• Expo City Dubai is set to open in phases from September 2022, with a full relaunch in October. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Expo City Dubai is set to open in phases from September 2022, with a full relaunch in October. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • Visitors can take a trip on the Garden in the Sky from September 1 for Dh30.
    Visitors can take a trip on the Garden in the Sky from September 1 for Dh30.
  • Later, as residential sectors open, the district will become a '24-hour neighbourhood' in which people live and work, and can visit.
    Later, as residential sectors open, the district will become a '24-hour neighbourhood' in which people live and work, and can visit.
  • The Expo metro station in June 2022.
    The Expo metro station in June 2022.
  • Dubai Exhibition Centre in June 2022.
    Dubai Exhibition Centre in June 2022.
  • Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer and Marjan Faraidooni, chief visitor experience officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, at a news conference in June 2022 to announce Expo City Dubai.
    Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer and Marjan Faraidooni, chief visitor experience officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, at a news conference in June 2022 to announce Expo City Dubai.
  • The entrance gates await new residents and businesses.
    The entrance gates await new residents and businesses.
  • Ahmed Al Khatib said the district would be free of single plastics and was built with an emphasis on the environment.
    Ahmed Al Khatib said the district would be free of single plastics and was built with an emphasis on the environment.
  • Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed, chairman of Dubai Airports, speaking at a press conference welcoming the next chapter at Expo City Dubai.
    Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed, chairman of Dubai Airports, speaking at a press conference welcoming the next chapter at Expo City Dubai.

UAE

Expo City Dubai

Expo City Dubai to welcome first visitors from September 1

Mobility and Terra pavilions and the Garden in the Sky to open this week before main October 1 relaunch

Rory Reynolds
Rory Reynolds

August 29, 2022

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Latest: Map shows how much of Expo City will be open this week

Expo City Dubai will welcome the first visitors through its gates from Thursday, September 1, before a full relaunch in October.

Visitors can gain access to two of the anchor pavilions, Mobility and Terra, as part of a phased launch of the legacy site, a successor to the six-month world's fair bonanza that closed in late March.

Organisers on Monday said the move was the "first chapter of Expo City Dubai’s journey".

Tickets will cost Dh50 per person, per pavilion, and are available at www.expocitydubai.com. They can also be purchased at four box offices at Expo City Dubai from Thursday.

Much of Expo City Dubai’s public realm will be open and is free to visit
Expo City Dubai statement

Garden in the Sky, with its 360-degree views, will also open on Thursday, with adult tickets priced at Dh30 each. Attractions are free for children aged 12 and under and People of Determination.

Alif and Terra will be open daily from 10am to 6pm, while Garden in the Sky will open from 3pm to 6pm, extending to 10am to 6pm from Friday, September 16 onwards.

The expanded Dubai Metro will serve visitors and staff.

Although some transitional work is still underway, "much of Expo City Dubai’s public realm will be open and is free to visit," organisers said in a statement on Monday.

Other Expo favourites – including Al Wasl Plaza, the Surreal water feature, the Women’s Pavilion and the Vision Pavilion, as well as children’s playgrounds and the carousel – will open from October 1.

Later this year, the Opportunity Pavilion will become the Expo 2020 Dubai Museum – a new addition highlighting the history and impact of World Expos.

In a statement, organisers said they were looking forward to the return of school trips, with the Expo School Programme preparing an "awe-inspiring and evolving array of immersive educational experiences, exhibits and interactive workshops, reflecting the themes of the pavilions".

Earlier this month, Al Wasl Plaza, the centrepiece of Expo, was longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2022.

Timeline of Expo 2020 Dubai: in pictures

  • The Expo 2020 site under construction in the Dubai South area of Dubai, in July 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
    The Expo 2020 site under construction in the Dubai South area of Dubai, in July 2017. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Construction work on the Expo 2020 site at the Al Wasl Plaza in November 2017. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Construction work on the Expo 2020 site at the Al Wasl Plaza in November 2017. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Expo 2020 site in April 2018. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Expo 2020 site in April 2018. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The under construction site in Dubai in April 2018. Pawan Singh / The National
    The under construction site in Dubai in April 2018. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A man climbs through scaffolding during the construction of the new fly-over on Sheikh Zayed road near the Al Safa interchange, in May 2018. Antonie Robertson/The National
    A man climbs through scaffolding during the construction of the new fly-over on Sheikh Zayed road near the Al Safa interchange, in May 2018. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • General image of the site in October 2018. Antonie Robertson/The National
    General image of the site in October 2018. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • The Expo construction site in October 2018. Photo: Dubai Expo
    The Expo construction site in October 2018. Photo: Dubai Expo
  • Progress at the Sustainability pavilion, seen in July 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Progress at the Sustainability pavilion, seen in July 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Visitors at the Invention centre at the Expo 2020 House of Volunteers office, in January 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
    Visitors at the Invention centre at the Expo 2020 House of Volunteers office, in January 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Inside view of the Dubai Expo 2020 Sustainability pavilion during a media tour in January 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
    Inside view of the Dubai Expo 2020 Sustainability pavilion during a media tour in January 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of the Expo 2020 site, in January 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of the Expo 2020 site, in January 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Italy pavilion in April 2021, being readied ahead of the opening in October. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Italy pavilion in April 2021, being readied ahead of the opening in October. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The David statue, unveiled at the Italy pavilion in April 2021. Pawan Singh/The National
    The David statue, unveiled at the Italy pavilion in April 2021. Pawan Singh/The National
  • The opening ceremony of Dubai Expo 2020, on September 30, 2021. AFP
    The opening ceremony of Dubai Expo 2020, on September 30, 2021. AFP
  • A logo of the Dubai Expo 2020 is projected during the opening ceremony, on September 30, 2021. AFP
    A logo of the Dubai Expo 2020 is projected during the opening ceremony, on September 30, 2021. AFP
  • Visitors enjoying the fog inside the Switzerland pavilion in October 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
    Visitors enjoying the fog inside the Switzerland pavilion in October 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Visitors at the Singapore Pavilion in October 2021. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Visitors at the Singapore Pavilion in October 2021. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Airshow above the Pakistan pavilion in October 2021. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
    Airshow above the Pakistan pavilion in October 2021. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
  • The UAE pavilion in October 2021. Victor Besa/The National
    The UAE pavilion in October 2021. Victor Besa/The National
  • Light show at the Al Wasl Plaza in October 2021. Victor Besa/The National.
    Light show at the Al Wasl Plaza in October 2021. Victor Besa/The National.
  • View from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020, in November 2021. Antonie Robertson / The National
    View from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020, in November 2021. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Water Feature, in November 2021. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    The Water Feature, in November 2021. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Closing fireworks at Expo 2020 Dubai, on April 1, 2022. Ruel Pableo/The National
    Closing fireworks at Expo 2020 Dubai, on April 1, 2022. Ruel Pableo/The National
  • A sign outside the Sustainability gate saying: 'The gates are closed but the memories will remain. Until we meet again.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A sign outside the Sustainability gate saying: 'The gates are closed but the memories will remain. Until we meet again.' Chris Whiteoak / The National
Updated: June 02, 2023, 11:15 AM
Dubai