• Expo 2020 Dubai has stringent safety measures in place to protect the public. All photos: Chris Whiteoak/ The National
    Expo 2020 Dubai has stringent safety measures in place to protect the public. All photos: Chris Whiteoak/ The National
  • The sprawling Dubai site has a series of robust protocols to safeguard the public.
    The sprawling Dubai site has a series of robust protocols to safeguard the public.
  • Covid-19 safety rules are set out by Expo 2020 officials.
    Covid-19 safety rules are set out by Expo 2020 officials.
  • Expo 2020 Dubai has made vaccinations and boosters mandatory for staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers.
    Expo 2020 Dubai has made vaccinations and boosters mandatory for staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers.
  • Visitors sanitise their hands for protection against Covid-19 at the world's fair.
    Visitors sanitise their hands for protection against Covid-19 at the world's fair.
  • Expo 2020 Dubai is committed to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for the tens of thousands of people who visit the site each day.
    Expo 2020 Dubai is committed to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for the tens of thousands of people who visit the site each day.

Expo 2020 Dubai visits near 11 million as programme launched for over-60s


Neil Halligan
  • English
  • Arabic

Expo 2020 Dubai's latest visit numbers are nearing the 11 million mark, organisers said on Tuesday.

The world's fair recorded 10,836,389 visits since its opening on October 1, 2021, up until Monday, January 24.

Numbers in the past week were boosted by the opening of Why? The Musical, a 45-minute show directed by Bafta-winner Shekhar Kapur, with music by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman.

Starring Australian theatre actress Shubshri Kandiah and Indian actor and comedian Jaaved Jaaferi, the show features more than 100 performers as well as stunning visuals projected on Al Wasl Dome, the world’s largest 360-degree projection screen. The show runs four nights a week until February 27.

Visits to Expo 2020's virtual site reached 72.5 million, up from 65 million last week, with Global Goals week helping to increase the number significantly.

Senior guests programme

Expo today announced a new programme that allows guests aged over 60 to pre-book certain services to improve their access and mobility around the site.

The Senior Guests Programme gives visitors access to dedicated parking spaces within each district, a buggy drop-off to the arrival plaza and private buggies for up to five people for 90 minutes, from 9am to 1pm each day.

The programme, which is open to any visitor with a free Expo Senior Citizen Pass, also offers guests a meet-and-greet concierge, a welcome pack that includes recommended journeys, based on particular themes, details of fast-track entry to selected pavilions, and a 30 per cent discount on lunch at select restaurants across the site.

Guests can book the Expo Concierge service on WhatsApp (+971 50 141 3453) or via email at seniorbookings@expo2020.ae.

Full details of the Senior Guests Programme can be found here.

Match info

Athletic Bilbao 0

Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)

The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squads

Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.

India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.

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Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Updated: January 25, 2022, 8:25 AM