Hollywood star Morgan Freeman narrates video that tells the story of Expo 2020 Dubai

'At a time when the world needed it most, we found a true moment of global solidarity', the actor's famous voice says

Air show display on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nearly 23 million visits had been made to Expo by the start of this week after the more than one million visits recorded from Friday to Sunday. Pawan Singh / The National

The Expo has hosted 30,000 events, including government summits and 5,000 sporting fixtures. Pawan Singh / The National

A spectacular closing ceremony will be 'end of a beautiful journey' for Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National

Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National

Green spaces and architecture at day of Expo 2020. Antonie Robertson/The National

It's a party atmosphere for the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Some funky costumes to mark the end of the hugely successful event in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Big screens put up on the last day of the world's fair in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People flock to the merchandise outlet on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Kids enjoying the dance class at the Sustainability pavilion as Expo 2020 Dubai nears its conclusion. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai could watch the closing ceremony on more than 20 giant screens across the site, including at the Jubilee Stage, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre and Festival Garden. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors enjoy the water feature on the last day. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors arrive for the expo's final day. Antonie Robertson / The National

Crowds on the last day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Visitors arrive at the world's fair for the last time. Antonie Robertson / The National

Preparations going on for the closing ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

Reem Al Hashimy, centre, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, on the final day of the Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Ms Al Hashimy opens the Sustainability Portal on the Expo's final day. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Visitors queue to enter the site on the final day. Pawan Singh / The National

Expo staff at the site entrances faced a busy start to the final day. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors queue at the security gate. Pawan Singh / The National

Early arrivals on the final day of the world fair. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors taking selfies to record their presence on the final day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai police prepare for the final day at the world's fair. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors approach Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National

A rare opportunity to capture a quiet moment at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors on the last day at the EXPO 2020 site in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai’s incredible journey has been captured in a video telling the story of the world’s fair, with Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman’s famous voice narrating it.

The seven-minute video, released this week, shows highlights from Expo 2020, including the pavilions, celebrity appearances and some of its key events.

Click through the gallery above to see highlights from Expo 2020 Dubai's final day.

“How do you build the impossible?” Freeman says, at the start of the video.

“A city for humanity. A city for which there are no blueprints. A city to welcome the world,” he says. “The dream. But like all good stories, we should go back to the beginning.”

The video then shows scenes from Paris in 2013, when Dubai won the bid to host Expo 2020.

However, it also highlights the challenges organisers faced, brought about by the onset of the global pandemic in early 2020, six months before Expo was due to begin.

“But as that commitment was becoming a reality, our world as we knew it changed forever,” Freeman says.

“At a time when the world needed it most, we found a true moment of global solidarity.

“With an uncertain future, and a host of new challenges, the greatest hope we have is each other.”

The video features snippets from some of Expo’s 24 million visitors, as well as clips of appearances made by Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, Alicia Keys and Coldplay.

See pictures of celerity appearances at Expo 2020 Dubai:

“As we say our last goodbyes, and head back to the places near and far we call home, we can reflect on the countless experiences we have shared here,” Freeman says.

“Over 20 million of us, from more countries than ever before, leave here united by a shared dream and bounded by a common purpose — every one of us changed by the realisation that ‘I can too’.

“We will build the future that we want for humanity.

“Expo City will live on as a permanent fixture of Dubai and as an enduring beacon of the city’s commitment to creating a future of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.”

Freeman is not the first Hollywood actor to feature in a video promoting Expo 2020 Dubai. Ahead of the world’s fair opening, Chris Hemsworth appeared in a promo video, made in partnership with Emirates.

The advertisement, which was directed by two-time Oscar-winning director Robert Stromberg, features the Thor star walking through a computer-generated version of the Expo 2020 site.

The song Pure Imagination, from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, is being sung by a children’s choir and reinterpreted by a 70-piece orchestra in the background.