Expo 2020 Dubai celebrated its opening day on Oct. 1, highlighting the motto “Connecting minds, creating the future.” The site is incredibly expansive, covering 4.3 square kilometers and hosting 191 country-specific pavilions in addition to many other artistic, musical, commercial, sports, scientific and cultural attractions. It certainly lives up to its motto: walking into Expo 2020 feels like walking into the year 2050.

Photo Courtesy of Grace Bechdol.

Expo hosts three primary themed districts: the Opportunity Pavilion, the Sustainability Pavilion and the Mobility Pavilion, all of which come together to create the Al Wasl Plaza, which sits at the heart of the Expo site and is named for the Arabic word for connection.

Photo Courtesy of Grace Bechdol.

The Sustainability Pavilion, known as Terra, features solar powered trees: 50% of Expo is powered by renewable energy. The Mobility Pavilion features ride-like attractions, showcasing the future of human mobility and connection. The Opportunity Pavilion, known as Mission Possible, features attractions showcasing social innovation and the future of change. Highlights from this pavilion include the Women’s Pavilion and the UAE’s national pavilion. The UAE pavilion’s exterior forms mobile falcon wings, and the interior features indoor sand dunes and exhibitions on Emirati culture and progress. If you look closely on the way out, you may see a video featuring NYU Abu Dhabi’s Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann!

Photo Courtesy of Grace Bechdol.

Expo is open to visitors daily from 10am to 10pm. Entry requires a Covid-19 vaccine or a 72-hour valid PCR test. A green pass on AlHosn is all that is needed to enter for those who are vaccinated, and if unvaccinated visitors have not been tested within 72 hours of visiting Expo, they are able to be tested at a PCR facility next to the Expo site.

The seasonal access pass, normally priced at 495 AED, is completely free for students. The ticket will be sent to students via email and can be printed or stored electronically in the Expo 2020 app or Apple Wallet. The pass allows for unlimited entry for the entirety of Expo and ten daily “Smart Queue Bookings” which allow visitors to make reservations and skip long queues at select pavilions and attractions.

The “Expo2020Dubai” app — available on the App Store and Google Play — is the best way to stay up-to-date on Expo offerings, timings and navigation. It also features a live chat feature for any urgent questions and concerns. Those currently not in Abu Dhabi can take a virtual tour of Expo 2020 through the app.

Different student groups and professors will be able to organize visits to Expo in partnership with the Office of Community Outreach. The Office will be able to help support these groups in designing their Expo trip and with securing meals and transportation. Especially with the decision to hold only Abu Dhabi based J-terms, students will have ample opportunities to take advantage of Expo 2020.

For students visiting Expo on their own and navigating transportation, there are free Expo Riders bus services from the main Abu Dhabi bus station. These run from 6:30 am until 11:30 pm every thirty minutes. Students can use the NYUAD shuttle system to reach Al Wahda Mall, and complete a short walk to the bus station to catch an Expo shuttle. All visitors need to board is an Expo ticket.

Students should look out for more upcoming information this week about how to take advantage of Expo opportunities through NYUAD. Expo will continue until the end of March 2022. Everyone in the UAE this semester or during the spring should make sure to take advantage of all its amazing offerings.