The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened with an extravagant opening ceremony. The event will run until March 2022. Big stars from the music world took part in the ceremony. These included the opera singer Andrea Bocelli, the flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. CNN commented on how impressive the ceremony was. It said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by half. The city always goes big." Reuters wrote about "the lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future".

Expo is a global event that takes place every five years. It aims to showcase solutions to big challenges faced by humanity, and to bring people together. Dubai Expo selected the theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". It will also focus on the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Around 25 million visitors will see exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its bid to host the Expo, the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "astonish the world".