With 192 pavilions, myriad exhibitions, hundreds of restaurants and non-stop activities, there are experiences for every taste at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here.
Each week, we round up some of the key highlights not to be missed at the world's fair.
This week, UAE National Day celebrations will take over most of Expo 2020, with an action-packed schedule of events announced starting December 1, including fireworks, special performances and parades. There will also be “hourly surprises” around every corner.
Here are our top picks:
1. Watch a Native American group perform
Located in Utah, Twoshields Production Company is a group made up of Native American singers, dancers and musicians. Featuring traditional costumes and musical instruments, the troupe has taken their show all around the world.
They will be performing at various locations across the Expo 2020 site.
Where: Al Forsan Park
When: Sunday to Tuesday
Time: 2.30pm and 6.15pm on Sunday; 3pm on Monday; and 2pm on Tuesday
2. Catch Israeli band Anna RF live
Blending electronic, traditional and reggae sounds, the group from Shaharut in southern Israel is best known for their viral YouTube videos filmed on their travels across Turkey and India.
They will perform on two nights at Expo 2020.
Where: Israel Pavilion
When: Sunday and Monday
Time: 8.30pm
3. Vinicio Capossela's ode to Dante
The Italian musician, poet and novelist is known for his experimental performances, often blending music and theatrical productions with poetry woven into the narrative. To mark 700 years since the death of Dante Alighieri, Capossela's Bestiale Comedia promises to take audiences on a journey across music and literature.
He will be joined by musicians Vincenzo Vasi and Raffaele Tiseo for the performance.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: Monday
Time: 8pm
4. Flamenco performance by Manuel Linan
A dancer, choreographer and director, Linan will perform a conceptual show called Con-vivencias or Co-experiences in which he will take the traditional dance form and present it in an unconventional setting. For the performance Linan will be joined by dancer David Carpio.
Where: Earth Stage
When: Tuesday
Time: 6.30pm
5. Classical music by Behzod Abduraimov
The young pianist from Uzbekistan, who won the London International Piano Competition at age 18, will perform pieces by masters Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky.
Abduraimov has performed around the world to acclaim. In its review of his BBC Proms show in 2016, where he performed with the Munich Philharmonic, The Guardian called Abduraimov "glittering", naming him one of the most impressive performers of the evening.
Where: Jubilee Stage
When: Tuesday
Time: 9pm
6. Check out an exhibition about Canada's biodiversity
The Canada Pavilion has partnered with Parks Canada for a photographic exhibition titled Canada’s National Heritage Places that celebrates the crucial role of indigenous culture and knowledge in protecting biodiversity. The exhibition will alternate its theme every week with Expo 2020's thematic weeks and will run until the end of the world fair.
Parks Canada is responsible for maintaining and preserving Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. Images in the first exhibit include some of the country's protected places and also tell stories of biodiversity, climate, history and indigenous culture and knowledge.
Where: Canada Pavilion
When: Daily
Time: Expo opening hours
7. Dance and music by The Garifuna Collective
Made up of seasoned musicians from across different generations, this group from Belize has performed in more than 30 countries and are recipients of a number of awards, including BBC World Music Award and the World Music Expo Award. Named after the Caribbean community they come from, the group will bring their soulful tunes that will speak of their history and culture on to the Expo 2020 stage.
Where: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
When: Tuesday
Time: 6pm
8. Meet 25 chefs for one special meal
To celebrate the UAE's Year of the 50th, Expo 2020's Jubilee Gastronomy will be hosting a 50-hands dinner on National Day on December 2. The exclusive event – there's only room for 50 guests – will have some world-famous chefs working with local talent to create nine courses. And in keeping with the Jubilee theme, the menu, priced at Dh1,500 per head, will be inspired by gold.
Chefs participating include Vineet Bhatia, who runs Indya by Vineet in Dubai; Alfredo Russo who heads Michelin-starred restaurant Dolce Stil Novo; and chef Chakall who brought Al Lusitano to the Portuguese Pavilion at Expo 2020.
Reservations can be made on 04 350 9223.
Where: Jubilee Gastronomy
When: Thursday
Time: 7pm
9. Celebrate National Day with Fatima Zahrat AlAin
Starting Wednesday, Expo 2020 will host a number of events to mark the UAE's 50th anniversary. On Thursday, fans of the Emirati singer can catch her live at the Music in the Garden concert series at Al Wasl Plaza.
Where: Al Wasl Plaza
When: Thursday
Time: 3.15pm
10. Enjoy a German Bundesliga match
Every Saturday, catch selected matches from the ongoing German Bundesliga league on the Culture Stage at the German Pavilion. You can tuck into typical German food at the Campus Kitchen or take part in a football quiz during the half-time break.
Where: Germany Pavilion
When: Every Saturday
Time: 6.30pm
Entry to all events is included in the Expo 2020 Dubai ticket price, unless specifically stated. Times are subject to change
Scroll through the gallery below for celebrities spotted at Expo 2020 Dubai so far:
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
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No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
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The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
