Dubai's monthslong Expo 2020 comes to a close

The world's fair in Dubai, a tech-saturated site teeming with talking robots and solar canopies, sought to be the future. The pandemic-delayed Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates came to a close on Thursday after eight years of anticipation, over $7 billion in investment, 240 million hours of labor and six months of festivities.

At a razzle-dazzle closing ceremony, Expo's dome gleamed with hypnotic scenes of swirling water and orange-yellow light. Pop star Christina Aguilera closed the ceremony. The dark sky lit up with fireworks. Some national pavilions will be demolished A few will remain, like an enormous lacework dome and the UAE's soaring falcon-shaped pavilion. Other buildings will be rebranded for a new business district soon to rise from the site.