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29 March 2024

After Expo 2020 win, Dubai puts jigsaw pieces in place

(Ashok Verma)

Published
By Staff and Wam

Last year on this day, Dubai was voted winner of the World Expo 2020 bid at the 154th BIE General Assembly in Paris. The UAE received 116 votes out of a total of 165.

“It was a hard-fought victory; we were up against strong competitors, to whom we offer our full respect and sincere wishes,” said the Dubai Expo 2020 team in a tweet.

The World Expo 2020 will be held in Dubai under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ as announced by the Bureau International des Exhibitions (BIE) following voting by its member nations.

The Dubai Expo will be the first World Expo for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (Menasa) region, helping to unlock the vast potential of this area and creating significant opportunities for its more than two billion people.

Since winning the bid, the last year has seen a number of key initiatives undertaken. In January 2014, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No (49) of 2013 on the formation of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee under the supervision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

The Higher Committee saw a continuity of its members from the successful bid phase with further appointments to see a much more country wide focus of entities needed to deliver an exceptional event.

In June 2014, HH also issued decree 30/2014 establishing the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau to oversee the preparation and delivery of Expo 2020.

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State, was appointed as Director-General for the Bureau as well as Managing Director of the Higher Committee.

The last 12 months have seen a robust validation process of the Expo 2020 Dubai Registration Dossier, a mandatory requirement set forth by the BIE, and the development of the necessary implementation strategies.

This is being achieved through the building of strong capabilities within the team and through augmented skills and expertise with strong consulting and delivery partners across various functions like master planning, construction programme delivery, sustainability, commercial planning, marketing communications and commercial sponsorship.

The Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau has also been working closely with partners and stakeholders around theme workshops for engagement with industry experts to develop advisory panels for its subthemes, Mobility, Opportunity and Sustainability.

Additionally, the Bureau is developing key outreach programmes targeted at enabling more structured opportunities for entities across the government, semi-government, private sector and entrepreneurial communities to contribute to, participate in, and benefit from the scale and scope of activities around the Expo and legacy.

:What is important, over the next six years, is that we create an environment that will stimulate demand generated across diverse sectors, directly and indirectly, and that we link this demand to the delivery, operation and service needs of the Expo. This demand will be a catalyst for growth for businesses across the wider region - from raw materials and manufacturing, to products and services providers. Similarly, we expect to actively seek to engage with the private sector and solicit their participation when we launch our procurement process – for companies of various scales from start-ups, to SMEs to multinationals,” said Al Shaibani.

“Furthermore, the development of the necessary assets to accommodate the number of visitors is also well underway, with a robust global tourism and outreach programme being supplemented by growth in hotel and attraction infrastructure as well as the economic and social initiatives needed to maximise its impact.”

During the General Assembly, Al Shaibani also presented key milestones for 2015 centred around the work-streams currently underway, an outward reaching engagement programme and the upcoming BIE deliverables, all of which will significantly increase momentum throughout the year, both domestically and internationally around Expo Milan 2015, which runs May through to the end of October.

Kicking off activations in the UAE, Expo 2020 Dubai will begin a number of public initiatives across the emirates as it looks to engage and galvanise residents with interactive and educational content on World Expos in general, Expo 2020 Dubai in particular, and most significantly, to help build a greater sense of its relevance to all facets of society.

In addition, a number of initiatives to support the development and progression of the theme, subthemes, and community engagement, as well as legacy strategies, goals, activities and plans will be implemented over the course of 2015. Youth involvement will also be a priority focus in 2015 with efforts to engage volunteers for Expo Milan 2015 expected to begin in Q1 of next year.

Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau will also launch its commercial and partnership programme in 2015 – a global outreach effort which will seek to attract corporates, investors and entrepreneurs. The tendering processes across a number of work streams will also commence next year, including the appointment for construction works at the Expo Dubai 2020 site in Jebel Ali.

Moving into the second half of 2015, Expo 2020 Dubai's focus very much moves to its participation in Expo Milan 2015, which is being held under the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.

Expo 2020 Dubai will showcase within the UAE pavilion, providing it with a dynamic platform to build awareness and solidify relationships with future participants, partners and potential visitors.

After the conclusion of Expo Milan 2015 in October, the Higher Committee will await the approval of Expo 2020 Dubai's Registration Dosser in November 2015 by the BIE General Assembly.

“In merely one year, Expo 2020 Dubai has set a fast and productive pace. The 2015 strategy will focus on completing the BIE Registration, harnessing the convening power of the World Expo and of the UAE to inspire global creativity and stimulate new partnerships and dialogue,” added Al Shaibani.

Since the first Great Fair of 1851, World Expos have continued to be one of the largest and most enduring global mega-events. Lasting six months, World Expos attract millions of visitors who explore and discover pavilions, exhibits and cultural events staged by hundreds of participants including nations, multilateral organisations and businesses.

Dubai's World Expo is held under the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, echoing the powerful spirit of partnership and co-operation that has driven the UAE’s success in pioneering new paths of development and innovation.

Through this theme, Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a catalyst, connecting minds from around the world and inspiring participants to mobilise around shared challenges, during a World Expo of unprecedented global scope, under the sub-themes of: Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity.