K-pop's Highlight, Nancy Ajram, Paraguayan folk ballet: Expo 2020 Dubai visitors in for electric Friday this weekend

Fridays will never be the same after The Friday Expo-nanza, which brings Middle Eastern chart-toppers, tributes to musical legends, and artists from as far as Mexico and South Korea to Expo 2020 Dubai. The action-packed line-up of theatre, music, and dance on November 12 will be an unparalleled cultural and entertainment experience for visitors, who can enjoy their favourites, and also discover performers who have become icons in their respective countries and beyond.

RIVERDANCE | Jubilee Stage | 2pm: A show like never before continues its November run with a performance on Friday. Created specifically for Expo 2020 Dubai, the bespoke and unique spectacle comprises Emirati influences fused with traditional Irish music and dance to reflect the world coming together at the mega-event.

LA SONORA SANTANERA | Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre | 3pm: An orchestra known for getting audiences on their feet, La Sonora Santanera makes music rooted in tropical rhythms, such as the mambo and the cha-cha-cha. Since its founding in 1955, the dynamic ensemble have established their signature tropical sound, counting a Latin Grammy for 'Best Traditional Tropical Album' (2014) among their numerous awards, and earning them a spot on the famous Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

BALLET FOLKLÓRICO NACIONAL | Sea Stage | 3.30pm: Hailing from Paraguay, the Ballet Folklórico Nacional presents an enchanting traditional and cultural folkloric dance performance. The legends and mythology of the indigenous Guaraní groups, passed down over centuries, are expressed through music and dance, telling a story of a unique culture that has been preserved, as the Guaraní language remains as one of the two official languages of Paraguay.

KITE: K-POP IN THE EMIRATES FESTIVAL | Jubilee Stage | 5pm: The K-pop phenomenon that has taken the world by storm is set to enthral fans at the KITE: K-POP in the Emirates festival. Highlight, the award-winning boy band, and Punch, a singer known for her original soundtracks on K-dramas, will up the tempo with their live stage performances, while boy group sensations BTOB and LUMINOUS, and girl group La Boum will take over the screens with virtual shows.

FELA AND THE KALAKUTA QUEENS | Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre | 7pm: While Nigerian musical maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti may have passed away in the 1990s, his legacy remains. In an extraordinary musical and theatrical performance, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens delve into the fascinating life of a man widely identified as having largely created the ‘Afrobeat’ musical style, and remembered as an inspiring political activist.

OMAR AL-ABDALLAT | Jubilee Stage | 9pm: Jordanian singer and songwriter Omar Al-Abdallat is credited with popularising Bedouin music. He has produced a number of traditional Jordanian songs, many of which have become popular across the Arab world, such as Hashimi. A testament to his musical influence, Al-Abdallat has represented Jordan at multicultural events globally.

NANCY AJRAM & RAGHEB ALAMA | Al Wasl Plaza | 10pm: At the beating heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, Arabic pop queen Nancy Ajram and superstar Ragheb Alama promise to deliver spectacular, immersive experiences when they co-headline the second Infinite Nights show. Taking place under Al Wasl Plaza’s majestic dome, the innovative show will inspire fans from around the world, with Alama entertaining audiences with music from his three-decade career, and singer, actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Ajram belting out her biggest hits in a never-seen-before performance. Alama’s show will highlight how music connects all humans, embodying Expo’s subtheme of Mobility, while Ajram will celebrate life on earth when she takes the stage, personifying Expo 2020’s subtheme of Sustainability.