192 countries have con rmed they will take part in Expo 2020. This surpasses the 180-nation commitment made in Dubai’s 2013 host bid.
There are less than seven months to go until expo 2020 Dubai opens its gates for the world’s greatest show. The delivery of the first world expo to be held in the middle east, Africa and south Asia (MEASA) region, which takes place from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, continues to make strong progress.
Country pavilions
Every participating country at Expo 2020 will have its own pavilion for the rst time in the 169-year history of World Expos. Dozens of nations have already revealed the design, theme and visitor experience of their pavilions, with more being announced on a regular basis. They are each innovative, enlightening and fun.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia pavilion
From the ground like a large window into the nation’s bright future. It will showcase the Kingdom’s rich heritage and openness to businesses and tourists.
The UK pavilion
The UK pavilion is inspired by a project from the late scientist Stephen Hawking. It will feature a collective message created by contributions from around the world, and will showcase leading British expertise in sectors such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and space.
The Brazil pavilion
is set to recreate the Amazon basin in the UAE. It will evoke the sights, sounds and scents of the country’s riverside areas and resemble a luminous floating cube at night.
The world’s greatest show
- Expo 2020 will be an F&B destination in its own right, with more than 200 F&B outlets, 50-plus global cuisines, future-shaping culinary tech, local favourites and delicious culinary tours.
- There will be more than 60 live events each day for 173 days
- Participating countries will contribute to the dynamic, diverse and ever-changing events programme – from music, dance and art to poetry slams and live talks
- More details of the visitor experience and events programme will be revealed in due course.
Named a er the Arabic word for ‘connection’, Al Wasl Plaza will be the iconic centrepiece of Expo 2020. It will host major ceremonies and celebrations during and a er Expo, and the venue’s steel trellis dome will act as an immersive 360-degree projection surface that can be viewed from both inside and outside.
In September 2019, Al Wasl Plaza’s 550-tonne steel crown was positioned at the top of the jewel of the Expo 2020 Dubai site in a feat of precision engineering involving hundreds of onsite technicians. The interactive Opportunity Pavilion will encourage visitors to make a meaningful contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are a set of 17 objectives that, if achieved, will ensure a good basic quality of life for everyone, showing that we all have a role to play in creating a bright future.
The Mobility Pavilion will explore the movement of people, goods, ideas and data, and how mobility has driven humanity’s development from our rst steps out of Africa to today’s cutting-edge innovations. In April 2019, the visitor experience at Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion was revealed. The journey will tell the enchanting story of humankind’s relationship with nature, and our impact on it, and is designed
to empower visitors to understand their impact on the environment and become agents of change.
Site delivery
- Expo 2020 on track, with all permanent Expo- led construction completed by the end of 2019
- Construction of the three Thematic Districts has been completed
- More than 168 million work hours have been completed to date on the Expo 2020 site
- There are currently 41,000 workers on site
- Participating countries are working on constructing/completing their pavilion plots
- UAE-based companies are playing a leading role in the construction effort, including Al-Futtaim Carillion, Khansaheb, Besix, Arabtec, Tristar Engineering and Al Naboodah Construction
Economic impact
In April 2019, EY published an independent report that stated Expo 2020 Dubai and its legacy are expected to contribute AED122.6 billion to the UAE’s economy from 2013-31. It is anticipated that Expo 2020 will also support up to 905,200 job- years during the same timeframe, and contribute approximately 1.5 per cent of the UAE’s annual forecast GDP during the six months of the Expo. As of the end of January 2020, Expo 2020 had awarded AED 4.4 billion to SMEs, supporting Expo’s aim to foster innovation and support small businesses.
Approximately, 40,000 organisations from more than 157 countries are registered to do business with Expo 2020.
This includes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which continue to be a priority in awarding contracts. SMEs account for nearly 50 per cent of all businesses registered with Expo, and 55 per cent of all Expo 2020 contracts were awarded to the sector.
Legacy
Ensuring a meaningful and lasting legacy post-Expo 2020 Dubai has been part of the planning since the beginning. Our legacy is based on four pillars: physical, economic, social and reputational.