In pictures: Expo 2020 Dubai records 5.66 million visits until Dec 5

Expo 2020 Dubai has recorded 5,663,960 visits up to December 5, since its opening on October 1.

During October and November, a total of 5,383 government leaders, including Ministers, Presidents, Prime Ministers and Heads of State, have visited the Expo site.

Meanwhile, Expo hosted a total of 10,461 events in the first two months. Six out of 10 visitors (57 per cent) now hold an Expo Season Pass, with the number of repeat visitors in the first two months reaching 1.2 million.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of November visitors came from outside the UAE, with the top international visitor countries including India, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. The Expo School Programme has also attracted nearly 250,000 pupils from private and public schools across the country who have participated in 10,000 dedicated school journeys, a statement said.

Expo’s Programme for People and Planet in November continued to attract change makers from around the world, with two of Expo 2020’s 10 Theme Weeks – Urban and Rural Development Week and Tolerance and Inclusivity Week – as well as festivities and activities to mark World Children’s Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities and International Volunteer Day attracting visitors.

The Expo’s new Dhs95 Festive Pass is on sale until the end of December, offering access to Christmas festivities and additional performances, such as Alicia Keys’ show at Al Wasl Plaza on December 10, composer and musician A.R. Rahman’s performance on December 22 and Broadway superstar Lea Salonga’s event on December 25.

During October and November, around 455,000 rides were made to and from the site using taxis, more than 600,000 trips were made on the free Expo Rider bus service, and 2.2 million users accessed the Expo via the Dubai Metro. Expo 2020’s virtual visitation rose to 25 million, driven by the uptake of Live@Expo.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister for International Cooperation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Two months in, these numbers are a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in Expo, from the hosting of spectacular events that make people want to visit again and again, to the bringing together of global changemakers on a powerful platform for action and collaboration, and – crucially – to our robust Covid-19 measures, which allow us to accommodate such large numbers in a safe, reassuring manner.”

Expo 2020 Dubai had announced free entry for all visitors on December 2 to celebrate the UAE’s 50th National Day.

Read: Expo 2020 Dubai announces free entry for all visitors on December 2

Expo 2020 Dubai runs until March 31, 2022, with more than 200 pavilions – including 192 country pavilions – as well as up to 60 daily events daily.

Read: Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions: UAE, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Poland, Luxembourg, Egypt

Read: Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions: Ireland, Singapore, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Bahrain, Austria

Read: Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions: Uzbekistan, US, Spain, Finland, UK, Oman, Sri Lanka, Brazil

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