• A ground level view of the Sustainability Pavilion. Organisers say the pavilion is intended to meet the highest available accreditation for sustainable architecture – LEED platinum certification.
    A ground level view of the Sustainability Pavilion. Organisers say the pavilion is intended to meet the highest available accreditation for sustainable architecture – LEED platinum certification.
  • A view of the large entry gateways that will welcome visitors to the Expo 2020 site in Dubai. Organisers expect 25 million visits to the site.
    A view of the large entry gateways that will welcome visitors to the Expo 2020 site in Dubai. Organisers expect 25 million visits to the site.
  • Geometry and landscaping combine in the Thematic Districts of Expo 2020 Dubai.
    Geometry and landscaping combine in the Thematic Districts of Expo 2020 Dubai.
  • A spectacular view of one of the Entry Portals for visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai. The world fair opens on October 1.
    A spectacular view of one of the Entry Portals for visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai. The world fair opens on October 1.
  • A pink supermoon rises behind the Sustainability Portal. Expo 2020 Dubai was postponed from last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    A pink supermoon rises behind the Sustainability Portal. Expo 2020 Dubai was postponed from last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The Thematic Districts comprise 86 permanent buildings spread over three separate ‘petals’, housing 136 participating countries.
    The Thematic Districts comprise 86 permanent buildings spread over three separate ‘petals’, housing 136 participating countries.
  • A nighttime view of the Mobility Pavilion. The Mobility District seeks to create connections to drive the world forward, breaking down the divide between the physical and digital worlds, say organisers.
    A nighttime view of the Mobility Pavilion. The Mobility District seeks to create connections to drive the world forward, breaking down the divide between the physical and digital worlds, say organisers.
  • The spectacular Al Wasl Dome is the centrepiece of Expo 2020 Dubai and one of the largest 360-degree projection surfaces in the world.
    The spectacular Al Wasl Dome is the centrepiece of Expo 2020 Dubai and one of the largest 360-degree projection surfaces in the world.
  • The 'Mare and Foal' statue at the Mobility Pavilion, photographed at sunrise.
    The 'Mare and Foal' statue at the Mobility Pavilion, photographed at sunrise.
  • An aerial general view of the Sustainability Pavilion.
    An aerial general view of the Sustainability Pavilion.
  • Organisers say the Opportunity Pavilion seeks to build on the history of the 'plaza', its universal significance as a place for people to connect across age, language and culture, to celebrate shared human experiences
    Organisers say the Opportunity Pavilion seeks to build on the history of the 'plaza', its universal significance as a place for people to connect across age, language and culture, to celebrate shared human experiences
  • Each country participating in Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to celebrate their national day, or an 'honour day' during the event.
    Each country participating in Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to celebrate their national day, or an 'honour day' during the event.
  • These will be held at Al Wasl Plaza, against the stunning backdrop of the Al Wasl Dome.
    These will be held at Al Wasl Plaza, against the stunning backdrop of the Al Wasl Dome.
  • Expo 2020 Dubai runs from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
    Expo 2020 Dubai runs from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Travel

Airlines

Emirates introduces complimentary Expo 2020 Dubai day pass

Those flying to Dubai with the airline between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 will receive a pass to visit the event

Janice Rodrigues
Janice Rodrigues

July 31, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

If you’re booking a flight ticket to Dubai with Emirates, you stand to get a free day pass to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Dubai airline has announced that it will be giving complimentary day passes to passengers who book tickets between October 1 and March 31, 2022. One free pass will be provided for each person per booking, with the person able to choose the day they want to experience the event.

Those who are in transit will also be able to avail the offer. “Just passing through? If your connection in Dubai is more than six hours, you can still claim a free Expo 2020 day pass,” Emirates' website said.

To claim the free pass, passengers have to enter their details on the website, with the tickets emailed to them. In case flights get cancelled or dates get changed, the day pass will no longer be valid, and passengers will have to claim a new one by entering new flight details.

A single-entry ticket to Expo 2020 Dubai will cost Dh95 while a six-month pass is Dh495. A multi-entry month-long pass is also available for Dh195.

Those under the age of 18 and people with disabilities are free to enter, while the main carer or person accompanying them will be granted a 50 per cent discount.

Visitors aged 60 and over, students with a valid identity card from any academic institution in the world can also get in free.

Expo 2020 Dubai was initially set to get under way in October 2020, only to be delayed for a year owing to the coronavirus pandemic, although it has maintained its name.

The Expo 2020 Dubai site will be open daily. The opening hours are 10am to midnight, Saturday to Wednesday, and 10am to 2am, Thursday and Friday. Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory for visitor entry but is recommended. All Expo staff will be immunised and masks must be worn throughout the venue.

Sanitisation will be conducted frequently and hand sanitiser stations will be installed.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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While you're here
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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Updated: August 01, 2021, 7:55 AM
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