Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here
For the first time in World Expo history, every participating country will have its own pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and 192 countries are participating.
Dozens of countries from the Arab world are taking part, but many are still keeping their pavilion designs under wraps, including Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, who have only announced one exhibit - an ancient pharaoh’s coffin.
Even the UAE is yet to release pictures of its finished building, although we know it is designed in the shape of a falcon in flight.
Others have released sneak peeks of what they look like, and what they will contain.
Saudi Arabia's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Second in size only to the UAE's pavilion, Saudi Arabia's 13,000-square-metre structure holds three Guinness World Records.
Spread over an area equal to two football pitches, the six-storey tall creation features 2,030 sparkling crystals resembling a window opening to the sky.
The gems are designed to pay tribute to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 — a programme to diversify the nation's economy from dependence on oil, increase the participation of women in the workforce, lower unemployment and increase foreign investment.
Visitors will also be welcomed by the largest LED mirror screen display in the world, the world's largest interactive floor, featuring 8,000 LED lights, and the world's longest interactive water feature, exceeding 32 metres.
Oman's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
The design of Oman's pavilion was inspired by the historical importance of the frankincense tree and how it has bridged regional civilisations over 5,000 years.
The structure will be split into five zones, transporting visitors across time and space in an interactive environment to tell the nation’s history. It will also reveal what future development is planned for Oman.
Based in the Mobility Thematic District the pavilion will reveal how the finest Omani frankincense was transported for trade around the globe, and its use in medicine and cosmetics.
Visitors will also be shown the role of the valuable resin in developing international relations, which in turn helped Oman prosper through tourism and trade.
Kuwait's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Kuwait's pavilion has a strong message about protecting and preserving scarce resources.
The structure has a golden facade and a large water tower encircled with glinting gold prisms, representing the country’s desert.
The main funnel symbolises 33 similar landmarks in Kuwait City that store massive amounts of fresh water in elevated tanks.
The exhibition areas within the pavilion will display the industrial sectors, innovations and creative talent of the people of Kuwait.
Young people will be a key focus of the country’s offering, with space for a theatre, performances, activities for children and a rooftop terrace within the three-storey structure, that spreads over a 4,500-square-metre plot.
Bahrain's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Using the theme Density Weaves Opportunities, Bahrain's pavilion aims to create images of weaving needles and the density of a traditionally woven fabric.
The aluminium facade represents Bahrain's main export and 126 steel columns in the structure will make visitors feel as if they are walking through a dense forest.
The pavilion will showcase how Bahrain encourages trade and entrepreneurship.
Visitors will also see traditional crafts, from loom weaving to embroidery techniques such as kurar and al naqda, that use silver and gold thread on fine fabric.
Woven composite materials used in the automotive and construction industry will be shown, while old and new technology will be on display, with artisans interlacing palm leaves and installations on the manufacture of fibreglass also part of the exhibition.
Lebanon's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Under the theme Together, We Walk, Lebanon's pavilion aims to celebrate the country’s most valuable resource: its people.
The project brings together some of the country's brightest minds from different fields to showcase their skills and talents, from music to film to design.
A wealth of talent and creativity will be on display, and visitors will be encouraged to take part in workshops, round tables, performances, exhibitions and competitions.
The pavilion will also host professional chefs cooking Lebanese cuisine, and a wine bar serving local brands and a wine-tasting experience.
With limited means, the pavilion was also created to reflect on the people’s suffering, and show what they are capable of achieving, despite the current problems facing the country.
Syria's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Syria's pavilion is mostly still being kept under wraps, with only a few details released about what visitors will find inside.
Located in the Mobility district and designed by architects XYZ Designers, the pavilion promises to be a window showcasing a rich civilisation that has contributed major achievements to the development of human history.
Visitors will learn about the development of early writing systems and the first alphabets, and hear about the Syrian heroes who saved the seeds from Aleppo's seed bank, and the 'Hurrian Hymn', the oldest musical notation known to mankind.
Displays will also focus on the country's ambitions and ability to build a better future.
Iraq's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
We know very little about Iraq's pavilion, as only an artist's drawing of the exterior has been released so far.
The structure was designed by RAW-NYC Architects and is located in the Opportunity district.
Organisers promise visitors will be able to take a journey through Iraqi culture, arts, science, literature and folklore, as the nation celebrates its past while striving to create a brighter tomorrow.
Yemen's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Details of Yemen's pavilion have not been fully released, but we know it is called Knowledge ∞, or Knowledge to the power of infinity, and it is located in the Sustainability district.
Displays will illustrate the ingenuity of one of the oldest civilisations, and how ancient and modern knowledge can connect to bring future achievements.
Visitors will be encouraged to discover the Miraculous Book of Al Wisabi, an original, handwritten Yemeni manuscript, and to learn more about the Yemeni coffee bean, and enjoy an olfactory experience.
Children will enjoy interactive games, an immersive video experience and an exhibit called “the astrolabe ticker”, featuring an ancient instrument that was used in the past by Arab astronomers to solve some of the problems of the universe.
Palestine's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
No photographs have been released yet of the interior or exterior of Palestine's pavilion, but we do have some idea of what it will contain.
Located in the Opportunity district, the pavilion was designed by Al Nasher.
Visitors will learn about Palestine's deep history and ancient buildings as they take an lift ride that simulates rising high above the bustling streets of Jerusalem.
Exhibits will illustrate the country's burgeoning tourism industry and busy manufacturing sector and discuss opportunities for investment, in goods such as cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood goods and food.
The pavilion will also show the sights of Palestine, and allow visitors to “inhale its aromas” and taste its delicious cuisine.
Morocco's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Designed by architect Tarik Oualalou, Morocco's pavilion is made entirely of earth, using a traditional Moroccan construction technique to create 22 stacked rectangular sections.
The building’s 4,000-square-metre facade, which is 33m high, was inspired by the Moroccan villages of the south.
The ancient building technique of rammed earth helps regulate indoor conditions in hot and arid places, and illustrates a practice from the Neolithic Period that is still relevant today.
Inside, the pavilion has an inner courtyard, which is considered an important spatial element in traditional Moroccan architecture, and sequential exhibition spaces combine to tell the story of Morocco’s regions and cultures.
After Expo 2020 Dubai, the pavilion will be converted into a housing complex, in keeping with the principles of sustainability. The building will include apartments, an 80-quare-metre swimming pool, a fitness club and a communal lounge.
Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony teaser
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE Team Emirates
Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
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.”
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
