With one year to go to the mega-event, the UAE is ready to host the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. UAE federal government and local organisations are ready to receive more than 190 countries, and are waiting to welcome millions of visitors to a site that combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge technologies – a meeting point for "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".
With 365 days until Expo 2020 Dubai opens its doors to the world, Dubai is ready to bring the world together and the excitement is building.
In October next year, the UAE will welcome the world to a global mega-event that aims to reconnect people, cultures and society following the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring a spectacular calendar of daily events and programming, a rich variety of global cuisine, and a once-in-a-lifetime showcase of arts, architecture, entertainment, culture and technology, Expo 2020 will pay tribute to the resilience of humanity, its ability to innovate, and its pursuit of optimism in the face of adversity.
Progress at Expo 2020 has continued at pace. More than 210 million work hours have been completed on the site and all permanent Expo-led construction is complete. Fit-out, landscaping, and construction of Country Pavilions will conclude at the end of the year.
Reviewing progress and preparations toward the major international event, leaders of Dubai and the UAE’s public and private sectors have confirmed the UAE’s and Dubai’s readiness to hosting this mega event and its visitors from all around the world.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said: "In just one year’s time, as the UAE celebrate its Golden Jubilee and we look ahead to the next 50 years of our nation, we will be bringing the world together for an unparalleled World Expo, anchored in the values of solidarity, cooperation and creativity.
These values have been the pillars of our successful economic model, which has never stopped adapting to world changes during the past few decades. Expo 2020 Dubai will be a major milestone in our development journey and will be followed by similarly ambitious projects.
"We have adopted cooperation and collaboration as our ethos in our work with International Participants, local and federal UAE government organisations, Official Partners and all categories of the UAE community.
"We are ready to welcome the world for an exceptional event, and we plan to leave a meaningful legacy in the form of the positive impact our World Expo will have on the lives, minds and hearts of millions all over the globe."
Since work began on the Expo 2020 project, collaboration among teams across the UAE, and between the UAE and participating countries, has been key to delivering an event that befits the UAE and the ambitions of its leadership. It has also been instrumental in guaranteeing that each country’s participation reflects its visions and aspirations.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "The countdown has begun to an exceptional Expo. It is the intention of the UAE’s leadership to host an event befitting the achievements and ambitions of our nation, which will celebrate its Golden Jubilee, with the world, next year.
"Expo 2020 Dubai will stand testament to the fact that great results can be achieved when we collaborate on ambitious goals. During the event, we will demonstrate how our nation values tolerance and how it has become a pillar of our society. Tolerance gives rise to cooperation, a value instilled in us across generations. And at Expo 2020, we aim to share with the world how tolerance and cooperation form the foundation with which our nation has advanced and developed."
"The world is going through a difficult period. But here in the UAE, our history and our leadership have taught us that progress need not be halted because of obstacles in its way. This is our message and our vision for the future of humanity that we aim to share, not by words alone, but by opening our doors to the world during Expo 2020. By sharing innovation, creativity, and ideas for the good of all of humanity, Expo 2020 will be a vital moment for our region and the world."
Expo 2020 will be one of the first global, large-scale events to be held post COVID-19. It will celebrate humanity’s resilience and achievements, and its ability to innovate for a better future. More than 190 countries, plus companies, international organisations and educational institutions, will participate in the six-month event that will shed the light on the biggest challenges facing our world, and inspire a collective movement towards building a better future for all of us.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of His Highness The Ruler’s Court and Vice Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said: "The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and his continuous follow-up during all phases of this great national project were key drivers in inspiring the completion of preparations a year before the opening date of Expo 2020 Dubai.
"Dubai and the UAE are eagerly awaiting this global event, which will reiterate Dubai’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and ambition. The Expo platform will provide opportunities for everyone to explore new horizons and establish new partnerships that respond to the needs of the 21st century. The participation of more than 190 countries and the presence of organisations from around the world is a confirmation of Dubai’s effective role globally. Today, while we start our countdown of one year to go until Expo opens its doors, we tell the world that Dubai and the UAE are ready to welcome and receive you in October 2021."
As a national event, being held in the year that the country celebrates its Golden jubilee, Dubai and the UAE’s federal, local and private entities have come together to collaborate on delivering this milestone event. This includes agreements with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority on wide-ranging initiatives to drive visitation from key international source markets.
Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Member of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said: "Working with more than 190 participating countries, we have taken huge steps on our way towards hosting the world in the UAE at Expo 2020, working together to support innovation and showcase mankind’s achievements. It will provide an outstanding platform for the UAE to reflect the ambitions of its leadership in enhancing international cooperation.
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