Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai's final day and closing ceremony
Thousands of residents and tourists are arriving at Expo 2020 Dubai for its grand finale on Thursday.
After 181 days of exploring different cultures across 192 country pavilions, as well as enjoying an international array of foods, it has come down to this final day for visitors to give the world’s fair an emotional farewell.
Celebrations will run throughout the night, with a fireworks show and pop concerts that are expected to attract the event’s biggest crowds yet.
Visitors started arriving early on the last day but it will likely become busier from late afternoon, with the expo to remain open for firework displays at midnight and 3am.
The National spoke to visitors who shared their favourite memories of Expo 2020 Dubai and what they will miss now that its doors are closing.
‘I would’ve come here every day if I could’
Ines Lafosse, 34, a tourist from Argentina, said her favourite part of the expo was its enormous water feature.
“The expo was even better than I expected. I think I would've come here every day if I lived here,” she said.
“The water fountain is my favourite spot because you can just hang out here all day and there is a great vibe. Everyone is really enjoying themselves.”
‘Why can’t they just keep it open?’
Alisher Orazov, 23, a tourist from Kazakhstan, was hoping Expo 2020 could have remained open for longer.
He has visited the grand event twice since he arrived in the UAE last week.
“I think six months for such a big event like this is not enough. They could’ve kept it open for more time,” he said.
“What I will really miss is getting to learn about different cultures and trying different foods.”
‘It’s a nice place to hang out’
Avnitha Manikandan, a 10-year-old pupil in Dubai, has visited the world’s fair several times since it opened.
“I really love the architecture and some of the pavilions focus so much on artificial intelligence,” she said.
“My favourite pavilions have been the UK and the Mission Possible (Opportunity) ones because they both send out a nice message.
“Overall, it’s a nice place to come and hang out with your family and friends and we’ll really miss it.”
‘We’ll miss the concerts’
Judy Munene, 43, a Kenyan resident in the UAE for 18 years, has also been to Expo many times.
She was visiting on the last day with her sister Elizabeth and was hoping to see some of the pavilions they did not get a chance to visit because of long queues.
“We've loved the food and the concerts and we’ll really miss all of that,” she said.
“The evenings have been really nice here because the weather is nicer and there’s a great vibe. We’re a bit sad that we didn’t get to see the Japan and German pavilions, though.”
‘Dubai knows how to put on a grand show’
Vitally Smirnov, 24, a Russian tourist in Dubai, said he had newly found it was the last day of Expo and was “sad” it was ending.
“I think what we’re all going to miss is the scale of the event and all of the different exhibitions and experiences it had for visitors,” he said.
“Dubai really knows how to put on a big show. My favourite has been the Alif pavilion because it has a little bit of everything – technology and it looks pretty.”
‘It was a great experience for students’
Furqan Baig, 19, an Indian university student in Dubai, said he was glad the event was free for students as it allowed him to visit several times.
“It’s a great initiative for students. We’ve learnt so much about different cultures,” he said.
“Luxembourg was one of my favourites because of the huge slide. Saudi Arabia had a great fountain and Hungary had a fun ball pit.”
‘The fun vibes reminded me of the Philippines’
Halie Eslamado, 32, a Filipina nurse in Dubai, also managed to visit on the final day. She has been to Expo more than 10 times.
“The best part has been the evenings because the Expo comes to life then,” she said.
"There are concerts, entertainment and people are having so much fun. It really reminds me of how it is back in the Philippines."
‘My son wanted to visit every day’
Rhema Fernandez, a resident from the Philippines, said her son Liam, 9, is a big fan of the world’s fair.
“He asked us to bring him almost every single day. He’s really loved it and was really upset that it was ending.
Liam said: “I like the German pavilion because it has a lot of activities and I also like the Rashid park.”
'Alif pavilion was the best'
Thelma Cherian, 55, a Dubai resident for 30 years, was another fan of the Alif pavilion.
"It's so different from all the other ones. The water feature is also great," she said.
"We're sad that we didn't get to see some of the pavilions because of the long lines, especially the Emirates airline and the Japan one."
'Thanks for the great memories, Dubai'
Bismarck Amartey Narh, 32, from Ghana, said that the expo was his best experience since he moved to Dubai a few years ago.
"There's so much to do here and I can't believe it's closing. The weather has not been too bad and everyone has had so much fun here," he said.
"I like many pavilions and it's difficult to pick the best one because they all stand out for their own unique offerings."
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Fixtures
50-over match
UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am
Champion County match
MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am
Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.
Company%20profile
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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.”
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
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The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
