Video: Dubai marks two-year countdown to Expo 2020

Dubai held a specially-choreographed show at the Dubai Fountain and a three-minute projection on the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa – as part of celebrations marking the two-year countdown to Expo 2020 on Saturday.

The event at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai – free to the public – included five hours of live music performances, illuminations, lessons in dance from around the world, artistic exhibitions and activities and global cuisines.

Three flash-mob routines, synchronised to music inspired by international cuisines created during a cooking show, were a surprise feature.

.@expo2020dubai celebrates Two Years To Go with a special The #Dubai Fountain show, countdown on Burj Khalifa
https://t.co/5IM7H2KrYK pic.twitter.com/upeLRYI5jd

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 21, 2018

Visitors were also given a chance to sign up as an Expo 2020 Volunteer, joining more than 15,000 UAE nationals and expats who have already registered for the event.

Overall, more than 30,000 volunteers will be needed for the six-month long Expo 2020 in Dubai.

During the event, there will be more than 45 volunteering roles, from welcoming guests and guiding them around the Expo districts to managing events, with more than 16 million volunteering hours across 173 days.

Volunteers can also participate in the Expo events leading up to 2020 and brainstorming sessions that could see their ideas included in the plans.

UAE-based adult volunteers of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds can register.

Read more: More than 30,000 volunteers needed for Dubai Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, will run from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits, with 70 per cent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

Around 180 countries are expected to participate in the event, which will be the first where all the participating countries have their own pavilion. The Expo will also see participation from companies, NGOs and educational institutions.

Also read: Dubai Expo 2020: Two year countdown begins