, visitors will learn about the history of the World Expos, before arriving at the site in Dubai South. There, they will explore the Expo 2020 Visitor Centre, have the chance for food and activities, before re-boarding the bus for a guided tour of the site and its structures.

"World Expos are famous for their groundbreaking architecture, from the Eiffel Tower in 1889 to the Space Needle in 1962," says Manal AlBayat, chief community engagement officer at Expo 2020 Dubai. "This is an unprecedented opportunity for people in the UAE to come with their friends and families and take an early look at our own incredible structures that will soon be known far and wide – such as Al Wasl Plaza, the site's beating heart, the falcon-inspired UAE Pavilion and the Sustainability Pavilion, which pushes the boundaries of eco-conscious design."

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo ever held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. It will welcome an anticipated 25 million visits over the course of 173 days, on the eve of the nation’s Golden Jubilee.

“We can’t wait to welcome the world in 2020, but before then, we look forward to welcoming people from across the UAE to experience our site, which will host six months of unforgettable events and celebrations from October 2020,” AlBayat adds.

To book a place on one of the tours, visit www.expo2020dubai.com/hayyakum