![]() The Paris edition of 1889 featured the Eiffel Tower, then intended as a temporary attraction. The first world exhibition was held in London in 1851, when it was housed in the newly built Crystal Palace. Futuristic constructions dot the purpose-built showground in the Dubai suburbs, where countries are bidding to outdo each other for ingenuity and innovation. Themes of sustainability and the planet’s future were prevalent in the lavish show at Al Wasl Plaza, centerpiece of the vast Expo site which sprawls across an area twice the size of Monaco. However, travel restrictions remain in place around the globe during a spectacle that was conceived pre-COVID-19 and is starting a year late. This year’s Tokyo Olympics went ahead largely without fans. Organizers are hoping for 25 million visits to Expo 2020, the first in the Middle East, which is set to be the most attended event since the pandemic. It kicks off a six-month world fair attended by more than 190 countries. “The entire world gathers in the UAE as we inaugurate together, with the blessing of Allah, Expo 2020 Dubai,” Sheikh Hamdan said. ![]() The domed Al Wasl Plaza, centerpiece of the vast Expo site, was lit by spectacular projections as Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum declared the $7 billion event open. ![]() – AFP photosĭUBAI: Dubai opened its extravagant Expo 2020 yesterday with a flashy ceremony boasting fireworks and lights displays as it attempts to woo the world despite the pandemic. DUBAI: A general view shows the opening ceremony of the Dubai Expo 2020 yesterday. ![]()
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