The UAE has officially proposed that the World Expo 2020 Dubai be moved. They have put forward a potential start date of October 1, 2021, in light of the coronavirus pandemic and it has been approved by Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
The request was made in a letter addressed to Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
A statement from the BIE said: “In the letter, His Highness Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the UAE, seeks the postponement of the World Expo following in-depth discussions by the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee with the Organiser and the BIE on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and in solidarity with participating countries.”
The 173-day Expo was originally expected to run from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, and host a variety of architectural displays, from the flagship Al Wasl Plaza and thematic pavilions, to the 192 country pavilions at its 4.38km2 site. The global mega event will now run from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
The UAE has asked that it still uses ‘Expo 2020 Dubai’ as the official name of the event.
A request by the UAE for the expo to be postponed was approved by the BIE executive committee last month and put to members for a vote, which was conducted remotely in light of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said: “We have sought to build over the last 50 years bridges, connections, and partnerships around the world because we believe in genuine collaboration to safeguard the future of all. This swift and overwhelming vote reflects the strength of our international partnerships and truly reflects the positive role the UAE and Dubai play with all countries around the world.”
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