Expo 2020 Dubai records nearly 3 million visits in the first five weeks

More than 65 per cent of visitors to the world's fair are using a season pass

As the sun sets on another day at Expo 2020, visitors enjoy the activities at Al Wasl Plaza. Antonie Robertson / The National

More than 70 performers celebrate Diwali at the Expo. Victor Besa / The National.

Dancers and musicians entertain a crowd at the halqa, a space where traditionally street artists show their skills, in the Morocco pavilion. Victor Besa / The National

Slovak rider Peter Sagan, left, on his way to victory in the Giro d'Italia Criterium race at the Expo. EPA

A performance and light show mark Diwali in Al Wasl Plaza at the world's fair. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Lila Downs performs at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Visitors queue for the Switzerland pavilion. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, tours Alif - The Mobility Pavilion. Photo: @DXBMediaOffice

Al Wasl Plaza lights up in a spectacular 360° display. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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Expo 2020 Dubai has recorded nearly three million visits since it opened on October 1.

Data shows 2,942,388 people visited the world's fair in the first five weeks. About 100,000 of them were children.

Sales of season passes have increased as well, with 65 per cent of visitors holding a six-month pass.

The price of day passes on weekdays has been reduced from Dh95 ($26) to Dh45 until November 30. Entry for Fridays and Saturdays is still priced at Dh95.

The tickets also include 10 Smart Queue bookings for participating pavilions and attractions, which allow visitors to skip the queues.

Entry is free for the under 18s, anyone aged 60 and over, people with disabilities, and students with a valid identity card from any academic institution in the world.

So far, Saudi Arabia's pavilion has been the most popular, receiving more than 500,000 visitors in the first month, while India's pavilion topped the 200,000 mark by November 3.

Organisers said the high number of figures was a clear indication of the expo's popularity with UAE residents and tourists alike.

The mid-term break for schools at the end of October and Diwali celebrations were seen as significant factors for the increasing number of visits to the site.

"We always knew the figures were going to keep increasing but it's exciting to see them rising so incredibly well," said Sconaid McGeachin, senior vice president of communications for Expo 2020 Dubai, speaking onsite at a press conference on Monday morning.

"Having such a high figure shows people are coming back week after week to join in new activities.

"We saw last week how the likes of Riverdance (at the Irish pavilion) and Diwali celebrations pulled people in.

"With a continually changing programme we are seeing people are wanting to come back and see what’s next," she added.

There have also been 14.8 million virtual visits to Expo 2020 Dubai since it opened on October 1, organisers said.