Friday, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez said that the Jordanian pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020 would be a great chance to show the Kingdom's tourism products and sites.

He told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the ministry is putting huge efforts to have tourist polarization for Jordan archaeological sites, voicing his appreciation for the United Arab Emirates in this regard.

The COVID-delayed Expo 2020 kicked off in Dubai Thursday with an extravagant opening ceremony for what is expected to be the world's biggest event since the start of the pandemic.

Dubai's edition of the global fair, the first ever held in the Middle East, hopes for 25 million visitors over six months to its gleaming pavilions in the desert.

Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum is at 1640 GMT to open the event, grouping more than 190 countries which he has promised will be "the most exceptional Expo in the history of the event".

The Expo site in the dusty Dubai suburbs has remained strictly off-limits during its year-long postponement.

Architectural marvels and a long list of technological innovations will feature among the exhibits, showcasing the ingenuity and technological innovations of the participating countries.

The first world fair was held in London in 1851, when it was housed in the purpose-built Crystal Palace, and the Paris edition of 1889 featured the Eiffel Tower, at first intended as a temporary attraction.

Expo 2020 will be indelibly tinged by the pandemic, with masks and social distancing mandatory on site. Visitors will need to be vaccinated or have a negative PCR test to enter.

The United Arab Emirates, population 10 million, has reported rapidly dwindling coronavirus cases in recent weeks, dropping below 300 on Sunday -- less than half the figure a fortnight earlier.