Dubai is preparing for Expo 2020, as 190 countries confirmed their participation in this year’s expo themed ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
The Expo has already surpassed the 180-nation commitment set out in its successful 2013 bid to host a World Expo for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The announcement comes on the opening day of Expo 2020’s third International Participants Meeting (IPM), which will see hundreds of delegates from around the world gather in Dubai to receive information and updates on the delivery of the biggest event to ever be held in the Arab region.
Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, Reem al-Hashemy said that in less than two years’ time, Expo 2020 Dubai will welcome the international community to the UAE for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress, allowing millions of people to experience the world in one place.
The Minister described the confirmation of 190 international participants as a testament to the UAE’s stature on the international stage and demonstrates the world’s confidence in the country’s ability to bring the world together.
"Expo 2020 offers an opportunity for countries from every corner of the planet to showcase their cultures, ideas and innovations to millions of visitors, and every participating nation will play an important role in the delivery of an exceptional World Expo."
This year’s IPM will cover a wide range of topics relating to the design, delivery and content of country pavilions. The agenda will include updates on site progress and details of how Expo 2020 is supporting the participant journey, as well as information sessions and panel discussions involving participating nations.
Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Vicente Loscertales, indicated that as the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, UAE and Dubai has been working to create a platform to foster creativity, innovation and partnership globally.
He added that during the IPM, Expo 2020 Dubai will showcase all the aspects of the preparation and implementation to deliver a transformative event that will have a significant impact on the host city and nation, youth and the world.
For the first time in the history of World Expos, each participating country will have its own pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, giving all nations the opportunity to showcase their achievements, innovations, cultures and long-term visions to the world.
Another World Expo first is the organization of country pavilions which will be based according to Expo 2020’s key sub-themes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, rather than geographically.
A number of nations will sign their official Expo 2020 participation contracts during the IPM, after confirming their chosen sub-theme and pavilion plot.
Countries that have already unveiled their pavilion plans are: Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Switzerland, the UK and the UAE.
Organized in collaboration with the BIE, the IPM is held at regular intervals to update the members and other countries on Expo 2020 Dubai’s progress and plans, and to inform them of opportunities related to their participation.
Expo 2020 is expected to attract 25 million visits between October 2020 and April 2021, and 70 percent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE.
Expo 2020 Dubai will bring the international community together for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress.
