Dubai officially confirmed as host of Expo 2020
The announcement came at the 158th general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris
Dubai has officially been confirmed as the host city for the Expo 2020 by the 158th general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.
The meeting ratified the Expo 2020 Registration Document, which set out detailed plans for the delivery of the event, according to an official statement.
Members of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee led by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum travelled to Paris for the historic announcement, which marks the official start of Dubai’s journey to the mega-event.
“For two years we have worked tirelessly to plan and prepare for a truly exceptional World Expo in 2020. Today, the member nations of the BIE have officially endorsed these plans,” His Highness Sheikh Ahmed said.
“On behalf of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee and the people of the United Arab Emirates, I want to thank the BIE and the International Delegates for the great vote of trust they have bestowed upon our nation. We [will] deliver an Expo that will inspire the world to come together and begin to solve some of our most pressing global challenges.”
The Expo 2020 Registration Document, which was officially submitted to the BIE for review in July, provided detailed information about the mega-event, including the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, the site master plan, participant and visitor engagement strategies, communications and marketing, business operations, sustainability and the post-event legacy.
“As the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, we look forward to what we believe will be a meaningful moment in history,” said Vicente G. Loscertales, the BIE Secretary-General.
“Dubai has presented a compelling vision, and detailed plans to ensure its realisation. We will continue to support and work alongside the Expo 2020 team over the next five years as these ideas are turned into reality.”
As the city moves from the planning to the delivery phase, activity will increase to include formal engagement with international participants, including nations, corporations, multilateral organisations, NGOs and academic institutions.
The Expo 2020 in Dubai will open its gates to the world on October 20, 2020. It is set to be the most international event in World Expo history, welcoming more than 25 million visits over its six-month duration. The vast majority of visitors (some 70%) are expected to come from overseas.
Expo 2020 Dubai will take place on a purpose-built 438-hectare venue at Dubai Trade Centre – Jebel Ali, located midway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It will run from October 2020 through to April 2021.
