World Expos are one of the oldest and largest international events on the planet, taking place every five years and lasting six months. It is a festival for all, where everyone can experience, explore, innovate, and have fun by sharing ideas and working together.

An Expo is a global event that aims at educating the public, sharing innovation, promoting progress and fostering cooperation. It is organized by a host country that invites other countries, companies, international organisations, the private sector, the civil society and the general public to participate. Due to the diversity of its participants, from top decision makers to children, Expos offer a multifaceted event where extraordinary exhibitions, diplomatic encounters, business meetings, public debates and live shows take place at the same time.

Expo 2020 (Arabic: إكسبو 2020‎) is scheduled to be a World Expo to be hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 – 10 April 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the new dates are 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022. Despite being postponed, organizers will keep the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes. It is the first time that a World Exposition has been postponed to a later date rather than cancelled. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in Paris named Dubai as the host on 27 November 2013.

Themes

The expo will have a theme called "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The expo will also have three subthemes: opportunity, mobility and sustainability,each with its own pavilion. The Opportunity pavilion is designed by AGi Architects, Mobility by Foster and Partners, and Sustainability by Grimshaw Architects.

In 2021 it was announced that the three thematic pavilions would open for a limited time before the full opening of the expo. The Sustainability Pavilion Terra opened on 22 January 2021 and will stay open until to 10 April 2021.

Sustainability

In the sustainability district in addition to the sustainability pavilion, there will be a Hammour House which explores coral reef; a district stage which seats 300 and Walk through a waterfall Brazil's national pavilion, Water the desert Czech Republic's, Enter a rainforest Singapore's, Wear cutting-edge devices Germany's, Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion UAE's pavilion and Enter a miniature world Netherlands's pavilion.

Mobility

This will include the world's largest passenger lift (capable of transporting more than 160 people).

Opportunity

The Opportunity pavilion is designed by AGi Architects.

Mascots

There are 6 mascots: Salama, Rashid, Latifa, Alif, Opti, and Terra.ashid and Latifa are 9 and 8-year-old brother and sister; Salama, a ghaf tree; with Alif, Opti, and Terra being guardian mascots for the mobility, opportunity and sustainability pavilions respectively.

Preparations

The emirate's tourism and hospitality sectors will face new opportunities and challenges in hosting the event. Najeeb Mohammad Saleh, head of the planning research at Dubai Municipality said "We looked at three different scenarios – low, medium and rapid. We have adopted the medium-growth scenario, and expect the population by 2020 to be about 2.8 million." The upcoming Expo 2020 means that most premium hotels will be operating near full capacity through to 2021. Benjamin Moore Middle East is focussed on the UAE's luxury hospitality segment as the moment. By helping hotels upgrade the paints and coatings they use to more durable products, while simultaneously helping them reduce their maintenance costs. The infrastructure of the 4.38 km2 Expo 2020 site was built by Orascom and BESIX.

Partners

In order to raise awareness about smart recycling, Expo 2020 will organize nationwide bus tours with the waste partner Dulsco.

L'Oreal are the expo's beauty partner, and will host immersive beauty shows, salons, and pop-up studios at the expo.
Accenture are Digital Services Premier Partner
Cisco are Official Premier Digital Network Partner
CNN will be the official broadcaster for Dubai Expo 2020.
DP World - Premier Global Trade Partner

Emergency care services at Expo 2020 site

The emergency centre includes an isolation room, emergency care room, ambulances and helicopter services. Rob Cooling, vice president of health, safety and environment at Expo 2020 Dubai stated in a media interview that equipment and preventive measures are in place to manage emergencies. The centre is equipped to provide immediate care and stability in the 'golden hour'. The golden hour in emergency care means the first sixty minutes after an injury or illness when medical care may be most effective.

Developments

In November 2019, the UAE permitted Israeli passport holders to enter the country during Expo 2020. Israelis were allowed to have their own pavilion at the event and to even visit the country afterwards. In August 2020, the UAE and Israel agreed to fully normalize relations, superseding the previous agreement.

The French luxury brand Cartier was expected to set up a women-centric pavilion in association with prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in October 2020. Clooney was to lend her voice to the initiative to discuss the role of women in society and ways to tackle gender inequality, while celebrating female achievers.

World Chess Championship

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 World Chess Championship was rescheduled to take place Wed, Nov 24, 2021 – Thu, Dec 16, 2021 as part of Expo 2020 Dubai. The match will feature reigning World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway taking on challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, who was victorious in the 2020-21 Candidates Tournament.

Projects of Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai is said to be the largest event taking place in the UAE. It will be a celebration of human brilliance and accomplishment. Dubai Expo 2020 is a chance for people to connect from different corners of the globe, to experience the best art, culture, science, innovation, and invention, and to set into motion a huge number of new ideas and concepts that will make a permanent impression in our lives. With shopping avenues, Dubai is coming up with fabulous attractions to enhance tourism, particularly throughout Dubai Expo 2020.

Deira Islands
Museum Of The Future
Al Wasl Plaza
Aladdin City
Jewel Of the Creek
Dubai Frame
Dubai Water Canal Project

We all have the power to build a better world and shape the future. Discover what makes Expo 2020 Dubai unique and how we’re ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ through sustainability, mobility and opportunity.