Are you looking forward to attending Expo 2020 Dubai, the global event of the decade, but you’re feeling lost and overwhelmed about what you should do when you’re there? Then this is the ultimate Expo 2020 guide for you!
Location, Timing and Ticketing
Location of Expo 2020 Dubai
The Expo 2020 event will take place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre from Friday 1st of October 2021 to Thursday the 31st of March 2022. The location of the Expo 2020 site is available on Google Maps. Visitors can travel via metro, bus, taxi, or car. There are also free Expo Rider buses in different locations in the UAE where visitors can conveniently catch them to reach the location. However, using the metro is the fastest and most suitable way to reach the site. Parking shuttles are available for those traveling by car; visitors do not need to walk more than 600 meters away from their vehicle to the gate. In addition, taxi users have a hassle-free ride to the Expo site as they are available in plenty and can book them beforehand via the dedicated mobile app.
Expo 2020 Dubai Timings
Expo 2020 will be open seven days a week, between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. from Saturday to Wednesday and between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. from Thursday to Friday.
Ticketing
Expo 2020 tickets are available in two categories: Standard and Bundle. Standard tickets range between AED 95 to AED 1750 and are in categories of ‘Season Pass’, ‘Multi-day Pass’, ‘1-Day Pass’, and ‘Premium Experience’. Bundle tickets range between AED 950 to AED 10,000 and are available in ‘Family Package’ and ‘Jubilee Experience’. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. In addition, all students will be given free access to Expo 2020.
Shows & Events in Expo 2020 Dubai
Since Expo 2020 is taking over Dubai for 6 months, there are numerous shows and events catered to different audiences that everyone can look forward to. A list of all the events and entertainment is available on the Expo 2020 official website. Visitors can fill their days with countless shows and events accommodated for people of all ages. There are 3 shows and events relating to the category of Architecture and 55 under the category of Arts and Culture. As well as 13 shows and events under the Business and Entrepreneurship category, 27 under Country Pavilions and Exhibitions, 15 under the Innovation and Technology category and 10 under Sustainability.
Daily Shows & Events at Expo 2020
Secondly, Expo 2020 displays most of its daily entertainment in Al Wasl Plaza; many consider this area as the jewel in the Expo crown. The first show is the ‘Global Awakening’ at 9:00 a.m. Visitors can hear sounds of nature all around them as they walk through Al Wasl Plaza’s garden; it’s a calming and peaceful experience indeed. Following the Global Awakening is the ‘National and Honour Day Ceremonies & Cultural Performances’, which starts at 10:15 a.m; a show that celebrates the respected leaders and cultures of the Expo 2020 country pavilions. Next, from 11:15 a.m. until 3:15 p.m., visitors can experience the ‘Expo Young Stars’ event, where students from UAE schools prepare singing and dancing performances. Around the evening, an Expo 2020 show called ‘Ousha & The Moon’ takes place; a digital experience of stories from a young Emirati girl who narrates her dreams with the help of the moon.
Special Shows & Events at Expo 2020
Moreover, aside from the daily Expo entertainment, you must save the dates of the unique special events in the Expo 2020 timeline. The first event being the ‘Golden Jubilee at Expo’, which starts on November 3rd and ends on December 4th. The Golden Jubilee is the UAE’s biggest historic celebration. The event is a must-see for visitors as they will learn about the nation’s accomplishments in the past 50 years and its goals within the next. The ‘Arabic Language Day’ is an exciting event for those of who want to learn more about the native language of the region. This event takes place on the December 18 and showcases celebrations of poetic calligraphy, Arabic literature, architecture, philosophy and more. Additionally, the Expo 2020 calendar includes holiday-specific events and celebrations such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Mother’s Day, Haq Al Laila and Valentine’s Day.
