• A view of Al Wasl dome after midnight at Expo 2020 Dubai when the site shuts down to visitors. Pawan Singh / The National
    A view of Al Wasl dome after midnight at Expo 2020 Dubai when the site shuts down to visitors. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Visitors watch an immersive show at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    Visitors watch an immersive show at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • People leave Expo 2020 Dubai after watching the final audiovisual shows at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    People leave Expo 2020 Dubai after watching the final audiovisual shows at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • When the Expo site closes to visitors, rehearsals begin under Al Wasl dome, also called the Expo's crown jewel. Pawan Singh / The National
    When the Expo site closes to visitors, rehearsals begin under Al Wasl dome, also called the Expo's crown jewel. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Crews prepare for the next day show during the night shift at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    Crews prepare for the next day show during the night shift at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Technical and maintenance crews check the 30,000 lights that change colour in synch to the music in the sunken garden of Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
    Technical and maintenance crews check the 30,000 lights that change colour in synch to the music in the sunken garden of Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The view from one of two control rooms that manage the content beamed across Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    The view from one of two control rooms that manage the content beamed across Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Inside the main control room, programmers work through the night to check audio and light effects for Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
    Inside the main control room, programmers work through the night to check audio and light effects for Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The technical crew work with the spotlights during night rehearsals at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    The technical crew work with the spotlights during night rehearsals at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A view of the control room that oversees the stunning effects beamed across Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    A view of the control room that oversees the stunning effects beamed across Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The revolving stage inside Al Wasl dome is being readied at night ahead of a musical performance the next day. Pawan Singh / The National
    The revolving stage inside Al Wasl dome is being readied at night ahead of a musical performance the next day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Content is curated in virtual reality and in audio studios that overlook Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    Content is curated in virtual reality and in audio studios that overlook Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Technical teams run through the sequence of light and sound that lend an element of theatre to performances at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    Technical teams run through the sequence of light and sound that lend an element of theatre to performances at Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • William Ainley, vice president, technical, for events and entertainment at Expo 2020 Dubai, says the night-time hours are precious for rehearsals. Pawan Singh / The National
    William Ainley, vice president, technical, for events and entertainment at Expo 2020 Dubai, says the night-time hours are precious for rehearsals. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Al Wasl dome is quiet minutes before night rehearsals make it come alive. Pawan Singh / The National
    Al Wasl dome is quiet minutes before night rehearsals make it come alive. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Coldplay perform beneath Al Wasl dome to a packed crowd. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Coldplay perform beneath Al Wasl dome to a packed crowd. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Thousands watch the Coldplay performance at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters
    Thousands watch the Coldplay performance at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters
  • Alicia Keys commands the stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Alicia Keys commands the stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Amna Abulhoul, creative director, ceremonies, at Expo 2020 Dubai says the immersive dome has made a lasting impression on top music groups. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Amna Abulhoul, creative director, ceremonies, at Expo 2020 Dubai says the immersive dome has made a lasting impression on top music groups. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Singer Alicia Keys performs at Dubai Expo 2020 Dubai. AP
    Singer Alicia Keys performs at Dubai Expo 2020 Dubai. AP
  • The Black Eyed Peas perform at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters
    The Black Eyed Peas perform at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters
  • The Black Eyed Peas perform as the circular designs within Al Wasl dome take on a life of their own at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters
    The Black Eyed Peas perform as the circular designs within Al Wasl dome take on a life of their own at Expo 2020 Dubai. Reuters

Expo's dazzling Al Wasl dome to shine bright long after starring role in closing ceremony


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

A spellbinding closing ceremony will mark the “end of a beautiful journey” for Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday — but it will be just the start for one of the brightest stars of the world's fair.

For when the music has stopped, the fireworks have lit up the sky and tens of thousands of people have bid farewell to the global spectacle, the magnificent Al Wasl dome will start a new chapter in its success story.

Known as the Expo’s beating heart and its crown jewel, the 360-degree translucent structure will be a centrepiece of the new District 2020 legacy site.

It's about the celebration for a better tomorrow
Tareq Ghosheh,
Expo 2020 Dubai chief events and entertainment officer

“Al Wasl became an icon,” Tareq Ghosheh, Expo 2020 Dubai chief events and entertainment officer, told The National.

“This is a one-of-a-kind venue that not too many places will have or will ever have. So definitely in the legacy phase, Al Wasl has its own plans, the District has plans and it will fit into the bigger plans of Dubai.”

The gigantic dome has been the stage for top acts such as Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys, who enthralled fans from a sunken garden with more than 30,000 flickering LED lights.

While specific details on the dome's future are still to be revealed, it is clear it will continue to take centre stage.

“Al Wasl is unique. The legacy plan is to keep it functioning as it is now and to continue on through,” William Ainley, vice president technical for Expo events and entertainment, previously told The National.

“There is absolutely no doubt with the future developments in this space, it has so many opportunities and so much potential."

Expo delights until the very end

Mr Ghosheh said the closing ceremony would be as spectacular as the opening.

The show will be broken up into three parts — a nine-minute recap of Expo’s best memories, a farewell and a look to the future.

The ancient golden ring, the Expo’s logo, will also feature prominently, drawing a full circle between the launch of the event and its end.

“This is the end of a beautiful journey … it’s been years in preparation,” Mr Ghosheh said.

“The story is based on an arc of three emotional points.

“We managed to bring each and every iconic moment that people have lived over the six months in a glimpse of nine minutes and they will all live in Al Wasl.

Tareq Ghosheh, Expo 2020 Dubai chief events and entertainment officer, inside the immersive Al Wasl dome. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Tareq Ghosheh, Expo 2020 Dubai chief events and entertainment officer, inside the immersive Al Wasl dome. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

“The second one will be a farewell. It’s not for the faint-hearted because many people will start crying and the last one will be about a better tomorrow, the celebration for a better tomorrow.

“That’s how we close with a massive celebration.

“It will be a day to remember across the site. It’s not going to sleep until 3am.”

Audiences watching from home are also in for a treat, with augmented reality playing a big part in the broadcast.

The opening ceremony had magical waterfalls and butterflies swooping in that TV audiences were able to see.

There will be live performances from cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singers Norah Jones and Christina Aguilera at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre and the Jubilee Stage, with DJ Tiesto closing the night.

Two Egyptian bands will play in the Sustainability plaza, two Indian bands in the Sports hub and three Filipino bands in the Festival garden.

After 30,000 events, including government summits and 5,000 sporting fixtures, it will be a poignant time for the Expo teams saying their final goodbyes.

Mr Ghosheh said pulling off an extraordinarily successful event during a pandemic made the Expo an example of resilience that showcased the spirit of the city and country.

“We get emotional every day,” he said.

“It’s a phase of my life that changed me completely but it also gave me a chance to pay back to a city that I love, a country that I respect.”

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The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km

The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000

Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic

Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km

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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

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Champions League quarter-final, first leg

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Updated: April 01, 2022, 10:43 AM