On visit to Expo 2020 site, Mohammed bin Rashid urges delivery of infrastructure on time 1st add

At the outset of the tour, Sheikh Mohammed watched a mega miniature of the expo and its surrounding building and facilities at Dubai South.

HH approved the latest architectural design of the expo building and associated area which spans more than 23 hectares where site preparation work has already begun.

Sheikh Mohammed then heard a detailed presentation by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, on the major milestones on preparation for the expected world's mega event. Al Hashemi dwelt on three main tracks - construction and site preparation, corporate initiatives under the co-operative platform, and trade partnerships, co-operative initiatives and stakeholders.

The expo site would be an icon for investment, tourism and entertainment as it constitutes a national, historical legacy for the UAE people and the generations to come, she said.

"We have a clear-crystal vision for the event, site, legacy and the master development plan of the historical, cultural and tourist landmark which is now under construction. We have contacts with the confirmed and potential participants. We have also signed a participation agreement with the first exhibitor,'' she said, and added that the nations and organisations that take part in expo, and the millions who visit, will explore the power of connections across the spheres of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability - the three subthemes.

Before departing from the site, Sheikh Mohammed exchanged talks with the teamwork, urging them to stay the course of diligence, hard work and innovation. HH then signed the first page on the honour book of Expo 2020 in a sign of optimism.

Between October 2020 and April 2021, Dubai will host the next world's largest exhibition which is expected to attract an international audience of 25 million visitors under the theme: ?Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'.

The initial development of the 4.38 km2 site commenced in September.

Among the initiatives launched by the expo organisers were the BusinessConnect, a series of workshops to engage the business community and discuss the opportunities available to them as a result of hosting Expo 2020. The inaugural BusinessConnect workshop was opened in September 2015. Expo Dubai also unveiled YouthConnect, the first in a long-lasting and wide-ranging series highly interactive and empowering forums designed by youth for youth, in November 2015.

In March, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum unveiled the official logo of Dubai Expo 2020 at an event held at The Dubai Fountain at the Dubai Mall.

The new logo is inspired by a 4000 year-old piece of jewelry found at ?Saroug Al Hadeed', an ancient archeological site discovered by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in 2002 in the Al Marmum area.

Organisers also expected the private sector to play a major role in the Expo project. Expo 2020 Dubai has signed up three Premier Partners, Emirates Airline, Etisalat and DP World in a series of deals worth hundreds of millions of US Dollars.