Business, Innovation & Sustainability Events in Expo 2020
If you are part of a business or company attending Expo 2020, the shows you must look out for are definitely the ones that aim to shape the future of our planet; whether that is from a business, innovative or sustainable perspective. The Expo 2020 events under the business program include the African Business Forum hosted on October 13, the Space Business Forum on October 19, and the Urban and Rural Development Business Forum on the November 1; all of which are taking place in the Dubai Exhibition Centre. Furthermore, the programs under Innovation and Sustainability include the ‘Blue Carbon Majlis’ in the Terra Auditorium on October 19, the ‘World Green Economy Summit’ on October 6 and the ‘Internal Innovation Show’ on December 30, both in the Dubai Exhibition Centre; as well as the ‘World Majlis: Sustainability for All’ event on October 5 in the UK pavilion.
Activities in Expo 2020 Dubai
Activities Categories
To begin with, Expo 2020 offers a variety of activities that may be enjoyable for all people in all age groups. The activities that are offered in Expo 2020 can be found in most of the Pavilions; such as the Chile Pavilion, Spain pavilion, Montenegro Pavilion, Saudi Arabia Pavilion, Germany Pavilion, Monaco Pavilion, and the Dubai Cares Pavilion. The activities provided in Expo 2020 are educational and interactive. They focus on innovation and sustainability and allow visitors, especially kids, to expand their knowledge in an enjoyable way.
Innovation and Sustainability Activities in Expo 2020
When visiting Expo 2020, visitors will be able to find activities that focus on sustainability in Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. Terra allows visitors to embark in playful experiences that focus on finding solutions to real life problems in our planet. Expo 2020 provides many opportunities for visitors to take part in activities that are innovative and future driven. One of the most future driven and innovative activities available in Expo 2020 is the “Make your own robot” workshop. This activity is mostly aimed for children. In this workshop, hours can be spent in creating robots and allowing visitors to enhance their creativity. This allows them to get in touch with the future out our world with artificial intelligence.
Educational Activities in Expo 2020
A variety of educational and interactive activities offered in Expo 2020; can be found in all Pavilions. A kids activity is in the Monaco Pavilion called “Live Among the Penguins”. It allows visitors to play a jump and run game and help guide a baby penguin back to safety away from the dangers of the Arctic. This helps kids understand the effects of climate change and test their cognitive skills. Another fun and knowledge expander is the Mars-inspired playground called “Latifa’s adventure in Space City.” This playground is located in Al Forsan Park and allows kids to experience zero gravity and bounce over nets. They can explore a model made similar to the UAE’s Hope Probe. Similarly, a family-friendly and educational activity is found in the Ethiopia Pavilion; visitors can find and play traditional board games and playground. This educates them on the Ethiopian history and culture.
Food at Expo 2020 Dubai
Expo presents a multi-cultural experience where visitors can try different multi-cultural food from street food sold in food trucks to fine dining restaurants prepared by professional international chefs. At Expo 2020, there are about 45 different restaurants to dine at. These places offer international dining from different parts of the world as well as regional dining which include restaurants and cafes owned by Emirati locals.
Regional & International Restaurants and Cafes
Firstly, at Expo 2020, Saddle Cafe, Dips, Depresso Cafe, and The Espresso Lab provide their services to the visitors. The owners and managers of these cafes are Emirati locals. Moreover, Adrift Burger Bar, Deli-2-Go, Grains and Greens, and Farrago are restaurant examples located at Expo. They offer different cuisines from different continents.
Worldwide Cuisines in Expo 2020 Dubai
Moreover, different cuisines from every corner of the world are found at Expo to satisfy all the visitors. Different cuisines are available. These include, Chinese, Italian, Lebanese, African and more cuisines.
Food Inquiries
Finally, they offer Expo 2020 visitors the choice of dining in or ordering for take out. In addition to that, these restaurants offer family friendly environments with music and live entertainment. This provides a memorable experience for all family members of all different ages. The restaurants offered at Expo provide different price ranges to please the different classes of income of people. For instance, Domino’s Pizza is available for people that wouldn’t want to spend large amounts of money on food.