Expo 2020 Dubai is guided by the belief that innovation and progress are the result of people and ideas combining in new ways. For six months from 20 October, 2020, Expo aims to bring together 180 countries and millions of people to celebrate human ingenuity: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. Many millions of expected visits between its opening day on 20 October 2020 and its closing date on 10 April 2021.
It’s no wonder why world class companies from across the globe – including powerhouses such as Emirates Airline, Accenture, DP World, Emirates NBD, Nissan, SAP, Siemens and UPS – have already signed up as partners in the journey to Expo 2020 Dubai. They will be joined by more than 200 international participants, including 180 countries, corporations, non-government organisations and educational institutions. About 70 percent of the 25 million expected visits will be from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of any World Expo.
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau said: “At Expo 2020 Dubai, we want all our visitors to contribute to making the world a better place, and the German Pavilion will provide a fascinating platform for people to learn, have fun and explore sustainability together. “We look forward to seeing more compelling pavilion designs and themes revealed by other participating countries as we continue our countdown to Expo.”
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia. Serving an area with a collective population of nearly 3 billionpeople and a GDP of more than USD 7.4 trillion, this will be the first Expo to be close to home for many who have had no previous access, an immediate and lasting impact on the lives of an entire region. Every major global city can be reached from Dubai in one stop. More than two thirds of the world’s population lives within an eight-hour flight and one-third within four hours.
The UAE has five major international airports to serve visitors. In 2016, Dubai International Airport remained the busiest in the world in terms of international passengers, recording traffic of over 83.6 million passengers. Abu Dhabi International Airport served over 24 million passengers in 2016.
With 200 nationalities living and working in Dubai, the city is a melting pot for people, nations, goods, institutions, ideas and partnerships. With a world-class infrastructure, advanced technology, effortless efficiency and true innovation, Dubai is fully mobilised and ready to create an exceptional World Expo.
- During the six months from 20 October, 2020 to 10 April, 2021, Expo 2020 Dubai expects millions of people to visit Expo
- About 70 percent of all visitors are anticipated to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in Expo history
- Expo 2020 Dubai aims to create and deliver an inclusive and global Expo with more than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions
- Expo 2020 also has an ambitious volunteer programme, which aims to include more than 30,000 volunteers from a wide range of ages, nationalities, cultures and backgrounds
- The Expo site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area. It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
- Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to take place in the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) region
Award-winning British artist Es Devlin OBE is set to design the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The Pavilion will be the centrepiece of the UK’s presence at the Expo – highlighting UK expertise in artificial intelligence and the space sector.
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau said: “At Expo 2020 Dubai, our focus on empowering individuals and communities to create opportunities that help shape a better future drives everything we do.
“The UK Pavilion will be an intriguing platform for people to learn, have fun and work together to discover innovations and explore new frontiers in areas including space and Artificial Intelligence – echoing Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. We look forward to seeing more compelling pavilion designs and themes revealed by other participating nations as we continue our countdown to Expo 2020.”
Through our theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 Dubai provides a platform to foster creativity, innovation, and collaboration globally. We want to trigger new thinking for a long-term effect in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) and the wider world. This is underpinned by three interwoven themes that we see as fundamental in addressing the most pressing issues of our time: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability. Two-thirds of the world’s population are just eight hours from one of the UAE’s five major airports, with connecting flights to more than 300 cities in 100 countries. It also hosts the largest maritime terminal in the Middle East, and the second fastest growing port in the world.
The UAE’s role as a leading international business hub will bring participants and businesses closer to the world’s fastest emerging markets with Africa’s booming commercial sector, India’s growing consumer class, and China’s established industries and New Silk Road all within easy reach. No wonder the UAE is ranked first in MENA for enabling international trade. As part of Expo 2020, you will have access to this invaluable platform for fostering international relationships, creating new business opportunities and capitalising on the full potential of the youngest global population in history.
In the true spirit of Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,’ collaboration will help to accelerate progress in industries of the future and inspire breakthroughs in Expo’s subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Expo 2020 Dubai is not only an opportunity to showcase progress but a global destination to harness the incredible potential of emerging markets, made possible by the UAE leadership’s strategies to ensure businesses thrive, no matter where they come from.
