Expo 2020 Dubai visits near 16 million as pavilion opening hours are extended

More than 500,000 from UAE schools have taken part in the Expo School Programme

Masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus are no longer mandatory outside at Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

Organisers do encourage people to wear masks when in large crowds, however. Antonie Robertson/The National

A decision was made to relax the rules on mandatory mask-wearing across the UAE from February 26. Antonie Robertson/The National

Some visitors did not wear masks at the Expo site on February 28. Pawan Singh / The National

Health and safety remains a key priority at the site. Pawan Singh / The National

All visitors to the event must provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken in the previous 72 hours. Pawan Singh / The National

Rules on physical distancing also remain in place. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors without masks enjoy a tour of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

All smiles: many people are now choosing not to wear masks when outside. Pawan Singh / The National

When in large crowds, authorities recommend masks are worn. Pawan Singh / The National

The easing of face mask rules is the most significant Covid-19 restriction change since April 2020, when the pandemic spread across the globe. AFP

Expo 2020 Dubai is open for only a few more weeks. AFP

The six-month world's fair will close its doors on March 31. AFP

A packed calendar of events is planned for Expo 2020 Dubai's final weeks. AFP

Expo 2020 Dubai recorded more than one million visits in the past seven days, bringing the total close to 16 million since the world's fair began, organisers said on Tuesday.

Weekly numbers have been regularly exceeding the one-million mark, making February a record month for the Expo, with 4.4 million visits.

Total visits reached 15,995,423 since the site opened on October 1, with half of those in February being repeat visits.

A third of visits were from overseas, organisers said, with significant numbers from India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Russia and France.

"As we've said all along, visitation at expos does tend to increase during the last months and weeks, and obviously now with more flights open we do hope that remains still true for ourselves," said Sconaid McGeachin, senior vice president of communications at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Organisers had initially set a target of 25 million visits before the start of the Expo.

Visits in the past week were boosted by an '80s night, featuring Bonnie Tyler, Boney M and Earth, Wind & Fire and Salman Khan's globetrotting Da-bangg Tour.

Organisers announced that the steering committee of the College of Commissioner Generals of Expo 2020 Dubai endorsed extended pavilion opening hours to 11pm.

"We've seen that visitors are wanting to stay on into the evening when they come," said Ms McGeachin.

More than 500,000 pupils from public and private schools across the Emirates have taken part in the Expo School Programme.

As of February 25, the site had received 532,794 pupils through the programme, which was curtailed to 62 academic days following the suspension of school visits during January.

Expo announced a relaxation of its Covid-19 rules, with face masks now optional while in outdoor areas of the site. However, visitors are encouraged to continue wearing them in “entertainment venues with large attendances”.

The virtual visitation numbers crossed 150 million, including more than three million virtual visits to the school journeys, with China, India, UAE, Philippines and Egypt among the main countries.

Meanwhile, Expo has launched a special white passport for those with 100 pavilion stamps or more.

Visitors with a minimum of 100 stamps in their existing yellow passport can present it at an Expo visitor centre, to receive the memento free of cost, as appreciation for their loyalty and commitment.

Organisers revealed last month that the 50-page passport, priced at Dh20, was the most popular souvenir sold at the event.

The souvenir book allows people to collect stamps at each of the pavilions they visit during the six-month event.

Expo 2020 passports come with watermarked pictures on each page and a unique code number, as well as space for personal details and a passport-sized picture.

Each pavilion offers a different stamp and visitors to the Expo on December 2, the UAE's 50th anniversary, received an exclusive stamp.