» By: Bashar Akram
The importance of the زWorld Expo 2020س in Dubai does not stem from the fact that it is the first international expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region only, but as the largest extraordinary event in order to shape a better tomorrow for humanity and celebrate the cultures of the world and their contributions to the path of human development and making the future.
With the UAEصs pledge to present an exhibition that will remain immortal in memory by stimulating innovative ideas, building international, regional and national partnerships, and finding appropriate solutions to the world’s major challenges, immediate and future challenges to achieve a better and brighter future, with the start of a new decade in human history.
Civilized rally
While Dubai seeks to make this important civilized rally bigger, better and more important among all previous editions of the World Expo series, Expo 2020 is set to realize unprecedented records, especially in the diversity of posts, where there will be more than 200 participants from countries, international organizations, international companies and educational institutions. To date, 192 countries have confirmed their participation in independent pavilions for the first time in the history of the International Expo.
Historical achievement
The story of زExpo 2020 Dubaiس began on the evening of Wednesday, the twenty-seventh of November 2013, when the capabilities, aspirations and hopes united together to achieve the UAEصs historic achievement when it won the hosting of the international event in the French capital Paris, during which delegates of 165 member states of the International Bureau of Exhibitions, the responsible authority of organizing Expo exhibitions and supervising the host countries, to choose the winning country, as the UAE hosting offer strongly defeated the other offers.
The International Expo is one of the largest international events on earth, and is held every five years and lasts for six months. It is a celebration for everyone, through which learning, innovation and progress can be made while enjoying sharing ideas and working together.
Expo 2020 is expected to attract 25 million visits, and 70% of visitors will be from outside the UAE. This is the largest percentage of international visitors in the history of the International Expo for nearly 170 years.
During the exhibition, which is considered a milestone and one of the most anticipated international events during the current year, 60 live shows will be held in each of its 173 days, and it will have rich experiences with tastes and foods from more than 200 outlets selling food and drinks during the global event.
Connecting Minds
Under its main slogan, زConnecting Minds and Making the Future,س Expo Dubai seeks to build partnerships between people and be a source of dazzle and inspiration for ideas that will shape the world of tomorrow with hosting the most thoughtful and creative leaders and writers in the world.
This slogan comes as an initiative from the UAE to the world in order to create opportunities, innovations, solutions and partnerships that will be of direct benefit to people. Three sub-topics will be presented during this major event, which is “mobility”, “opportunities” and “sustainability”.
The innovative sub-topics are the three engines of human progress. They also carry challenges that cast a shadow over the entire world and require everyone to pay attention and commitment to providing realistic and practical solutions to the world’s problems.
Opportunities
The topic of opportunities stems from the fact that everyone has the ability to shape the future of tomorrow, and “Expo 2020” sought to unleash the potential of individuals and societies by many means, such as supporting a solution to a social problem through the “Expo Life” program, and such as making new ideas available to visitors and inspiring them to initiate in steps or leave a legacy of joint action.
Mobility
Expo 2020 allows greater circulation of knowledge, ideas and goods, which causes it to unveil a new world. It explores how deep ocean diving and spaceflight were permitted to gain insights and exchange views and how humankind has made tremendous strides greater than ever thanks to advances in digital communication.
Sustainability
As the planet’s population grows, the need to live in harmony and balance with the world is more urgent than ever.
It is essential that the exhibition be one of the pioneers of alternative resources for food, water, clean and renewable energy. Expo 2020 embraces these issues and urges everyone to think about how to preserve the planet for future generations.
Al Wasl Square
Al Wasl Square is the main milestone in the heart of the Expo 2020 Dubai site, its central hub, and its roof forms the largest 360-degree display in the world, and will host a number of huge events and celebrations during and after the event.
The dome of the circular square will be a giant screen, providing an immersive 360-degree viewing experience, which can be seen inside and outside.
The steel dome covers an area of 16 tennis courts, and weighs the equivalent of 500 elephants. The height of the dome of Al Wasl Square reaches 67.5 meters, which is ten meters higher than the leaning tower of Pisa, and with a diameter of 130 meters, the dome of Al Wasl Square accommodates two aircraft of the aircraft type The A380 supercomputer, the world’s largest passenger transport double-decker plane.
The construction works have been completed in the 3 subject areas, which include 86 multi-use buildings distributed over 3 petals, which are opportunities, sustainability and mobility, which represent the three topics of Expo, and completion certificates were received from Dubai Municipality.
By next April, all mobility, sustainability and opportunity pavilions will be completed, after which the trial run will be launched until next September.
60 Activities
Expo 2020 extends over an area of 4.38 km in Dubai South. It is close to Al Maktoum International Airport, and is easily accessible from Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport, and from the ports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The site will have a metro station capable of carrying 36,000 passengers per hour.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority is planning to finish the final stages of the implementation of the Dubai Metro Route 2020 project, which is expected to be officially opened at the end of May, the track that will link the current Nakheel Harbor and Tower station with the Expo site.
The Track 2020 project was awarded to the “Expolink” alliance, which includes French and Spanish companies at a cost of 10.6 billion dirhams, as it works on implementing the project to ensure the highest levels of comfort for metro users, within the specified time frame.
Economic effects
Expo is expected to create important employment opportunities, trade and investment opportunities as well, not only for Dubai and the Emirates, but also for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region, leaving sustainable economic impacts.
The exhibitionصs positive impact on the UAEصs relations with the world, as well as its local economic impact, which is paving the way for more business between local companies and their international counterparts,
An independent study published by the international company, “Ernst & Young”, working in the field of financial auditing and consulting services, stated that the UAE’s investment in the exhibition will return an economic revenues of 122.6 billion dirhams during the period from 2013 to 2031, while supporting job opportunities totaling 905 thousands, and 200 years of work during the same period.
The study indicated that during the six months of Expo activities, the event is expected to contribute up to 1.5% of the UAE’s GDP.
”Expo 2020” … the biggest
celebration
The “Expo Dubai 2020” is a world celebration, the largest of its kind in the history of the World Expo, and its visitors will be amazed by many impressive events throughout its days.
The three Expo pavilions, “Opportunities”, “Mobility” and “Sustainability”, will inspire visitors to create a space for innovation and creativity and provide an atmosphere of optimism that can make a lasting positive impact in the world.
its worth-mentipning that Expo2020 will include 192 National Pavilions.
