Over eight million visits recorded to Expo 2020 Dubai

The number of visits to Expo 2020 Dubai has crossed the 8 million mark.

In the period up to Monday, December 27, 8,067,012 visits were recorded to the Expo which opened to the public on October 1.

During the past week, Expo 2020 Dubai celebrated Christmas with a series of special events.

On December 22, Academy and Grammy award-winning composer A.R. Rahman held a special concert at the Expo. Christmas day saw performances by actress and singer Lea Salonga as well as singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe.

On December 24, The Holy See held a prayer service for humanity, Lebanese singer Tania Kassis and the Festival Chorus performed a special carol service, while the UK gospel choir group, the London Community Gospel Choir, and American soul artist Naia Izumi performed at the venue.

The Expo organisers have confirmed that there are several events lined up to entertain visitors to the Expo over the coming week. To ring in 2022, there will be two of the world’s biggest DJs – Dimitri Vegas, who will perform at Jubilee Park from 11.30pm, and Armin Van Buuren, who will perform from 1:30am on January 1.

New Year’s Eve will also see numerous Arab, Filipino and Indian DJs performing sets.

There will be a midnight ‘ball drop’ moment at Al Wasl Plaza, as well as two separate fireworks displays at midnight and 3am.

Dubai Metro will run continuously throughout New Year’s Eve.

Expo 2020’s virtual visitation meanwhile rose to 37 million up to December 27, with more than three million children around the world enjoying the Virtual School Animation Series – now available in six languages – in the last 20 days alone.

Venues may also close temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitisation in response to positive cases detected by extensive workforce testing protocols, as well as for maintenance, private events and in response to staff shortages, according to news agency WAM.