EXPO 2020 Vision
Dubai still on track
to welcome the future
Shaun Vorster, Vice-President, Commercial, EXPO 2020
Dubai, gives EW some exclusive insights into the hard work
being done by the organisers
What is the current stage of the
event infrastructure construction
and preparations for EXPO 2020
Dubai?
All permanent EXPO-led construction
was completed by the end of last year.
This includes the Thematic Districts
(which were completed in May 2019),
the permanent Thematic Pavilions
and Al Wasl Plaza – the jewel of
the EXPO 2020 site and where the
opening and closing ceremonies and
other key events will take place.
We are in the process of fitting
out the completed buildings and
soft-scaping the EXPO 2020 site,
which includes planting hundreds of
thousands of trees and plants – most
of which are native – that have been
cultivated in our on-site nursery.
Country Pavilions are progressing
well, with Finland, Germany and
Hungary having already topped-out
their structures.
How much has been invested in
the project and what have been the
main challenges in delivering it to
date?
EXPO 2020 is a long-term investment.
We are committed to delivering an
exceptional EXPO on budget. EXPO
2020’s apex budget is AED25 billion
(US$6.8bn).
Hosting a World Expo is a
monumental task. The challenges
are highly complex requiring global
expertise and experience across a
vast number of fields. In addition,
dozens of local and federal entities
– and indeed the nation as a whole
– are coming together to ensure
that Dubai and the UAE are ready to
welcome millions of visitors and host
an exceptional World Expo.
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For example, Dubai authorities
have implemented huge
infrastructure upgrades via major
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
projects, including new roads and the
Dubai Metro extension that will take
users directly to the door of EXPO
2020.
Meanwhile, Dubai Health Authority
is working with other government
entities and private healthcare
providers to ensure a safe and
healthy environment.
Tell us about the organiser’s
expectations in terms of visitor
numbers?
EXPO 2020 Dubai expects to welcome
25m visits during the six-month
event. Wer have more than 200
participants including 192 countries,
plus organisations, businesses and
educational institutions.
Strategic marketing initiatives
include the ‘Welcome the Future’
campaign; the debut campaign by
EXPO 2020 Dubai Global Ambassador
and Argentina and Barcelona football
icon Lionel Messi; and the ‘Be There’
campaign voiced by American rapper,
producer and creative innovator
will.i.am.
Tell us about the key themes of
EXPO 2020.
Expo 2020’s theme, ‘Connecting
Minds, Creating the Future’, is the
belief that innovation and progress
are the result of people and ideas
coming together in new ways. Our
sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility
and Sustainability are areas that we
see as fundamental in shaping our
world, helping unlock the potential
for individuals and communities to
DEC and Informa to
deliver EXPO 2020 events
EXPO 2020 Dubai has a wide-ranging agreement
with global organizer Informa that will bring
some of the region’s major business and
entertainment events to Dubai Exhibition Centre
(DEC) during the world EXPO.
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director,
Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “Informa will be
bringing some of the most exciting and popular
events in Dubai to the DEC, enabling visitors to
enhance their experience with all that EXPO 2020
has to offer.”
Peter Hall, President of Informa Markets in
Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Informa
has been operating in the Middle East, with
Dubai as its hub, for over 25 years. Dubai has
established itself as a global meeting point for
business, and we have enjoyed enormous success
thanks in no small part to the Emirate’s drive
for world-class infrastructure and experiences,
which EXPO 2020 is set to build upon.”
Other Informa-organised events at DEC include
NAJAH (1-2 November 2020), an annual higher
education student recruitment fair involving
international universities; the Seatrade Maritime
Middle East exhibition and awards, as well as
Terminal Operator Conferences during UAE
Maritime Week 2020 (6-10 December 2020); and
the Leaders in Healthcare conference (dates to be
announced next year).
All EXPO 2020-built structures are designed to
achieve at least LEED Gold certification.
EXPO 2020 will also have 30,000 volunteers
from a wide range of ages, nationalities and
backgrounds and they will be working over the
4.38 sqkm site, which is located adjacent to the Al
Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South.
EXPO 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to
take place in the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and
South Asia) region.
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk