Expo 2020 Facebook page reaches 100,000 “Likes”

Expo 2020 Facebook page reaches 100,000 “Likes”

The UAE’s 2020 World Expo bid attracts widespread support on  popular social networking website

Dubai, UAE; October 29, 2012: The UAE’s official Expo Facebook page reached 100,000 “Likes” this week, in a clear sign of the growing enthusiasm for the country’s bid to welcome the world on the eve of its 50th anniversary.

The page, which was launched by the Expo team just five months ago, is a valuable tool for supporters across the country and around the world to receive updates on the progress of the bid, and to share relevant news and information with friends and colleagues. 

The Expo team highlighted that the Like function, which allows users of the popular social networking site to easily show their support for various causes and organisations, is key to gauging awareness and assessing the impact of various outreach programmes. Reaching the 100,000 milestone is evidence of the success these initiatives have achieved in recent months. 

Dubai, UAE, is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 2020 World Expo, including Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil). 

The winning city will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 161 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions – the international organisation responsible for overseeing the bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.

About the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai: 

The Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo was formed by decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, serves as Chairman of the Committee.

Additional Committee members include: His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler’s Court of Dubai, who serves as Deputy Chairman; Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and the Committee's Managing Director; Mr. Ahmad Abdullah Al Shaikh, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office; and Mr. Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Committee submits regular reports directly to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed on the outcomes, milestones, challenges, solutions, proposals and recommendations towards achieving the ultimate goal of ensuring success in hosting World Expo 2020.

For further information about the UAE bid, please visit: 

•        Website: www.expo2020dubai.ae

•        Facebook: www.facebook.com/DubaiExpo2020

•        Twitter: @Dubaiexpo2020

About the Bureau International des Expositions: 

The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos. The BIE was created by an international convention signed in Paris in 1928, which established the rights and responsibilities of Expo organisers and participants. The role of the BIE is to supervise and ensure the application of this Convention.

The BIE’s mission is to maintain the integrity and quality of Expos so that they may continue to educate the public and promote innovation in the service of human progress. Expos must be able to not only provide a benchmark for the human progress made in a given domain, but also propose a roadmap for the way forward – and the BIE works to ensure this.

For further information about the BIE, please visit: www.bie-paris.org