His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed the UAE's readiness to welcome the world to the largest event on the global agenda following the COVID-19 pandemic. This event serves as a platform to initiate a new era of international cooperation to overcome the challenges faced by the world with radical solutions that enable its people to resume development efforts and drive growth once again.
During his visit to the Expo 2020 Dubai site, one month before the event's launch with wide participation from various parts of the world, His Highness assured that the infrastructure projects for this global event, the largest in the history of the UAE, were complete. He praised the efforts of all the teams involved in Expo 2020 Dubai and the support provided by various local and federal government entities to ensure the success of this paramount event in the country and the region, what he described as an exceptional edition that will mark a significant milestone in the long history of expos, which began 170 years ago, and that befits the UAE's status as a partner in shaping the future.
"We look forward to welcoming delegations from 191 countries, international organizations, institutions, and global companies to work together for a better tomorrow for humanity," he stated. "Expo is an inspiring platform that supports the exchange of creative ideas and innovative visions to pave the way for the world to resume its path of progress. The event will provide creative energies with the opportunity to explore and activate new pathways for growth and prosperity, with the goal of shaping a future that enables peoples to achieve their aspirations for advancement and prosperity in a way that addresses existing and potential challenges."
His Highness, accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and President of the Emirates Group, and the Chair of the Higher Committee for Expo 2020 Dubai, reviewed the final preparations before the anticipated event, marking its first holding in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. He listened to a briefing from Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Office, about the efforts made to ensure the event is conducted in a manner befitting the UAE's reputation and position, building on the substantial experience Dubai has in hosting and succeeding in significant global events.
His Highness directed to provide all necessities to ensure the comfort of the event's guests, both exhibitors and visitors, and to guarantee the atmosphere needed to achieve the desired goals of the event, while also ensuring everyone's safety throughout the duration of the exhibition, continuing to apply proven effective procedures in holding major events in Dubai and the UAE, and introducing all necessary measures and services to allow exhibitors to gain maximum benefit from this massive gathering at its first appearance in the region.
During the visit, he explored new key landmarks constructed as part of the high-quality infrastructure for the Expo site, signifying their addition to Dubai and the UAE's unique urban landmarks. These included "Expo Waterfalls," offering visitors a uniquely creative experience through an innovative composition combining cascading water, fire formations, and accompanying musical pieces composed specifically for the waterfalls by a group of international composers, as well as the "Al-Furjan Garden," designed with a specific structure raised on a viewing tower that elevates the garden to a height of 55 meters, allowing visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of all Expo landmarks, including its pavilions and surrounding areas.
His Highness also inspected several main attractions within the Expo site, including "Al Wasl Plaza," which represents the heart of the Expo and connects the three thematic areas of focus: opportunity, mobility, and sustainability, featuring a distinctive design covered by a massive steel dome spanning 724,000 cubic meters and equipped with the latest projection technologies, becoming the world's largest 360-degree screen.
The visit included the "Command Building," from which all operations throughout the site, which covers an area of 4.38 square kilometers, will be monitored to ensure the smooth operation of all activities across the Expo's various pavilions and areas.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's tour of the Expo site included "Al Ghaf Avenue" and "The Knights' Garden," inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the UAE, in addition to several pavilions from participating countries from the Arab region and around the world, characterized by futuristic architectural designs that align with the goals and themes that Expo will focus on throughout its duration.
He listened during his site tour to an explanation about the programs set to launch on October 1, 2021, and continue until March 31, 2022, with the participation of 191 countries, in addition to numerous international bodies, institutions, companies, multilateral organizations, and educational institutions, all uniting for a shared goal: finding solutions to some of the major challenges facing our world.
His Highness also reviewed the array of services and facilities that Expo will provide for millions of visitors from around the world over the six months of diverse and rich events celebrating creativity, innovation, and creative thinking, in a bid to create new channels that support the progress of humanity and provide people with new hope for a future full of opportunities.
It is noteworthy that "Expo 2020 Dubai," under its motto "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," aims to build partnerships and inspire the world with ideas that outline the features of a better tomorrow. The three themes it focuses on—opportunity, mobility, and sustainability—represent the major driving forces of progress, with Expo 2020 Dubai adopting discussions around them to encourage the world to think about how to preserve our planet for future generations.
