Expo 2020 Dubai shines bright as it bids farewell to 2021 with a shimmering ball drop at Al Wasl Plaza

The highlight of Expo 2020 Dubai’s New Year’s Eve proceedings, a magical ball drop to rival that of the famous event in New York’s Times Square, welcomed 2022 with a glittering flourish at Al Wasl Plaza at 0000 GST, accompanied by two fireworks displays that lit up the night sky.

As glasses clinked with midnight toasts made across the site’s Country Pavilions, restaurants and bars, visitors embraced 2022 by basking in the lights, colours, music, hoopla and a shower of confetti during the world’s most inclusive New Year’s Eve event. The incandescent crystal ball was launched from the top of Al Wasl Plaza’s illuminated dome, serving as a symbol of hope foretelling a more optimistic future ahead. Dining offerings from more than 70 restaurants and 120 food concepts, including food trucks, food halls, restaurants, bars and kiosks, and exclusive never‑been‑seen concepts by international chefs, catered to visitors until the early hours of the morning – keeping energy levels and spirits high.

The recently opened Festival Garden at Expo’s Jubilee Park added extra sparkle to the celebrations. The atmospheric garden – located near the Malaysia Pavilion – is open until 0200 GST and features a merry mix of food trucks, drinks carts and entertainment in the form of bouncy castles, an inflatable park, treasure hunts, face painting, sporting activities, DJs, musicians and more.

Seamlessly connecting Expo 2020 with the rest of the city, the Dubai Metro is running continuously throughout 31 December and into the New Year, ensuring every visitor to Expo can enjoy the world‑class experiences on offer. RTA has announced extended operating hours for the holiday period: trains are running from 0800 on 31 December without a break in service until 0215 on 2 January. More information is available on the RTA website.

The festivities continue at Expo 2020 Dubai on 1 January, as Yemen celebrates its Expo 2020 National Day with musicians, traditional folkloric dancers and a line‑up of singers, including Hussain Moheb, one of Yemen’s biggest‑selling artists. Three of the region’s biggest Arabic artists will also be making Expo 2020 the place to mark the first day of 2022: Emirati soul musician Arqam, Saudi singer Hamza Hawsawi and Emirati singer and oud player Jassim Mohammed will entertain visitors at Jubilee Park.