• Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Long queues form outside India's Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
    Queues outside Saudi fast-food restaurant Al Baik. The fried chicken brand opened its second UAE branch at the Expo site this month.
  • People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
    People took the opportunity to visit the Expo site at the weekend.
  • People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
    People wait to enter Lebanon's pavilion.
  • The US pavilion attracted visitors.
    The US pavilion attracted visitors.
  • Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
    Italy's pavilion also proved a big draw.
  • There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
    There are several food stalls at the Expo site, meaning visitors can keep hydrated and enjoy tasty treats on the go.
  • People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
    People take shelter from the sun outside Switzerland's pavilion.
  • Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
    Saudi Arabia's pavilion proved a popular attraction.
  • The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
    The UAE's long weekend proved to be the perfect time for many to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.

Expo 2020 Dubai visitor numbers expected to reach one million mark in days


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here

Visitor numbers at Expo 2020 Dubai are expected to pass the one million mark within days, organisers have said.

Before the long weekend, ticketed visits were well on course to reach the milestone figure — with 771,477 recorded between October 1 and October 17.

With a bumper weekend reported at the site, starting from the public holiday on Thursday, those numbers are expected to have swelled considerably since then.

“Looking at the numbers, hopefully we will be able to reach this number very soon,” said Mohamed Al Ansaari, vice president of strategic communications, on Sunday morning.

“Every Monday we will be sharing the number of visitors.

“We are very happy with the level of participation and visitors at different pavilions and events.”

  • Originally from Malaysia, Dubai residents, from left, Lai-mei Fong, Justin Tah, Kara Tah, Tah-Kok Fofo, Tah-Kok Hong and Rachel Chiang visit Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Originally from Malaysia, Dubai residents, from left, Lai-mei Fong, Justin Tah, Kara Tah, Tah-Kok Fofo, Tah-Kok Hong and Rachel Chiang visit Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Tourists from Denmark, Stefan Tarp, 50, with sons Benjamin Tarp, 12, and William Tarp, 16, could not wait to explore the site.
    Tourists from Denmark, Stefan Tarp, 50, with sons Benjamin Tarp, 12, and William Tarp, 16, could not wait to explore the site.
  • Friends Raphel, Ashish Nair and Mujeeb Rahman check out the sights.
    Friends Raphel, Ashish Nair and Mujeeb Rahman check out the sights.
  • Family members Sridevi, left, Sreeram, centre, and Santosh Kumar visit the Expo for the first time.
    Family members Sridevi, left, Sreeram, centre, and Santosh Kumar visit the Expo for the first time.
  • Abu Dhabi resident Grace Sebastian and her sister Gelcy Sebastian arrive at the sprawling site.
    Abu Dhabi resident Grace Sebastian and her sister Gelcy Sebastian arrive at the sprawling site.
  • British couple Helene High, 52, a teacher, and Russell High, 55, a chartered accountant, drove from Abu Dhabi to visit the world's fair.
    British couple Helene High, 52, a teacher, and Russell High, 55, a chartered accountant, drove from Abu Dhabi to visit the world's fair.

There were queues at the site on Thursday and Friday, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, Italy, India and Switzerland pavilions proving the most popular.

The number of visitors to the Expo had increased by 12 per cent in a week, when the last set of data was made available.

Figures include all physical ticket holders but exclude representatives, delegations, guests from international participants and Expo staff.

“The level of engagement here is not just about the numbers, but also the meaningful discussions happening,” said Mr Al Ansaari.

“We are truly happy with the numbers so far, and will reveal on Monday exactly what they are.”

Visitors can avoid long queues at popular pavilions by using the Smart Queue system to book a slot ahead of time.

In the first ten days Expo 2020 Dubai attracted more than 400,000 visitors, with about 300,000 dropping in the week after that.

The Expo is proving to have more than a day's worth of exploration on offer as more than 30,000 people have visited the site three times already, and over 100,000 have been there twice.

The world’s fair, which spans more than four square kilometres, has welcomed more than 175 nationalities since its opening week.

What's%20in%20my%20pazhamkootan%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdd%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EParippu%20%E2%80%93%20moong%20dal%20and%20coconut%20curry%3Cbr%3ESambar%20%E2%80%93%20vegetable-infused%20toor%20dal%20curry%3Cbr%3EAviyal%20%E2%80%93%20mixed%20vegetables%20in%20thick%20coconut%20paste%3Cbr%3EThoran%20%E2%80%93%20beans%20and%20other%20dry%20veggies%20with%20spiced%20coconut%3Cbr%3EKhichdi%20%E2%80%93%20lentil%20and%20rice%20porridge%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOptional%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EKootukari%20%E2%80%93%20stew%20of%20black%20chickpeas%2C%20raw%20banana%2C%20yam%20and%20coconut%20paste%3Cbr%3EOlan%20%E2%80%93%20ash%20gourd%20curry%20with%20coconut%20milk%3Cbr%3EPulissery%20%E2%80%93%20spiced%20buttermilk%20curry%3Cbr%3ERasam%20%E2%80%93%20spice-infused%20soup%20with%20a%20tamarind%20base%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvoid%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPayasam%20%E2%80%93%20sweet%20vermicelli%20kheer%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sheer grandeur

The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.

A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

RESULT

Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United:
 Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')

Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)

Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals

2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis

2004 Beat Andy Roddick

2005 Beat Andy Roddick

2006 Beat Rafael Nadal

2007 Beat Rafael Nadal

2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal

2009 Beat Andy Roddick

2012 Beat Andy Murray

2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic

2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic

2017 Beat Marin Cilic

Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34

Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

Salah in numbers

€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of 39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.

13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.

57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.

7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.

3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.

40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.

30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.

8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

Result

UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn

Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

Updated: October 24, 2021, 9:52 AM