2020 Dubai Expo opens to 'astonish the world'

The 2020 Dubai Expo finally opened. It will run until March 2022. Famous singers took part in an amazing opening ceremony. These included the opera singer Andrea Bocelli, the pianist Lang Lang and Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu. CNN was impressed. It said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by half. The city always goes big." Reuters wrote about "lavish" fireworks, music, and messages about the power of global collaboration and a sustainable future.

Expo takes place every five years. It showcases solutions to challenges faced by humanity. The Dubai Expo theme is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". It will also focus on sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Around 25 million visitors will see exhibits from almost 200 countries. Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised it would "astonish the world".