Ultimate Expo 2020 Dubai guide for a day out

LIVE BLOG: Latest on Expo 2020 Dubai here

Planning a trip to the world's greatest show? Make sure you do not leave home without our handy Expo survival guide, with everything you need to know to make your trip a success.

When is the best time to visit Expo 2020?

Expo 2020 Dubai is open seven days a week, from 10am to midnight on weekdays (Sunday to Wednesday) and 10am to 2am on weekends (Thursday and Friday) and special days.

When the weather is hot, the best time to visit is after 4pm, when the temperature starts to cool.

Expo really comes alive at night, when the dome at Al Wasl Plaza pulses with waves of colour and the pavilions light up their facades.

India, Saudi Arabia, France and Peru look particularly beautiful after dark.

Getting your bearings at Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai is shaped a bit like a flower, with the dome of Al Wasl Plaza in the middle, and the districts shaped like petals.

At the end of each petal is a large entrance portal and this is where visitors are dropped off if they arrive by taxi or one of the Expo People Mover buses that transport people from the car parks.

There are three main districts – Opportunity, Sustainability and Mobility. Each of these has its own signature pavilion.

There is also the Al Forsan Park area, and the Jubilee Park area, which have large grassed areas, playgrounds and stages for musical performances.

Visitors consult a map at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National.

The pavilions and other attractions are located throughout the Expo site, carefully placed along wide pedestrianised walkways, many of which are shaded.

Make sure you download the Expo 2020 Dubai official app, which has a GPS-enabled map with directions on how to find each pavilion.

Alternatively, maps are available at the many Expo visitor centres.

How to get to Expo 2020 Dubai?

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Expo 2020 is by Dubai Metro, which has a station right at the gate.

Alternatively, you can drive, park and get a free shuttle bus from the car parks, which are outside each district.

There is limited valet parking, which costs Dh95 a day, and taxis and free RTA buses also serve the site.

What should I take to Expo 2020 Dubai?

You will need a ticket, a water bottle, sun protection, your smartphone to take pictures and an Expo 2020 Dubai passport, which costs Dh20 and can be bought at the gate.

Parents with young children will definitely need a pram for when little legs get tired.

Tickets can be bought online and downloaded and printed at home, or you can buy them at one of the entrances.

Day tickets are Dh95, while multi-day passes cost Dh195 and are valid for 30 consecutive days from the first day of use. The season pass lasts the full six months and costs Dh495.

Entry is free for many, including under 18s, anyone aged 60 and over, and people with disabilities, students with a valid ID card, plus nannies and drivers.

These people should still go to the ticket desk to pick up their free passes.

What to wear at Expo 2020 Dubai?

Visitors wearing comfortable shoes explore Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The Expo site is enormous – twice the size of Monaco or equivalent to 600 football fields, so comfortable footwear is a must. Trainers are probably best.

The weather is still very hot in the middle of the day and humid at sunset, so wear loose, flowing clothes.

The pavilions are lovely and cool, so dip inside whenever you start to feel overheated.

But if you spend a long time indoors, young children may get chilly, so be sure to bring a light wrap or jumper.

Where to get water at Expo 2020 Dubai?

Visitors cool down at the Brazil pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National.

There are special water dispensers all around the site, offering free water to visitors, so bring your own bottle and fill up as frequently as you like.

Cheap canned water is also available from street sellers around the site, and snacks, drinks and other essentials, such as nappies, can be picked up at the Zoom stores, which are located in some of the visitor centres.

Where are the toilets at Expo 2020 Dubai?

The toilets are in the visitor centres. There are nine in total, and they include lavatories for disabled people and baby-changing facilities.

Prayer rooms and medical services can also be found at the visitor centres, as well as dedicated quiet rooms for adults and children who need to decompress from the hustle and bustle of the Expo.

The quiet rooms can be found at visitor centres 1, 3, 4 and 6.

Do I need to be vaccinated to go to Expo 2020 Dubai?

Visitors aged 18 and above must present proof of any Covid-19 vaccine recognised by their national government or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours.

There is a PCR testing facility near the Expo site, but it is quite far away (at Expo World Parking K), and test results take four hours to come through, so it really is best to get tested in advance.

PCR tests are free if you show proof of your Expo ticket.

Must-see attractions at Expo 2020 Dubai?

Do not miss the light and sound show at dusk at Al Wasl Plaza and the dramatic fire-spitting waterfall is a must-see.

Also, the three thematic pavilions have thought-provoking exhibits, while the ever-popular UAE pavilion tells the story of the Dreamers.

Palestine's pavilion entertains all five senses, while Saudi Arabia's facade and LED floor are a marvel, and the Philippines' pavilion includes incredible works of art both inside and outside the six-storey structure.

Remember to pop inside the smaller pavilions as well, they are all staffed with enthusiastic, knowledgeable people who can not wait to tell you all about the attractions their countries have to offer.

Watch: meet the friendly robots at Expo 2020

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Bah

Born: 1972

Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992

Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old

Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school

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.”

At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

January 24 – First T20, Lahore

January 25 – Second T20, Lahore

January 27 – Third T20, Lahore

February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi

April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi

April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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

Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20

%3Cp%3EThe%20new%20UAE%20league%20has%20been%20boosted%20this%20season%20by%20the%20arrival%20of%20five%20Pakistanis%2C%20who%20were%20not%20released%20to%20play%20last%20year.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShaheen%20Afridi%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ESet%20for%20at%20least%20four%20matches%2C%20having%20arrived%20from%20New%20Zealand%20where%20he%20captained%20Pakistan%20in%20a%20series%20loss.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShadab%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DThe%20leg-spin%20bowling%20allrounder%20missed%20the%20tour%20of%20New%20Zealand%20after%20injuring%20an%20ankle%20when%20stepping%20on%20a%20ball.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAzam%20Khan%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EPowerhouse%20wicketkeeper%20played%20three%20games%20for%20Pakistan%20on%20tour%20in%20New%20Zealand.%20He%20was%20the%20first%20Pakistani%20recruited%20to%20the%20ILT20.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMohammed%20Amir%20(Desert%20Vipers)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EHas%20made%20himself%20unavailable%20for%20national%20duty%2C%20meaning%20he%20will%20be%20available%20for%20the%20entire%20ILT20%20campaign.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EImad%20Wasim%20(Abu%20Dhabi%20Knight%20Riders)%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20left-handed%20allrounder%2C%2035%2C%20retired%20from%20international%20cricket%20in%20November%20and%20was%20subsequently%20recruited%20by%20the%20Knight%20Riders.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates

October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)

October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)

November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)

November 28-30: Dubai International Rally

January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)

March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)

April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)

Bombshell

Director: Jay Roach

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie

Four out of five stars