A total of 190 countries have confirmed their participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, confirming its position as a global destination and bringing to life the World Expo’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
With just under 700 days to go until Expo 2020’s opening ceremony, the milestone means that Expo has already surpassed the 180-nation commitment set out in its successful 2013 bid to host a World Expo for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The announcement comes on the opening day of Expo 2020’s third International Participants Meeting (IPM), which will see hundreds of delegates from around the world gather in Dubai to receive information and updates on the delivery of the biggest event to ever be held in the Arab world.
“In less than two years’ time, Expo 2020 Dubai will welcome the international community to the UAE for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress, allowing millions of people to experience the world in one place,” said Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau.
She explained that securing 190 international participants already is further testament to the UAE’s stature on the international stage and demonstrates the world’s confidence in the UAE’s ability to bring the world together.
“Expo 2020 offers an opportunity for countries from every corner of the planet to showcase their cultures, ideas and innovations to millions of visitors, and every participating nation will play an important role in the delivery of an exceptional World Expo,” she added.
This year’s IPM will cover a wide range of topics relating to the design, delivery and content of country pavilions. The agenda will include updates on site progress and details of how Expo 2020 is supporting the participant journey, as well as information sessions and panel discussions involving participating nations.
“As the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, the UAE and Dubai has been working to create a platform to foster creativity, innovation and partnership globally. In the next few days, Expo 2020 Dubai will take us through all the aspects of the preparation and implementation to deliver a transformative event that will have a significant impact on the host city and nation, youth and the world,” commented Vicente G Loscertales, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos.
For the first time in the 167-year history of World Expos, each participating country will have its own pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, giving all nations the opportunity to showcase their achievements, innovations, cultures and long-term visions to the world. Country pavilions will also be organized according to Expo 2020’s key sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, rather than geographically – another World Expo first.
With 25 million visits expected between October 2020 and April 2021, and 70 per cent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the history of World Expos – Expo 2020 Dubai will bring the international community together for a six-month celebration of human ingenuity and progress.
