DUBAI: Expo 2020 Dubai organizers have praised the event’s first month as a “great success,” reporting an incredible 2,350,868 visits from October 1 to October 31, with a slew of unforgettable events, entertainment, and seminars attracting visitors from throughout the UAE, the region, and beyond. So far, 28 percent of visitors have been under the age of 18, but that number is likely to rise as the Expo School Program expands in the coming months.
From a global perspective, an impressive 17 percent of total visits came from outside the United States, which is noteworthy given that the event occurs at a time when many countries are still enforcing pandemic travel restrictions. Expo has welcomed 185 nationalities, with India, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, and the Uk among the top five most popular overseas markets. More than half of visitors (53 percent) have a Season Pass, more than a quarter (27 percent) have a Multi-Day Pass, and 20% have purchased a one-day ticket. In keeping with Expo 2020’s environmental goals, a large number of people have used RTA transportation to get to and about the venue. More than 1.1 million trips to and from the site were made utilizing the Dubai Metro, out of around 3.6 million total journeys.
The first two Thematic Weeks from Expo’s Programme for People and Planet, which aims to inspire collective and meaningful action to address the world’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, took place throughout the first 31 days. Climate and Biodiversity Week, which took place ahead of the crucial COP26 global environment summit, brought together a genuinely international cast before Space Week traveled to the skies to investigate how the final frontier can aid life on Earth. Between now until the end of March, eight more Thematic Weeks will be held, with the current Urban and Rural Development Week running until November 6th.
A total of 1938 government leaders, including ministers, presidents, prime ministers, and heads of state, have visited the Expo site to launch pavilions, speak at formal events, or commemorate their country’s Expo National Day. Many of the 192 Country Pavilions – the first time in World Expo history that each participating country gets its own pavilion – have been particularly well received. Already, half a million people have visited the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, which is one of the largest on the Expo grounds.
Visitors are projected to progressively increase as the UAE enters the winter months and the weather becomes milder, tempted especially by Expo’s ongoing program of events. November will see the end of a week of Diwali celebrations, Nancy Ajram and Ragheb Alama headlining the second installment of Expo’s Infinite Nights music series, and the start of a jam-packed program of UAE Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Since the first of October, 12.8 million virtual visitors have visited Expo 2020 Dubai, bringing the event to a global audience. Expo 2020 Dubai is open to the public until March 31, 2022, and invites the entire world to participate in a celebration of togetherness, opportunity, innovation, and sustainability that will help to define a better, brighter future for all.
