Dubai: More than 18,000 creative hopefuls have submitted their designs for the Expo 2020 Dubai Logo Design competition. The contest closed on 30 April 2015.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State, Board Representative of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee and Director General, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020, said the public response to the competition was overwhelming.

“This competition was an opportunity to engage the Nation in building a logo that represents the values, hopes and aspirations that we have for Expo 2020 Dubai and our collective journey towards it. We are delighted at the extraordinary response to the competition and the strong commitment by the Nation to build a truly exceptional and inclusive Expo,” she said.

The thousands of submissions will now go through a detailed review process by a panel of design experts. The final logo will be announced on October 20 2015 — the start of the five-year countdown to the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The winning designer will receive Dh100,000 plus a trip for four to three previous World Expo cities, and receive a season pass for two for Expo 2020 Dubai, including an invitation to the official opening ceremony.