Latest: Expo City promises unrivalled 'campus town feel' as it reopens to the public
Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Expo City Dubai from today, Thursday September 1.
The date of the partial opening — which came earlier than expected — caused a flurry of excitement when it was announced on Monday.
Expo City Dubai is expected to be home to residents, major companies and their headquarters, as well as a global destination for events and exhibitions.
For now, some of the unique features of Expo 2020 Dubai are being reopened to the public.
Visitors will be able to reach the site directly by Metro, bus, car and taxi for the first time since the Expo ended on March 31. You can wander the main site for free, but need a Dh50 ticket to enter the pavilions.
Here is what we know so far:
Which parts of Expo site will be open from this week?
Main pavilions
Two of the anchor pavilions will open this week. They are Alif – the Mobility Pavilion and Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion.
Terra, which hosts science experiments and a climate change-themed exhibition, was a key stop in Expo's school programme, during which every school in the country visited, free of charge, during the world's fair.
Mobility is home to nine-metre-tall models of Arabian explorers Ahmad ibn Majid, Ibn Battuta and Al-Bakri.
The structure itself, designed by Foster + Partners, contains a huge lift that moves dozens of visitors through the impressive structure.
For Dh50 ($14) per pavilion, adult visitors can gain access to these sites. Children under 12 and people with disabilities will enjoy free access.
Garden in the Sky
Garden in the Sky, with its 360-degree views, is also set to open on Thursday, with adult tickets priced at Dh30 each. Children can enter free of charge.
Expo Metro station
The Metro has remained open since the close of the world's fair, but visitors were unable to go any further than the station and its main plaza.
With single-journey tickets from only Dh3 for one zone, it remains the cheapest way to visit the Expo site and travel around town in general. Car parks that surround the site will also reopen.
What are the opening times?
Alif and Terra will be open daily from 10am to 6pm while Garden in the Sky will open from 3pm to 6pm, with the times changing to 10am to 6pm from Friday, September 16, onwards.
It is expected that the district, which opened until midnight or later during Expo, will keep its gates open later once fully open.
Why isn't the whole site open yet?
Expo favourites such as Al Wasl Plaza, the water feature renamed Surreal, the Women’s Pavilion, the Vision Pavilion and children’s playgrounds will open from October 1.
Almost all of the country pavilions that were run by each nation during the six-month event have been packed up and shipped home.
A handful remain, including the UAE and Saudi pavilions. Egypt and Morocco will also reopen at some stage.
How much of the Expo site can I see this week — and do I need a ticket to wander around?
Organisers say “much of Expo City Dubai’s public realm will be open and is free to visit”.
So, even those without a ticket will have the chance to relive the Expo magic.
Guests can walk from the Metro station to the open venues, so there should be a chance to stretch your legs and take in the district before the big opening on October 1.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets are available at https://tickets.expocitydubai.com/ticket-office. They can also be purchased at four box offices at Expo City Dubai from Thursday.
Will there be restaurants and other places to eat?
A host of food and beverage outlets are expected to reopen in October. However, there is no word yet on what exactly will be open for the September 1 launch, but visitors can expect organisers to have options on hand.
There is also no word yet on whether people see a return of Al Baik — the popular Saudi chicken outlet — and other staples, including the Irish Village.
So, watch this space.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
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The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
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Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai