His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, expressed his pride and honor in hosting 192 countries whose representatives gathered to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai on the land of tolerance and the country of the impossible. He emphasized the importance of this global meeting for addressing worldwide challenges based on strong international cooperation that humanity has proven to need amid rapid changes.
In exclusive statements to "Al-Bayan" the day before the international event opened in the UAE, His Highness noted that the journey of ten years to organize the largest international event lasting six months, with a historic number of participations from 192 countries, represents the pinnacle of national pride and global trust in the UAE. He highlighted that the people of the UAE have repeatedly demonstrated exceptional capabilities in excelling at any task they undertake in service of humanity, proving to the world that the UAE is a fruitful tree whose shade extends to all aspirants for a better future on this planet.
As the international event commenced, His Highness remembered the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God rest their souls. He stated, “This is your planting; this global trust is a result of your vision and determination to overcome difficulties and challenges. The world today draws inspiration from that vision; civilization cannot be built or rise without challenges. This was the first and most important lesson we learned from you, and we pass it on to future generations, showcasing this achievement and the wonder created by the people of the UAE.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added that the approach led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and followed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has raised the ambitions of the UAE to limitless heights. The determination, persistence, and willpower of the people of the UAE reflect a return to resuming civilization in the region, participating in humanity's progress, focusing on development, and proving that the peoples of this region are capable of achieving the impossible.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the UAE has worked for a decade to fulfill its promise of organizing a historic and unprecedented Expo, and now it delivers a promise of an event that will live on in humanity's memory not only for its grandeur but also for setting a global agenda to seek solutions to today’s challenges, such as environmental issues, energy, education, health, and poverty. This includes utilizing science, technology, and innovation to positively impact and transform the lives of people for the better.
He extended a welcoming salute to the participants, stating, “You are in your home, and our development experience is at your disposal and service. Today, we gather in Expo City, the city of the world, to jointly shape a better future for generations. Our destiny is intertwined, and our peoples expect us to elevate effective cooperation to change their reality toward a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow. We aim to establish a roadmap for the most important economic, developmental, and cultural directions for the post-COVID-19 phase. We hope that the launch of this event serves as a global day and a birth certificate for cooperation, tolerance, and peace, bringing hands together in an alliance that benefits everyone justly and fairly.”
In his message to visitors from around the globe, His Highness said, “This UAE is your country, a bridge of peace and tolerance for all the peoples of the earth. This is an opportunity for everyone to discover one another in the largest human gathering of experiences, ideas, cultures, and achievements, to learn about our commonalities, and to recognize that diversity is a strength that makes civilizational communication and human interaction unprecedentedly effective for uplifting the values of goodness, giving, and cooperation. It reaffirms that humanity, in its solidarity, overcomes any challenges. This is an opportunity to establish an international cooperation system whose impact reaches everyone without exception. The encounter that kicks off today with you is the ideal platform to confirm the importance of human solidarity and cooperation, which is irreplaceable, and it presents the unprecedented experience that the world needs today.”
Regarding the team that prepared for the largest international event over the past ten years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid expressed, “You have raised our heads, excelled, and amazed us, and the world thanks you. Each one of you deserves a special salute from me. It is your right to be proud, and it is our right to boast about you to the world. You are stars in the sky, exemplars in organization and giving. You are a national treasure and a global icon—50,000 employees and 30,000 volunteers—who have risen to the occasion. You believed in the national vision as a work creed, and the results we see today amaze the world, elevating the name of the UAE to heights of glory. This is our commitment to you. You are the team of the impossible, whom the people of the UAE take pride in and a crown above all heads.”
