Dubai opens Expo 2020 to a world still reeling from pandemic

Artists carry national flags during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Expo 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai opened Expo 2020 in an extravagant ceremony Thursday that bathed the site's signature central dome in light, a symbolic beacon for the city-state's hopes that the world's fair will draw tourists despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Delayed a year by the virus, Expo 2020 has over 190 countries taking part in the event that will last six months. The futuristic extravaganza, complete with individual pavilions feels like an entire city, built on what were once rolling sand dunes on Dubai's southern edges.

After spending US$7 billion on the site, Dubai hopes it will attract new businesses and draw more foreigners to buy properties in the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates. However, it also renewed long-standing criticisms of this skyscraper-studded sheikhdom built largely by low-paid workers where speech and assembly remains strictly controlled.

Thursday night's ceremony, attended by Abu Dhabi's powerful Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and a host of other dignitaries, offered the equivalent of a creation myth for Dubai as hundreds of singers, dancers and acrobats performed. The site's central Al Wasl Dome, made of steel and weighing the equivalent of 25 blue whales, according to Expo organizers, became a 360-degree screen showing images of the desert and nature as sound rolled across the gathered audience.

The Expo site had a visible police presence Thursday before the ceremony, with security guards stationed at every corner. Those attending passed through airport-style security screening all visitors to the event. As guests filtered through, speakers chirped with piped-in bird songs.

One noticeable change could be seen at the Expo site Thursday night: journalists could make calls over WhatsApp and FaceTime -- two apps long blocked by the Emirates seemingly under security concerns and to help its monopoly state-run telecommunication companies.

The Expo will be one of the world's first global events, following an Olympics this summer that divided host nation Japan and took place without spectators. But unlike Tokyo, the UAE has one of the world's highest vaccination rates per capita and has seen its daily case numbers drop to their lowest levels in over a year.

After months of insisting that visitors do not need to prove their vaccination status, Expo changed course in recent days and said who come need to show proof of vaccination or negative coronavirus tests. Those attending Thursday night's gala opening similarly had to offer a negative test result in the last 24 hours. Questions remain over how many laborers on the site fell sick during its construction.

Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, the secretary-general of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions that oversees Expos, acknowledged the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic in a speech to those gathered.

"We have collectively overcome the hurdles and all persevered," he said.

Politics also could affect the Expo. The European Parliament this month urged nations not to take part in the Expo, citing human rights abuses, the jailing of activists and the autocratic government's use of spyware to target critics.

However, European Union top diplomat Josep Borrell acknowledged in a statement Thursday the bloc would take part in the Expo.

"In times of great challenges, our societies need to come together, not only to overcome them but also to grow stronger and cooperate better," Borrell said. "Expo 2020 Dubai is a very visible opportunity to underline the EU's commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism."

Meanwhile, questions also remain over the economic boost the Emirates will see from the event. Relying on a projection of 25 million visitors, auditors EY in 2019 estimated a $6 billion boost during the event. EY told The Associated Press it hadn't updated any of its figures and Expo officials now say they expect some 25 million "visits" both in person and online. Dubai already said it would give government employees six days off to explore the Expo site as long-haul carrier Emirates is offering free tickets to travelers.

Just as Dubai prepared to open the Expo, the International Monetary Fund released a statement saying it expected the Emirati economy to see a "gradual recovery" after its gross domestic product fell by 6.1% in 2020. Higher oil prices, coupled with a 3% growth in the country's non-oil economy, should help.

The IMF warned challenges remain, however.

"Uncertainty around the recovery remains globally and in the UAE ... with a resurgence of the pandemic the key source of risk to the outlook," the IMF said.

Analyst James Swanston at Capital Economics also warned that while Expo could provide a boost for Dubai, its real estate market remained oversupplied and billions in outstanding government debt remained a danger for the city-state.

"Dubai had pinned its hopes on the World Expo to boost its attractiveness as a destination for tourists and expatriate workers," Swanston wrote. "We still think that the risk is the permanent effects of the Expo fail to live up to policymakers' hopes."