Global music stars including US artists Christina Aguilera and Norah Jones will perform at the closing ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday.
Organisers on Saturday revealed more about the eagerly anticipated event and said children will lead the way as the curtain comes down on the six-month event.
Aguilera, Jones and American cellist Yo-Yo Ma will lead the line-up, while hundreds of children will be in the audience beneath the Al Wasl dome .
The concerts are free to attend for anyone with an Expo ticket and entry is on a first come first served basis, organisers said.
The world's fair baton will also be passed from Dubai to Expo 2025 Osaka .
Performances from the stars Aguilera, Jones and Ma will perform on the night and on 20-plus giant screens across the site, including the main stages, Festival Garden and country pavilions.
The evening will begin at 7pm with Mira Singh , the girl who stole the show during the opening ceremony, taking the audience on another journey.
Hundreds of children from across the UAE are to witness the wonders as the country looks to the next 50 years, having celebrated its Golden Jubilee during Expo 2020 Dubai.
Later in the evening, Grammy-winner Ma will play a concert at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre from 8.45pm. The celebrated Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Jones will entertain visitors with her own concert on the Jubilee Stage from 9pm, and singer Aguilera will present an extended performance on the Jubilee Stage from 10.45pm.
Christina Aguilera, wearing a green crop top and green pleather trousers, poses for a portrait in Universal City, California in June 1998. Getty Images
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Christina Aguilera, wearing a white jumpsuit with gold accessories, performs at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2008. Stephen Lock / The National
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The show in statistics The cast of the closing ceremony includes more than 400 professionals and volunteers from 56 countries, with 745 costumes created for the culmination of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Forty members of a UAE-based children’s choir will perform Ishy Bilady , the National Anthem of the UAE, joined by the all-women Firdaus Orchestra, conducted by Yasmina Sabbah.
The ceremony will be streamed live on Virtual Expo and Expo TV. It will remind audiences of some of Al Wasl Plaza’s great moments, including calligraphy poetry in the sky from Emirati poetess Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi; the falcon from immersive theatrical show Journey of the 50th , which was presented during the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, and the incredible horse from The Boy and The Horse – a tribute to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The show also looks to the future. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai will participate in a ceremony that hands the baton over to Osaka in Japan for the next Expo in 2025.
The celebrations will continue throughout the night, with fireworks displays at midnight and 3am.
Coldplay perform at Expo 2020 Dubai - in pictures Coldplay performs at Expo 2020 Dubai on February 15. All photos: Reuters, unless noted otherwise
Chris Martin and crew rocked Al Wasl Dome as part of the Infinite Nights concert series.
Kicking off the gig right on time at 9pm, Coldplay launched directly into 'Higher Power', the uplifting hit from their ninth and latest album 'Music of the Spheres'.
As part of the concert, the 'sky' of Al Wasl Dome also teemed with butterflies, rainbows and oversized BTS holograms.
Al Wasl Dome came alive with laser projections and holograms as part of the concert.
Chris Martin went around the circular stage a number of times, greeting the audience.
Despite the smaller crowd, Chris Martin’s energy was infectious as he stomped back and forth between the centre stage and the outer circles.
Chris Martin of the band Coldplay performs at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Coldplay played several hits including 'Paradise' — performed under a kaleidoscope of butterflies and rainbows. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
Chris Martin takes a seat at the piano to croon along to a song.
Chris Martin was at his best, traipsing around the stage and pulling electrifying poses as he swung his arms and pointed his fingers.
Guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion provided a solid support team to lead vocalist Chris Martin for the night.
With more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are one of the most successful bands of the 21st century and one of the bestselling music acts of all time.
Typically found headlining stadiums around the world with upwards of 100,000 fans, it was a rather intimate affair at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland of Coldplay perform at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Updated: March 26, 2022, 9:54 AM