• Construction work is in full swing on the Italian pavilion at the Expo site in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Construction work is in full swing on the Italian pavilion at the Expo site in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Crews head to work at the Italian pavilion at the Expo site in Dubai. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
    Crews head to work at the Italian pavilion at the Expo site in Dubai. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Eighty pillars of steel and concrete that will make up the Italian pavilion are already visible on the Dubai South Expo site.
    Eighty pillars of steel and concrete that will make up the Italian pavilion are already visible on the Dubai South Expo site.
  • Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
    Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
  • The pavilion will have galleries lined with Byzantine-style mosaics and a life-size version of Michelangelo’s David.
    The pavilion will have galleries lined with Byzantine-style mosaics and a life-size version of Michelangelo’s David.
  • Crews at the Italian pavilion were preparing the support beams and columns to carry the weight of three massive wooden boat hulls that are to be attached in April.
    Crews at the Italian pavilion were preparing the support beams and columns to carry the weight of three massive wooden boat hulls that are to be attached in April.
  • Roads leading to the site were being readied, with workers levelling and paving the approach paths.
    Roads leading to the site were being readied, with workers levelling and paving the approach paths.
  • Roads leading to the site were being readied, with workers levelling and paving the approach paths.
    Roads leading to the site were being readied, with workers levelling and paving the approach paths.
  • Italy's expo commissioner Paolo Glisenti inspects the construction work.
    Italy's expo commissioner Paolo Glisenti inspects the construction work.
  • Located near the pavilions of the UAE, Germany, India and Saudi Arabia, the theme of the Italian exhibit will be ‘Beauty that connects people’.
    Located near the pavilions of the UAE, Germany, India and Saudi Arabia, the theme of the Italian exhibit will be ‘Beauty that connects people’.
  • Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
    Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
  • Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
    Workers are busy at the Italian pavilion.
  • Hulls of three overturned boats painted white, red and green will be placed on the structure to resemble a giant wave covering the exhibition space.
    Hulls of three overturned boats painted white, red and green will be placed on the structure to resemble a giant wave covering the exhibition space.
  • Teams of workers could be seen on scaffolding platforms and perched on rooftops with their drills and welding equipment, busy fitting out pavilions.
    Teams of workers could be seen on scaffolding platforms and perched on rooftops with their drills and welding equipment, busy fitting out pavilions.
  • Teams of workers could be seen on scaffolding platforms and perched on rooftops with their drills and welding equipment, busy fitting out pavilions.
    Teams of workers could be seen on scaffolding platforms and perched on rooftops with their drills and welding equipment, busy fitting out pavilions.

Dubai Expo 2020: Final construction work in full swing on world fair site


  • English
  • Arabic

With a little under seven months to go before Expo 2020 Dubai opens its doors to the world on October 1, 2021, construction teams are working at a frenetic pace to deliver projects across the site.

On Tuesday, teams of workers could be seen on scaffolding platforms and perched on rooftops with drills and welding equipment, busy fitting out pavilions.

Roads leading to the site were also being readied, with workers levelling and paving the approaches.

Crews at the Italian pavilion were preparing the support beams and columns to carry the weight of three massive wooden boat hulls that are due to be attached in April.

Finishing work was taking place at the Philippine pavilion, due to be handed over later in March.

The main plaza area surrounding the Sustainability pavilion has been open to tourists and residents since late January.

People have been visiting the green-themed exhibitions under the sprawling canopy, taking photos of the mega sunshade and of solar-panelled trees that track the movement of the sun.

Initially scheduled for 2020, the Expo was postponed until October 2021 as countries grappled to deal with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sustainability pavilion opens to the public - in pictures

  • The 'sustainability pavilion' opens to the public at Dubai Expo 2020. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The 'sustainability pavilion' opens to the public at Dubai Expo 2020. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Visitors check out the new pavilion, which opened on Friday.
    Visitors check out the new pavilion, which opened on Friday.
  • Visitors in the 'hall of consumption' at the sustainability pavilion.
    Visitors in the 'hall of consumption' at the sustainability pavilion.
  • Sustainability is one of the expo’s three sub-themes and aims to raise awareness of human impact on the environment.
    Sustainability is one of the expo’s three sub-themes and aims to raise awareness of human impact on the environment.
  • Visitors at the ''land of future values'. Dubai Expo was postponed from 2020 to October 1 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Visitors at the ''land of future values'. Dubai Expo was postponed from 2020 to October 1 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Visitors in the forest section of the pavilion.
    Visitors in the forest section of the pavilion.
  • Tickets to visit the pavilion can be booked online. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Tickets to visit the pavilion can be booked online. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The pavilion covers 6,300 square metres of the expo site and is entirely operated from solar energy and recycled water.
    The pavilion covers 6,300 square metres of the expo site and is entirely operated from solar energy and recycled water.
  • The pavilion will be turned into a children’s science centre after the event ends.
    The pavilion will be turned into a children’s science centre after the event ends.
  • About 3,000 to 3,500 visitors are expected to attend Expo 2020 during weekdays and about 5,000 on weekends, organisers say.
    About 3,000 to 3,500 visitors are expected to attend Expo 2020 during weekdays and about 5,000 on weekends, organisers say.
Aquaman%20and%20the%20Lost%20Kingdom
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20James%20Wan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jason%20Mamoa%2C%20Patrick%20Wilson%2C%20Amber%20Heard%2C%20Yahya%20Abdul-Mateen%20II%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

FOOTBALL TEST

Team X 1 Team Y 0

Scorers

Red card

Man of the Match

 

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8 
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5