International Participant Meeting: Annual meeting for EXPO 2020 Dubai participants

Published: December 18, 2019

What is the preparation status for EXPO 2020 in Dubai at less than 11 months before the gates open? What will be the contribution of countries and organizations towards this world’s largest global platform for exchanging ideas, solutions and plans? Last weekend, almost 1,000 participants from almost 200 countries took part in the annual meeting of official EXPO 2020 Dubai participants. Poland was represented by the delegates of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, who are preparing our country’s participation in next year’s World Exhibition.

During the two-day conference, on November 29 and 30, the Organizers presented details of the process of building national pavilions and how events will be organized. In addition, marketing and communication, along with services for staff were discussed. The meetings were attended by representatives of EXPO 2020 Dubai authorities, headed by H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and General Director of the Expo 2020 Office in Dubai, Vicente G. Loscertales, the outgoing Secretary General of the World Exhibition Bureau, as well as Commissioners General of the participating countries, representatives of governments, official delegations and commercial partners.

The organizers have announced that construction works at the Exhibition are entering their final phase. Al Wasl Plaza is almost finished – a spectacular interactive ball-shaped building, with diameter of 160 meters, which will constitute the most representative building to deliver spectacular 360-degree multimedia projections. Work is also underway on the construction of the United Arab Emirates National Pavilion – a modern, moving falcon-shaped installation. Construction progress can be seen on improving the transport infrastructure in Dubai, including extension of the Metro Red Line.

Organizers in Dubai have given this event the slogan: “The World’s Greatest Show”. EXPO 2020 Dubai will take place from October 20, 2020 until April 10, 2021, under the slogan: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. The theme is developed by three sub-topics: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. The organizers emphasize the direct reference of EXPO 2020 to the original assumptions of the exhibitions, which since 1751 have been the largest forum for presenting scientific achievements, allowing to share knowledge and debate on global problems. The organizers estimate that the Dubai Exhibition will be visited by 18 million guests who will pay 25 million visits.