Expo 2020 Dubai clocks in 20 million visits as of March 19

Expo 2020 Dubai recorded 20 million visits as of Saturday, March 19.

The biggest event to be held in the Arab world has combined cultural, educational and entertainment experiences, with 192 countries coming together to showcase their offerings.

.@expo2020dubai reaches the remarkable milestone of 20 million visits on Saturday (19 March). pic.twitter.com/x5JAA401fL

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 19, 2022

Domestic visitors have turned out in force to support the exhibition, with almost 70 per cent of guests hailing from the UAE. Meanwhile, children under the age of 18 have visited more than 2.8 million times.

World leaders, innovations, sporting heroes, artists, architecture, Arab superstars, and global cuisines are among around 32,000 events and myriad attractions at the region’s first world expo.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said, “When we started this journey in 2013, and even before then as we prepared the bid for Expo 2020 Dubai, we had a dream to welcome the world to Dubai and the UAE for an unprecedented global gathering that would live long in hearts and minds.

“That we have fulfilled this dream is already beyond doubt, but to achieve such a landmark number of visits is true testament to how the world has responded to what we have worked so long and hard to create. We trust that those millions of people will take their memories back to their families and friends, wherever they are from in the world, to continue the impressive work we have set in motion at Expo 2020 Dubai.”

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “The opportunity to safely unite the world in the wake of the pandemic to deliver an experience with real significance is one which we have not taken for granted, and we are thrilled that Expo 2020 Dubai has proved so impressively popular.

“In the spirit of optimism, millions of visitors and participants have come together, not only to witness and enjoy something truly remarkable, but to also work together to drive positive social and environmental impact.”

Going ahead, Water Week – the 10th and final Expo 2020 Dubai Theme Week – runs from March 20-26, and is part of the Programme for People and Planet, which seeks to explore humanity’s challenges and opportunities, official news agency WAM reported.

A host of countries will also celebrate their Expo 2020 Dubai National Days, including Canada (March 19), Pakistan (March 23), South Africa (March 28) and India (March 28), followed by the Honour Day of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos, on March 30.

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31, 2022, and is the very first world expo where every participating country has its own pavilion.

Read: Mobility: How Expo 2020 Dubai is beckoning a technology-led future

Each of the 192 country pavilions are spread across three main districts of sustainability, mobility and opportunity.

Read: Opportunity: Expo 2020 Dubai is keen to usher in an inclusive tomorrow

Read more: Sustainability: Expo 2020 Dubai is keen to promote a viable future