VIDEO: Expo 2020 Dubai starts with lavish opening ceremony

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai is the world's magnificent gateway to the future as it prepares to welcome people from all over the world for 6 months.

Bringing together 192 nations in over 200 pavilions for a better future, Expo 2020 Dubai has shown the whole planet homing in on one emirate to enjoy what it has to offer.

Dubai has proved the Cassandras wrong by staging the biggest event of the century: Expo 2020. For six months, investors, tourists and residents will be attracted by the overarching, magnetic appeal of the world's biggest exhibition.

The mega event has been designed for innovation and impact, and will catapult the real estate market to new heights.

Thanks to the grand vision and farsightedness of the leaders, particularly His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, what was once a distant dream is now a spectacular reality. The world will be paying larger-than-life attention to the UAE and Dubai in particular.

Sheikh Mohammed  and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended the official opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Their Highnesses conveyed the warm greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the representatives of the participating countries, organisations and institutions.

The audience will be watching the opening ceremony through screens in many locations, including airports, shopping centres, hotels and other landmarks of the country, and following the entire ceremony live on air. 

The event can also be followed through live broadcasts on Expo TV at 07:30pm. LINK: https://virtualexpo.world/

The opening ceremony will be followed on the following day by three firework displays in different parts of Dubai, marking the launch of the international event and opening its doors to the public. The fireworks event will be held on the evening of Oct.1, 2021 at 8:20pm in Dubai Festival City, The Pointe (Palm Jumeirah), and Dubai Frame.

The concert will be performed by a group of Arab and international artists, including Emirati artists Ahlam and Hussein Al Jasmi, Arab artist Mohammed Abdo, ambassador of Expo 2020 Dubai, Emirati rising star Almas, and Lebanese-American singer Maysa Karaa.

International stars participating in the ceremony include famous opera singer Andrea Bocelli, British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang, artist Angelique Kidjo, and singer-songwriter Andra Day.

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Those in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi can follow the international event from the Yas Plaza area, and in Ras Al Khaimah, screens will be provided for the event in a number of locations, including the Corniche, Al Marjan Island and Al Manar Mall.

Performers welcome visitors at the site of Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP

The public in the Emirate of Ajman will be able to follow the launch evening of Expo 2020 Dubai from the heritage district, and from Fujairah in the "Al Hosn District."

Flags of all the participating countries being hoisted at the opening ceremony.

As for the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, the event can be viewed through the areas affiliated with the Department of Tourism and Heritage, the Municipality Department, and through the social networks of the Executive Council and Planning Department.

Performers wait for the guests for the opening ceremony.

More than 240 hotels in the UAE will showcase the opening night of Expo 2020 Dubai, including Rove, Armani, Address and Vida by Emaar hotels, as well as Accor hotels, Marriott, Hilton, IHG hotels, Rotana hotels, Jumeirah Group hotels, Hyatt hotels, and Atlantis, The Palm.

The official opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai will be shown at Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports; events to watch the concert have been organised by partners such as Emirates Airlines, Dulsco, Terminus Group, L'Oreal and Nissan.

A view from inside the Al Wasl Hall during the opening ceremony.

Some of the major companies in the UAE presenting the opening ceremony inside their headquarters include: Jashanmal branches, Majid Al Futtaim group malls, Mediclinic branches, City Walk Dubai, inside Zabeel Ladies Club, Sharaf DG branches, Nakheel Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, and fitness centres.