10 Unmissable things to do at Expo 2020 Dubai | Last 10 days to go

10 Unmissable things to do at Expo 2020 Dubai | Last 10 days to go

The biggest, greatest and most amazing extravaganza, Expo 2020 Dubai, that the world has ever seen is coming to an end. These are the final 10 days and if you are someone who is yet to visit and are still contemplating I would say trust their tagline – It’s Now or Never, Before it’s gone forever. 

Without wasting any time let’s get straight to all the unmissable things at the Expo 2020 Dubai before it comes to a final close on 31st March 2022.

The site of Expo 2020 Dubai is spread over an area of 1083 acres which is like more than 600 football fields. The Expo 2020 is divided into three main thematic districts: Sustainability, Opportunity and Mobility and they are all interconnected with a central dome-shaped mesmerizing structure – the Al Wasl Plaza and the Al Wasl Stage.

It is practically impossible to cover the entire Expo in one visit and here are the top 10 Unmissable things to do at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Passport Stamping at Expo 2020 Dubai

I wish this was informed to me earlier or in any other post.

This is the first thing you should do. The moment you reach any of the three entrance gates, if you are traveling by your conveyance or If you are taking a metro, buy a yellow passport at any of the small souvenir shops placed at every nook and corner of the Expo 2020 or purchase it from the official stores of Expo 2020. Each yellow passport costs 20 AED. Don’t forget to get hold of a free Expo 2020 Map. You can thank me later. 

Starting from Montreal 67 it is one of the most popular souvenirs you can take away from the Expo. When you visit any of the 192 country pavilions or some of the other thematic pavilions you can get your passport stamped mostly placed at the exit as proof and a souvenir of your visit to that particular pavilion. I missed it in the beginning and by the time I realised something like this is happening I had already done 10 pavilions. So make sure you get one right when you arrive at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

If you end up collecting 100 country stamps, head over to a visitor centre to collect a limited edition white passport for free. 

Smart Queue

Now before we proceed to any Expo pavilion, another important thing to note before you reach the venue is the Smart Queue. Expo 2020 Dubai has got its dedicated app. Download it and link your ticket to it. With that, you can register yourself for a smart queue for the pavilions that have enabled it. Believe me, it’s a big life and time saver. You can actually end up saving hours waiting in queues to enter the country pavilions. Pavilions like Japan and Emirates pavilion only accept smart queues. 

Al Wasl Awakening

If you want to experience something that you have never imagined, something that will put an Imax screen to shame in comparison then make sure that you are at the Al Wasl Plaza by 6 pm. Why I am highlighting this cause in the mad rush of visiting pavilions and waiting in the queues one might end up being too far from the plaza. 

With the world’s largest 360-degrees projection screen, it is a MUST DO activity. I don’t want to get into more detail and spoil the fun. Just make sure you are there in time to experience the Al Wasl Awakening. Your senses will be overwhelmed with the audio-visual theatre. 

Welcome Shows, Parades and Activities

Irrespective of the time of the day or the gate you choose to enter the Expo 2020, you will be welcomed by either a welcome show or a welcome activity. I was able to catch an Emirati Welcome – a traditional song and dance performance by Emirati men. On another occasion, I was welcomed by a small circus performance by two women. There are so many shows and activities that I can’t list them all. Do mention in the comments section how were you welcomed.

With so many national pavilions at the Expo 2020, every day there is a celebration of one or the other nation. When you are taking a stroll you might get a chance to experience a parade as well. I was lucky on my first visit to witness the Kuwait National Day celebration parade.The Expo 2020 App keeps updating and telling you what all activities, events and parades are lined up for the day including the venue with map directions too.   

Keep following my Instagram stories, posts and reels for more Expo 2020 Dubai related content. You can follow me here.

A robot might be standing next to you

There is a chance that you might miss a welcome show or activity but it is not possible to miss a glimpse of these lovely cute little robots which continue to make rounds of the paths of Expo 2020. When you encounter do interact with them. You are definitely going to enjoy talking to them.  If you are not wearing a mask it will surely remind you. 

