DUBAI: Expo 2020 Dubai opened on Thursday with a lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future. Watch the full ceremony above and read on for the highlights.
21:28: Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli brings the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai to a close with his song “The Prayer.”
21:15: US singer Andra Day wows the crowd with her smash song “Rise Up.”
21:05: Ellie Goulding, dressed in a dreamy white gown with a cape detail, performs her hit “Anything Could Happen.”
20:57: World-famous pianist Lang Lang serenades Expo 2020 Dubai.
20:52: The musical interludes continue and Emirati singer Ahlam Al-Shamsi takes to the stage in a stunning blue gown adorned with gold embroidery and jewellery.
20:42: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince, welcomes the world to the UAE and to Expo 2020 Dubai.
20:35: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, addresses the opening ceremony.
“We have focussed on investing in human development, expanding our infrastructure, diversifying our economy and creating opportunities for everyone to prosper and grow. Today in the year of our Golden Jubilee, we share with the world the lessons we have learnt,” the minister said.
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Saudi Arabia’s heritage and culture are celebrated in a breathtaking pavilion featured at the Expo 2020 Dubai site that opens to the public on Friday following the star-studded opening ceremony. Click here.
20:26: The official theme song for Expo 2020 Dubai, “This is our Time,” is sung by Hussain Al-Jassmi, Mayssa Karam and Almas.
20:15: Next up was veteran Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu.
20:10: The first performer to sing following the rendition of the national anthem was famous Emirati pianist, composer, musician Hussain Al-Jassmi who welcomed the crowds with “Marhaba Ya Hala.”
20:00: The grand opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai opens with the playing of the national anthem and the raising of the flag in the presence of the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
19:30: Male performers in white traditional Emirati thobes line up to welcome visitors whilst women dressed in glitzy and colourful traditional clothing dance ahead of the opening ceremony.
The full Expo site will open its doors to exhibitors from almost 200 countries on Friday after being delayed for a year by the pandemic.
Expo 2020 Dubai will run for six months and will feature pavilions from around the world showing off their latest innovations, as well as the best of their arts, food and culture scenes.
