Expo 2020 Dubai schedule unaffected by UAE's new weekend

Senior official says many scheduled performances are part of wider global tours

Visitors queue outside the Singapore pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

The marching band from Tulane University, US, performs New Orleans music at Al Forsan Park. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Visitors walk through the Spain pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Riverdance bring their final performance at Expo 2020 to a close on the Jubilee Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

White umbrellas turn into projection screens at the Netherlands pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Visitors walk through the Singapore Pavilion, whose theme is "nature, nurture, future". Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

People take photographs of exhibits in the Singapore pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

A young visitor stands in front of 'Fluidum', a kinetic statue made up of 85 robotically-controlled mirrors, which can transform the reflection of the spectator, at the Czech Pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Visitors stroll through the Greece pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Members of the UAE's Al Noban Troupe and Morocco's Hassada Troupe in action. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Visitors inside the Netherlands Pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

An exhibition called 'Plastic Oceans - Beauty Destroyed', at the Czech Republic pavilion. 'Water and its conservation is the main focus of the pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Norwegian chessmaster Magnus Carlsen competes against Russia's chessmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi (unseen) during Game 2 of the FIDE World Chess Championship Dubai 2021. AFP

Members of the Tulane University marching band perform. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

An exhibit in the Czech Republic pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

White umbrellas turn into projection screens at the Netherlands pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

People wait to enter the UAE pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Canadian singer Shawnee Kish on stage in the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

The UAE's Al Noban Troupe and Morocco's Hassada Troupe perform on the Earth Stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

The Moroccan Troupe's rhythmic dance is inspired by the harvesting traditions of Had Gharbia. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Russian chessmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi competes against Norwegian chessmaster Magnus Carlsen (unseen) during Game 2 of the FIDE World Chess Championship at Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP

Performances and themed events already scheduled for Expo 2020 Dubai will be unaffected by the UAE's shift to a new working week, a senior official said.

Shows already announced for the coming months at the world fair will not alter their schedules because these are often part of wider global tours.

But visitors can look forward to new additions to the packed itinerary at the international extravaganza.

The UAE announced on Tuesday that federal government employees would work full days from Monday to Thursday, with a half day on Friday.

The new weekend will be Saturday and Sunday as of January 1. Abu Dhabi and Dubai governments and schools also confirmed they would switch to the new schedule.

Plans are being drawn up for more celebrations at the Expo site on Sunday, January 2 , which is the UAE's newest public holiday.

“We will be following UAE directives in terms of the weekend but we haven’t changed anything as yet,” Sconaid McGeachin, senior vice president of communications, told The National.

“There will definitely be announcements coming for January 2. A lot of people take time off during the Christmas, new year period anyway so we do have a packed programme during that time.”

The theme weeks from January until March on travel, health, food, agriculture and water will continue as planned as speakers have been booked and activities scheduled.

“In that time when the weekend changes we will still keep the thematic weeks from Sunday to Saturday because it is a packed programme every day and it lasts for a week,” she said.

“For all our other activities we will be looking at it given the announcement has just come out.

“It’s too early to tell. We will be able to respond in due course once more is known.”

The Expo calendar for the duration of the six-month world fair was released before the October launch.

“Anybody who has already been announced – that won’t be changing because that is when those performers are scheduled to come,” she said.

“They are often coming as part of a wider tour of anything they might be doing globally.”

New concerts have sometimes been revealed weeks before, such as the show by Alicia Keys, who will launch her new double album Keys at Al Wasl Plaza on Friday.

Details will soon be given on another global pop name for a performance on December 17, Ms McGeachin said.

Organisers are gearing up for a packed holiday season.

AR Rahman, an Academy Award-winning composer and musician, will take to the stage on December 22, followed by a Christmas Day performance by Lea Salonga, a Broadway star and the singing voice for princesses in two Disney musicals.

Visitor numbers since Expo opened on October 1 have climbed to more than 5.6 million after a colourful National Day weekend filled with fireworks and parades.

Local 'gem' restaurants at Expo - in pictures

Sharjah-born architect, Pallavi Dean and her team at Roar designed 12 of the restaurants and cafes at Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Ms Dean designed most of the UAE's home-grown restaurants at the Expo.

The interior space of Al Reef Lebanese Bakery has one wall made of terracotta bricks, as a nod towards the original.

The interior space of Dampa Seafood & Grill has a carnival atmosphere, with fishing nets hung from the ceiling.

Canvas by Coffee + Culture is one of the new concepts, but all the other designs are local gems - UAE restaurants reincarnated at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The interior space of the new concept cafe - Canvas by Coffee + Culture was designed to have the feel of a Parisian bistro.

Syrian eatery, Sarouja Restaurant and Cafe at the world's fair.