Dubai: The Expo 2020 Higher Preparatory Committee made its first formal address to the General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), the governing body of the World Expo, according to a statement on Wednesday.
Dubai won the bid last November to host Expo 2020, a six-month event that is expected to attract 25 million visitors. It will be held for the first time in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA).
The Expo will run from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021 at Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali. Plans have been drafted and all major construction is expected to be completed by October 2019.
The UAE delegation was led by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Preparatory Higher Committee.
“The Dubai Expo 2020 road map is well progressed as we resolutely honour our commitment to create a truly transformative World Expo, that through partnerships and collaboration will seek to foster innovative, inspirational and practical solution-creation for our collective future,” said Shaikh Ahmed in a statement.
Meanwhile, addressing the BIE’s 168 member states, Reem Al Hashemi, minister of state and member of the Preparatory Higher Committee, presented the UAE’s vision and an update on developments for hosting the event.
“Dubai Expo 2020 will be the platform to continue to execute on our country’s visionary leadership around the need for connectivity and mobility, economic opportunity and sustainable practices as the pillars of today’s interdependent world. The infrastructure and the progressive policies that serve this vision will continue to grow in size and quality to serve the participants and the visitors of Dubai Expo 2020,” she said.
“Our goal to deliver on an Expo with seamless operations will leverage the national efforts to implement a greater vision shaping the next 50 years of our country,” she added.
Al Hashemi pointed out that Expo 2020 is not just a win for Dubai but for the while region.
“The tremendous support we received in November marked a significant victory, not only for us but for all countries across the MENASA. Our support base ranged from the countries of the North as well as the South — the East as well as the West. This recognition furthers our commitment to develop an inclusive platform that allows our partners on this global stage to truly showcase the best they have to offer, and — in that journey — create linkages and partnerships with others,” she said.
