Dubai confirmed as World Expo Host in 2020 during the 158th General Assembly of the BIE

November 25, 2015

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum

168-member governing body unanimously endorses detailed plans for the mega-event His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum: “Now is the time for us to translate our vision into reality.” ← The 158th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris has officially confirmed Dubai as Host City of the next World Exposition. The meeting ratified the Expo 2020 Registration Document, which set out detailed plans for the delivery of the event.

Members of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum travelled to Paris for the historic announcement, which marks the start of the next chapter in Dubai’s journey to 2020 and a new phase of increased activity.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed noted: “For two years we have worked tirelessly to plan and prepare for a truly exceptional World Expo in 2020. Today, the member nations of the BIE have officially endorsed these plans.”

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Board Representative of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee and Director General, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020.

He paid tribute to the international support that Dubai has received, saying: “On behalf of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee and the people of the United Arab Emirates, I want to thank the BIE and the International Delegates for the great vote of trust they have bestowed upon our Nation.”

His Highness went on to make clear the commitment to all future visitors and participants: “There is no time to rest. Now is the time for us to translate our vision into reality, as we deliver an Expo that will inspire the world to come together and begin to solve some of our most pressing global challenges.”

The Expo 2020 Registration Document, which was officially submitted to the BIE for review in July, was the result of comprehensive research and rigorous planning, and provided detailed information about the mega-event, including the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, the site Master Plan, participant and visitor engagement strategies, communications and marketing, business operations, sustainability and the post-event legacy.

To mark Dubai’s formal appointment, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed was presented with the official BIE flag by the governing body’s President, His Excellency Mr. Nagy. Also in attendance were His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler’s Court of Dubai, CEO of Investment Corporation of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee; Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Director-General of Bureau Dubai Expo 2020; His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of ADNEC; His Excellency Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality; Major General Khamis Mutar Al Muzainah, Chief Commander of Dubai Police; His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority; His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre; and His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation. The members of the Higher Committee were joined by a delegation of UAE business people, who have been strong partners of Expo during the journey to becoming Host City. Their presence at the BIE ceremony demonstrated their intent to continue to support the effort to deliver the Expo, now that this major milestone has been passed.

Mr. Loscertales, the BIE Secretary-General, said, “As the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, we look forward to what we believe will be a meaningful moment in history, not only for this young nation and the BIE, but also for the wider region and indeed, the world. Dubai has presented a compelling vision, and detailed plans to ensure its realisation. We will continue to support and work alongside the Expo 2020 team over the next five years as these ideas are turned into reality.”

In moving from the planning to delivery phase, activity will increase to include formal engagement with international participants, including nations, corporations, multilateral organisations, NGOs and academic institutions. This next phase will also see the continuation and extension of existing stakeholder initiatives, both domestic and international, including the current series of BusinessConnect workshops, the annual Youth Connect event, and ongoing dialogue with young entrepreneurs, regional SMEs and global thought leaders.

Opening its gates to the world on 20 October 2020, Expo 2020 Dubai will be the most international and inclusive event in World Expo history, welcoming more than 25 million visits and over 200 participants over its six months duration. The vast majority of visitors (some 70%) are expected to come from overseas.

Source : http://expo2020dubai.ae/ & http://www.facebook.com/DubaiExpo2020/

Bloomberg Future Cities Forum in Dubai

HE Reem Al Hashimy took part in the first Bloomberg Future Cities Forum in Dubai to explore the city's models for success and vision for its future. The event was hosted by Michael R Bloomberg, United Nations Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, founder of Bloomberg and three-term Mayor of New York City.

Preparations for Expo 2020...

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee Chairman, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Mr. Vicente Loscertales, BIE Secretary General discussing the ongoing preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee Chairman, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE's Minister of State, Director General – Bureau Dubai Expo 2020 and Board Representative of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee meeting with Mr. Vicente Loscertales, BIE Secretary General as part of the preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai.

Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee received BIE Secretary General, Vicente Loscertales, in Dubai. Mega-event progress continues.

Expo 2020 Dubai Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/DubaiExpo2020

UAE Minister of State talks World Expo bid to CNN

“The UAE’s bid is about an Expo for the world – an opportunity for nations, countries and the business community to get involved,” said Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy to CNN at 2013 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the UAE’s Higher Committee for Hosting World Expo 2020 in Dubai, spoke with CNN Emerging Markets Editor John Defterios during the 2013 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

During the interview, which aired on CNN International’s “Marketplace Middle East” programme, Her Excellency discussed the UAE’s strengths in relation to the country’s bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

“With the merits of our country from its strong infrastructure, the geographical positioning between east and west, the seamless operations between our ports and airports, and our global connectivity, we feel we really can bring people together and do justice to our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’,” Her Excellency said. “2020 will offer a diverse, exciting and international profile for the World Expo visitors and participants alike.”

Please find below a link to the full interview: - http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2013/02/01/marketplace-middle-east-tunisia-dubai-b.cnn?iref=allsearch

Dubai embraces World Expo bid - CNN

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE's Minister of State, on Dubai's economy and hopes to host the World Expo in 2020.

Video from CNN.com

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

The UAE to highlight Expo 2020 bid at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland 

The country’s Expo will be a celebration of innovative partnerships
for global progress, said Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State

The Dubai, UAE Expo 2020 team will welcome high-level delegates, including international diplomats and senior officials, to a private country reception held during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The reception highlights the opportunity represented by the UAE’s bid, not only for the country itself, but for economies in the region and globally. Dubai Expo 2020 would be the most international World Expo in history with 70% of the 25 million expected visitors coming from outside the host nation, providing participants with unprecedented global exposure.

A model of the Dubai Expo 2020 Site will be on display showing how the theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, has been fully integrated into the masterplan with a layout designed to facilitate interaction and collaboration.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Minister of State, in her capacity as Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, commented ahead of the event: “The World Economic Forum at Davos provides us with the ideal platform to speak to the world’s foremost experts about how we will use the unique convening power of the World Expo to tackle and provide solutions to the forces that inspire global development – Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity. The World Expo we have planned will be a celebration of new and innovative partnerships for global progress, offering enduring benefits for future generations.”

As a gateway to emerging markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia – and with one-third of the world’s population just a four-hour direct flight away – the UAE is strategically situated to serve as a convening location to discuss the major challenges of today and tomorrow.

Dubai, UAE, is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 2020 World Expo. The winning city will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 163 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions.