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Expo 2020 Dubai representatives Dr Tarek Oliviera Shayya, chief international participants officer and board director, Expo 2020 Dubai; Dr Hayat Shamsuddin and Manal Al Bayat, senior vice-president, business development and integration, Expo 2020 Dubai, speak at the Expo 2020 Dubai Preview panel session. Image Credit: Supplied

Abu Dhabi: Expo 2020 Dubai will be an outstanding opportunity to witness first-hand the cultural exchange and understanding between the UAE and the world, panellists said at the second day of the Culture Summit 2017 in Abu Dhabi.

During the Expo 2020 Dubai Preview panel discussion, representatives from Expo2020 discussed Expo’s plans to deliver a platform to celebrate the exchange of cultures from around the world.

The panel outlined how, through embodying the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 Dubai will present a valuable opportunity to explore potential areas of partnership and collaboration.

Dr Hayat Shamsuddin, Senior Adviser, Culture, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “We believe the connection of people leads to progress through the sharing of ideas and the exchange of cultures, which is why events such as the CultureSummit and Expo 2020 Dubai are moments that help to shape a better world.

“Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration of the diversity of the UAE and the long-standing traditions of the broader Arab region, as well as the mosaic of identities, cultures and traditions offered by each nation across the globe.”

With more than 180 countries expected to participate, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to unleash imagination and creative expression with the target of leaving a cultural legacy built on openness, with lasting benefits for generations to come.

Expo 2020 Dubai is exploring ways to work with cultural experts, artists and designers to create an authentic Emirati experience that shares the UAE’s culture with visitors from around the world, and provide participating countries with the opportunity to exhibit cultural and creative works to encourage the connection of minds.

Emirati culture will be incorporated into the design of the Expo 2020 site, including the UAE Pavilion, which is inspired by a national symbol of the UAE — the falcon — in flight. Thematic districts will also give visitors a flavour of the Arab world, as well as dedicated spaces and stages to host performances that reflect Emirati culture.

The Culture Summit, which ends on April 13, includes 300 leaders from government, the arts, media, technology and philanthropy from more than 80 countries, working together on joint solutions for pressing global challenges such as climate change and job creation for youth in the face of increasing automation.