![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/143B3/production/_120776828_mediaitem120776827.jpg)
Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, declared the Expo open at a ceremony on Thursday evening that featured stars from across the world, including Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, British popstar Ellie Goulding and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.