Expo 2020 Dubai recorded more than 24 million visits in its six months after a surge to the world's fair in the final weeks.
The tally of 24,102,967 visits is short of the pre-event goal of 25 million, which looked likely with one million visits in three days on the final weekend.
The 200-plus pavilions spanning the site — including those representing 192 nations — proved to be the major attractions.
Long queues formed at some of the most popular pavilions in the closing weeks, as visitors relished the opportunity to explore the site once more.
Performances by Coldplay, Alicia Keys and Mehad Hamad, appearances by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, and the annual World Government Summit helped to increase numbers.
A spectacular closing ceremony, star-studded concerts and firework displays brought down the curtain on the event on Thursday.
The celebration of cultures, innovation and ingenuity captured the imagination of people across the UAE and visitors from overseas.
Weekly visit numbers regularly topped 1 million in the second half of the six-month extravaganza, as fans made the most of their chance to soak up the carnival atmosphere.
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Air show display on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Nearly 23 million visits had been made to Expo by the start of this week after the more than one million visits recorded from Friday to Sunday. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Expo has hosted 30,000 events, including government summits and 5,000 sporting fixtures. Pawan Singh / The National -
A spectacular closing ceremony will be 'end of a beautiful journey' for Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National -
It's a party atmosphere for the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Some funky costumes to mark the end of the hugely successful event in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Big screens put up on the last day of the world's fair in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
People flock to the merchandise outlet on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Kids enjoying the dance class at the Sustainability pavilion as Expo 2020 Dubai nears its conclusion. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai could watch the closing ceremony on more than 20 giant screens across the site, including at the Jubilee Stage, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre and Festival Garden. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors enjoy the water feature on the last day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors arrive for the expo's final day. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Crowds on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Visitors arrive at the world's fair for the last time. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Preparations going on for the closing ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National -
Reem Al Hashimy, centre, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, on the final day of the Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Ms Al Hashimy opens the Sustainability Portal on the Expo's final day. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors queue to enter the site on the final day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Expo staff at the site entrances faced a busy start to the final day. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors queue at the security gate. Pawan Singh / The National -
Early arrivals on the final day of the world fair. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors taking selfies to record their presence on the final day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dubai police prepare for the final day at the world's fair. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors approach Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National -
A rare opportunity to capture a quiet moment at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors on the last day at the EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Season pass boost
Figures released by Expo 2020 on Saturday revealed that one in every three visitors was from overseas. Organisers said there were visitors from 178 countries.
The most popular country for international visitors was India, followed by Germany, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Russia, France and the US.
Expo said 49 per cent of visits were repeats, with 70 per cent entering the site using the Season Pass.
For the final 50 days of Expo, organisers introduced a Dh50 Season Finale Pass that proved to be popular with visitors.
Expo said 22 per cent of visitors used the one-day ticket, while eight per cent used the multi-day pass.
Children (under 18) made up 18 per cent of all visits. Almost one million pupils visited as part of the Expo Schools Programme, which was suspended for most of January because schools’ activities were halted temporarily as a precaution when coronavirus infections surged.
Organisers said senior citizens (above 60) made up 3 per cent of all visits, and the oldest visitor was 98.
People with disabilities accounted for 107,000 visits, while virtual visits reached more than 200 million.
Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion awards winners — in pictures
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Gold Award: Saudi Arabia, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Switzerland, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: China, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Netherlands, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Austria, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bronze Award: Gulf Co-operation Council, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Singapore pavilion, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Architecture & Landscape. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Silver Award: Finland, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Architecture & Landscape. Pawan Singh/The National -
Bronze Award: Qatar, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Architecture & Landscape. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Japan, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Victor Besa/The National. -
Silver Award: Pakistan, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bronze Award: Spain, self-built pavilions, Category A (larger than 2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Peru, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750m2-2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Poland, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750m2-2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bronze Award: Egypt, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750m2-2,500m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Morocco, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Algeria, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Palestine, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Exhibition Design. Photo: Wam -
Gold Award: Mexico, Rented pavilions, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Latvia, Rented pavilions, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Montenegro, Rented pavilions, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Tonga, Thematic District pavilions, Opportunity, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thematic District pavilions, Opportunity, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Fiji, Thematic District pavilions, Opportunity, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Seychelles, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Exhibition Design. Pawan Singh/The National -
Silver Award: Cambodia, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Surinam, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Holy See, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Cote d’Ivoire, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Exhibition Design. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Jamaica, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Exhibition Design. Victor Besa / The National -
Gold Award: Germany, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Pawan Singh / The National -
Silver Award: Kazakhstan, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Italy, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Pawan Singh / The National -
Gold Award: Oman, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Theme Interpretation. Pawan Singh / The National -
Silver Award: Hungary, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Theme Interpretation. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bronze Award: Sweden, self-built pavilions, Category B (1,750-2,500m2), Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Malaysia, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Theme Interpretation. Pawan Singh/The National -
Silver Award: Lithuania, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Colombia, self-built pavilions, Category C (smaller than 1,750m2), Theme Interpretation. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Gold Award: Syria, Rented pavilions, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Gabon, Rented pavilions, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Vietnam, Rented pavilions, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Rwanda, Thematic District pavilions, Opportunity, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Ethiopia, Thematic District pavilions, Opportunity, Theme Interpretation. Pawan Singh / The National -
Bronze Award — Kyrgyzstan, Thematic District pavilions — Opportunity, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: Yemen, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Guinea, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Comoros, Thematic District pavilions, Sustainability, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Gold Award: El Salvador, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Silver Award: Moldova, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Bronze Award: Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, Thematic District pavilions, Mobility, Theme Interpretation. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
