• The UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    The UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • A young visitor enjoys the spectacular light show at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National
    A young visitor enjoys the spectacular light show at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National
  • View from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National
    View from the Garden in the Sky at Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Saudi pavilion lit up at night. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Saudi pavilion lit up at night. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Tricolours to the fore as France marks its Expo celebration day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Tricolours to the fore as France marks its Expo celebration day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The French pavilion features a projection of 'The Rose', a 13th-century stained-glass window from Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The French pavilion features a projection of 'The Rose', a 13th-century stained-glass window from Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A visitor takes a picture of the spectacular Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A visitor takes a picture of the spectacular Mobility Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • An aerobatics team passes above the Pakistan pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    An aerobatics team passes above the Pakistan pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Inside the Malaysia pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
    Inside the Malaysia pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Al Wasl dome displays different faces at the Police Academy Graduation in celebration of the country's 50th anniversary. Ruel Pableo / The National
    The Al Wasl dome displays different faces at the Police Academy Graduation in celebration of the country's 50th anniversary. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • A young visitor in front of 'Fluidum', a kinetic statue made up of 85 robotically controlled mirrors, representing a vertical water surface, at the Czech pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A young visitor in front of 'Fluidum', a kinetic statue made up of 85 robotically controlled mirrors, representing a vertical water surface, at the Czech pavilion. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The Women's pavilion by Cartier. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The Women's pavilion by Cartier. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The Bahrain pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Bahrain pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Monaco pavilion. The entrance is based on a kaleidoscope. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Monaco pavilion. The entrance is based on a kaleidoscope. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A look at the construction progress of the Sustainability pavilion in 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A look at the construction progress of the Sustainability pavilion in 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A replica of Michelangelo's 'David' statue at the Italy pavilion on April 27, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
    A replica of Michelangelo's 'David' statue at the Italy pavilion on April 27, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National
  • View of the closed Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
    View of the closed Al Wasl dome. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Crowds outside the Saudi Arabia pavilion during the final week of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Crowds outside the Saudi Arabia pavilion during the final week of Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Air show on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Air show on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Green spaces and architecture on display. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Green spaces and architecture on display. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Visitors swinging in the graduation hall at the Germany pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
    Visitors swinging in the graduation hall at the Germany pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Construction work on the Expo 2020 site in November, 2017. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Construction work on the Expo 2020 site in November, 2017. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Inside the Sustainability pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
    Inside the Sustainability pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National

Weekend

Remembering Expo 2020 Dubai: a visual journey through the highlights

As the reimagined site opens its gates, we look back at highlights from the world's greatest show

The National

September 02, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

It's been almost a year since Expo 2020 Dubai opened, bringing the world's greatest show to the UAE.

The celebration of opportunity, mobility and sustainability left a legacy that will last long after the end of Expo in March.

This week, Expo City Dubai opened its gates, giving the people of the UAE a chance to revisit two of the site's most popular attractions: Alif – The Mobility Pavilion; and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion.

View of the Sustainability Pavilion at night. Pawan Singh / The National
View of the Sustainability Pavilion at night. Pawan Singh / The National

The area, which is planned to be an economic centre, a residential space and a global destination for events and exhibitions, had a soft launch on September 1 ahead of the official opening in a month, one year after Expo 2020 Dubai began.

This is not the only way the legacy of Expo will live on. The entire site is an architectural marvel, and last month Al Wasl Plaza, the dome at the heart of the Expo 2020 Dubai site, was longlisted for the Dezeen Award in architecture.

Artists performing during the UAE’s 50th National Day celebration at Al Wasl plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
Artists performing during the UAE’s 50th National Day celebration at Al Wasl plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

Measuring 130 metres in diameter and more than 67 metres tall, the structure incorporates an immersive projection experience. Known as the heart of the Expo 2020 site, its delicate-looking pattern was based on a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age ring found in the UAE. The ring was also the inspiration behind the Expo 2020 Dubai logo.

Students from Abu Dhabi Police Academy at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
Students from Abu Dhabi Police Academy at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

The name Al Wasl, which translates as “the connection”, was chosen to reflect the area’s heritage as a meeting point across the region. The open space was a central gathering spot during Expo 2020 Dubai and will remain as a landmark of District 2020.

The flowing contours of the UAE pavilion. Victor Besa / The National
The flowing contours of the UAE pavilion. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE pavilion, with its stunning curves and flowing contours, has also been longlisted for a 2022 Dezeen Award in design.

Visitors follow a foggy path to the summit of the Swiss pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors follow a foggy path to the summit of the Swiss pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National

Expo will be remembered for its pavilions — the interactive, vibrant and educational ― as well as its striking light shows, parades, national day festivities, celebrity visitors and, of course, the incredibly Instagrammable water feature.

A young visitor checks out the Expo's popular water feature. Pawan Singh / The National
A young visitor checks out the Expo's popular water feature. Pawan Singh / The National

The event was a resounding success. According to organisers, the event had a record almost 1.6 million visits in one week and more than one million visits were reported on its final weekend, with nearly 23 million visits in total.

Cristiano Ronaldo taking a selfie with fans after a Q&A session for Expo’s Health and Wellness Week at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
Cristiano Ronaldo taking a selfie with fans after a Q&A session for Expo’s Health and Wellness Week at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Super 30

Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):

PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)

Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

Tomorrow 2021
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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
World Mental Health Day
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry

4/5

The biog

Hometown: Cairo

Age: 37

Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror

Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing

Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition

Director: Laxman Utekar

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

Rating: 1/5

The five pillars of Islam
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Info

What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship

When: December 27-29, 2018

Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

The biog

Family: Parents and four sisters

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah

A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls

Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction

Favourite holiday destination: Italy

Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning

Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes

Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

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Updated: September 02, 2022, 6:21 PM
Weekend