Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony as it happened: The 'World's Greatest Show' makes grand exit

Fireworks lit up the sky as Expo 2020 came to a close with glittering events. It was a moment of triumph tinged with sadness that tugged at the heartstrings of all who have visited the expo. The official closing ceremony has concluded. Here's how the events unfolded:

Fireworks light up the skies over Expo 2020 Dubai. The closing ceremony has concluded but parties across the Expo have just started.

International pop icon Christina Aguilera singing the hit song 'A Million Dreams'

“A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make”

The closing ceremony is highlighting the pivotal moments of Expo 2020 Dubai through a series of flashbacks, including the ‘Journey of the 50’ (Expo 2020 Dubai’s Golden Jubilee Show) and scenes from the ‘Boy and the Horse’ to the floating piano player.

Focus on the youth

Mira Singh, the 11-year old Indo-Belarusian girl from the opening ceremony, will take the audience on another journey as the focus of the closing ceremony will be on the youth. There will also be a Sea of Nations segment, where countries will wave their flags from their National Day celebrations

Fireworks are off, the official closing ceremony begins

Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, will hand the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag to ambassador Jai-chul Choi, president of the BIE General Assembly; and BIE secretary-general Dimitri Kerkentzes, who will then present the flag to representatives of Expo 2025 Osaka.

The official closing ceremony is about to begin at the iconic Al Wasl Dome. The area is reserved for ‘VIP guests’ made up of school children aged seven to nine but more than 20 giant screens are spread across the Expo site, including the main stages, Festival Garden and various country pavilions, enabling everyone to view the event.

The cast of the closing ceremony includes more than 400 professionals and volunteers from 56 different countries, with 745 costumes created for the culmination of Expo. Forty members of a UAE-based children’s choir will perform Ishy Bilady, the national anthem of the UAE, joined by the all-women Firdaus Orchestra, conducted by Yasmina Sabbah.

Sea of people converge at the venue

Feel the buzz

Momentum builds up as the closing act time nears

Dubai: Tens of thousands of people are here at Expo 2020 Dubai to give the world’s greatest fair a grand send-off party. Throughout the evening, there will be parties, concerts and firework displays from multiple locations, going into the early morning hours. Nostalgia, flashbacks, reflection and celebration will characterise the closing ceremony for the world’s biggest show that has been exceedingly spectacular in the past six months.

Organisers said tonight will be “a poignant journey back through some of the most evocative and momentous Expo 2020 Dubai moments. The closing ceremony is set to be a moment of triumph tinged with sadness that tugs at the heartstrings of all who have visited”.

All of us has a story to tell and a memory to share. As we say our final goodbyes, join us, at Gulf News, as we bring to you for one last time the excitement and energy of Expo 2020 Dubai.