The Water Feature

The temperatures are rising in Dubai and at the Expo 2020. Just like the Al Wasl awakening, this is also a must-visit feature. Whether you are in the middle of it or watching it from a distance or you have taken off your footwear to let go of that inner child, you are going to be in awe of the Water Feature at Expo 2020. It is a 14-meter high semi-circular structure with 153 jets splashing water over it and if that was not enough, it will be accompanied by a specifically-written score from Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi. Your kids are going not going to come out of it. I did warn you. 😀 😀 

The Garden in the Sky

Now that your senses have been bombarded at the Al Wasl Plaza and you had amazing fun at the water feature, what next! Let’s take you sky-high. The Expo 2020 has a Garden in the Sky feature which gives a 360-degree view of the entire Expo. It takes you to a height of 55m while simultaneously rotating. This is the best place to witness the world’s greatest show. Each ride is about 6 minutes and would cost you 30 AED. 

Satiate those taste buds

With over 200+ restaurants and food outlets spread across the Expo 2020 main site, you are bound to find something to suit your liking and taste buds. If you want to experience a delicious tasting tour of African cuisines head over to Alkebulan – the world’s first African dining hall. 

Try a Michelin-acclaimed meal at Adrift Burger Bar located in the Mobility District. The New York Times in their review rated Michelin-rated David Myer’s burger perfect, it can’t be improved any further.

For the coffee lovers although there are many cafes to get your caffeine. There are country pavilions that offer free coffee like Jamaica and Rwanda. Do try out Rwanda’s coffee. It is pretty good.

For the food, I would recommend visiting Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan’s country pavilion and trying their national dishes. The Palow at Turkmenistan pavilion is rated as one of the best dishes of the Expo 2020. I loved their Spinach Somsa, a spinach-filled spin-off of Samosa.

For the Mocktail and cocktail lovers, head over to Romania and you might get a free aromatic and refreshing drink with the DJ playing in the background.   

The Expo Explorer

Another cool feature at Expo 2020 is the Expo Explorer. Like the robots, you can also see these yellow toy trains making the rounds of the Expo. If you are not keen on walking and want to cover as much Expo in one go then this is an amazing addition. The only downside to this is you might have to wait in a queue before you hop on to one. 

Setting the stage on fire

The Expo 2020 has many performance stages where different renowned perform almost every day and at times simultaneously. Use the Expo 2020 app to find which one you want to attend. The Dubai exhibition center, The Jubilee stage, and Al Wasl Stage have seen the best artists perform for the Expo 2020. I was able to catch the musical play – Why, directed by Shekhar Kapur, music by A. R. Rahman, and performed by Javed Jaffrey at the Al Wasl stage. On another occasion, Sunidhi Chauhan lit up the Expo at the DEC stage. With these final 10 days, there are amazing performances lined up. Don’t miss it.    

Some other helpful pointers

Take a metro to the Expo 2020 Dubai. The Expo entrance is hardly 50m from the metro exit. Given the size of the expo complemented by the massive parking spaces save as much time as possible  by using the metro.

Carry a water bottle. With more than 30 water refilling points you can keep yourself hydrated as well as save a lot of money. 

Locate the nearest visitor centre for restrooms and in case you require any information. 

The Expo 2020 will hit your senses like nothing before. You will never have a dull moment when you are at the Expo 2020 Dubai. 

For all those who have been to the Expo 2020

For all those who are yet to

For all those who liked the Expo

And

For all those who were awestruck by Expo 2020 Dubai

It’s not a goodbye

But it’s a GOOD BYE.

Manas ‘Sameer’ Mukul

Did I miss anything in the 10 Unmissable things to do at Expo 2020 Dubai? Please mention in the comment section and your views on this post.

I have previously covered Dubai extensively. Catch all the posts here