Expo 2020 Dubai updates market on preparations progress - Final add
XXXevent 5. Bureau Expo Dubai 2020 The Bureau Expo Dubai 2020 has been working closely with government officials at the federal and emirate level to keep them fully apprised of all Expo-related developments and initiatives. To date, the Bureau has held approximately 50 meetings with government officials to raise awareness for Expo 2020 Dubai across relevant government departments and to discuss areas for collaboration.
The Bureau Expo Dubai 2020 Bureau was established in 2014 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The decree by His Highness declared the Bureau responsible for the delivery of the mega-event. Within the Bureau, 'Expo 2020 Dubai LLC' is involved in developing the site and running all operations. Meanwhile 'Expo Volunteers' is tasked with building relationships with third parties such as the expected 30,000 volunteers that will help to run Expo.
A total of 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed between Expo 2020 Dubai and other organisations, to increase the impact of the mega-event and its legacy. In June 2016, an MoU was signed with Dubai SME and Tejari, to allow SMEs that are registered with these organisations to be positioned to submit proposals for the billions of dirhams of contracts that Expo 2020 will be putting out in the coming years.
In addition to the Bureau's involvement in the delivery and operations of the mega-event, it also acts as a liaison with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) - the governing body for World Expos - to keep it abreast of the preparations. Two meetings have been held with the BIE during this period, including a technical visit to the site in April, and the most recent BIE Executive Committee meeting in Paris in June 2016. Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Bureau Expo Dubai 2020, spoke at the Assembly, updating the 169 member countries on the event's progress. Expo will hold ongoing meetings with the BIE including the next General Assembly in November 2017.
By hosting Expo 2020 Dubai, and with the participation of more than 200 countries, companies and NGOs the event will be an ideal platform for institutions that have worked and are working on the development of the UAE from different levels, through connected minds in order to enhance the positioning of the UAE, and to ensure a continuous progress." - Najeeb Al Ali, Executive Director Bureau Expo 2020 Dubai (July 2016) 6. Building a World-Class Team Expo 2020 Dubai has assembled a talented team of world-class individuals from the UAE and across the globe to work together towards realising the vision of the mega-event, in line with the theme of 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'.
There are currently 140 employees: a. In keeping with the future-looking vision of the mega-event and its commitment to empowering younger generations, nearly two-thirds these employees are younger than 40 years and will gain valuable experience that will help in their future careers b. There is an approximate 50-50 gender split, in line with the inclusive spirit of the mega-event There are a further 136 Project Management Consultancy (PMC) staff, making the size of the current Expo team 276 (excluding contractors).
The Human Resources (HR) team has launched the Expo 2020 Careers Website and has implemented an Applicant Tracking System to streamline the job matching process.
New employees benefit from an Induction Programme and Buddy System. A Wellness Programme has also been implemented, with the objective of improving the wellbeing, health and working environment of staff.
During the past eight months, the HR team has overseen nine training initiatives for Expo staff, including career development training that will help individuals with their future job prospects, contributing to the mega-event's educational legacy. Six training sessions have been held to date, and the focus has been on developing individuals' capacity to meet operational requirements. Training has been organised into three phases named Ready, Steady and Go, that support each individual in the delivery of their objectives.
The Expo team participated in Careers UAE as part of their drive to recruit high-calibre talent. Expo's Emiratisation Strategy aims to hire and develop UAE national talent, and build a new 'mega-event' skill set within the UAE national workforce.
7. Cultural Interactions Expo's Culture team has led a number of important initiatives over the past eight months. These have included idea-sharing and brainstorming sessions with UAE artists, creatives and historians about the role of culture in the mega-event. Expo has also sought views from local experts about their aspirations for the broader vision of Expo 2020 Dubai.
In March 2016, the Culture department participated in Dubai's Art Season. At the SIKKA Art Fair, Expo collaborated in a gallery-style exhibition showcasing 21 sculptures, designed by leading global, regional and local talent and were conceptualised to express the essence of Expo 2020 Dubai and its three sub-themes. Expo 2020 Dubai's Culture team also participated at the Art Dubai exhibition with a photography exhibit entitled 'Of Clouds and Clocks', which showcased photographs of Expo theme-inspired scenery.
Commercial The realisation of the vision of Expo 2020 Dubai is facilitated by drawing from the knowledge and expertise of a range of stakeholders, in keeping with the mega-event's theme of 'Connecting Minds Creating the Future'. Expo 2020 Dubai has made progress in the important commercial elements of this process including the signing of partnerships, developing Expo 2020 Dubai's brand strategy, and engaging with potential participants.
1. Procurement Building engagements and partnerships are at the heart of Expo 2020's mission. Expo 2020 Dubai continues to focus on world-class event delivery and is continuing to partner with leading firms to prepare, build and operate the first mega-event of its kind in the region.
More than 8,000 local and international companies have registered on Expo 2020 Dubai's dedicated eSourcing procurement portal since its launch in April 2015.
The total value of all contracts and purchase orders to date is circa AED 1.95 billion. International companies and SMEs continue to be encouraged to register through international trade delegations, supplier engagement events, and publication of the registration guidelines and opportunities.
Countries outside the UAE that have so far been most actively engaged on the portal include the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, the United States and India.
The scale and complexity of a global mega-event means that the services these contractors bring will contribute to the success of the event. These procurement partnerships will leave behind a legacy of skills and expertise that will contribute to the UAE's ongoing economic diversification - part of Expo 2020 Dubai's planned legacy.
2. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) In June 2016, Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai SME, and strategic procurement company Tejari signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to broaden access for thousands of SMEs in the emirate to tender opportunities. The agreement was aimed at boosting SMEs' ability to be part of Expo 2020 Dubai, in line with the UAE's strategy to increase the contribution of SMEs to the non-oil GDP within the broader Dubai 2021 Vision.
More than 3,100 SMEs are registered on the eSourcing procurement portal and have been awarded 320 orders to date.
In August 2016, Expo 2020 Dubai announced that 20% of its total direct and indirect spend, representing more than AED 5 billion in contracts, will be allocated to SMEs, both local and international. At the same time, the procurement process was modified to allow SMEs to bid more competitively, including a proposal validity of 60 days, no tender bonds required, no advanced payment guarantee required, 50% advanced payment for goods/materials, 25% advanced payment for services, and a commitment to 30 days' payment from receipt of an approved invoice.
3. Brand and Visual Identity An important part of the identity of the Expo is the official logo, which was unveiled to the public in March 2016 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The launch event, at the Burj Khalifa, drew a crowd in the tens of thousands.
The official logo replaced the bid logo as Expo 2020 moved past the bid phase to the execution phase. Expo 2020 Dubai's visual identity will have a real and lasting value not just as a symbol for mega-event itself, but for its stakeholders and partners as well. The new logo holds commercial value for Expo 2020 Dubai, particularly across tiers of partnerships and associations. Expo will work to ensure the appropriate use of the brand and restrict unofficial use. This will protect and preserve the equity and commercial value of being associated with Expo 2020 Dubai and ensure a lasting legacy for the partners' investment.
4. Commercial Partnerships Expo 2020 Dubai's Partnership Programme benefits participating companies with global brand exposure, while connecting with the more than 25 million visitors that Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to attract. Expo 2020 Dubai's Partnership Programme offers three tiers of partnerships: Premier Partners, Official Partners and Official Providers.
There will be a maximum of 12 Premier Partners, who will have access to exclusive rights and benefits with Expo 2020 Dubai, including the ability to use the Expo 2020 Dubai logo, licensing and merchandising rights and the chance to be involved in Expo's communication and promotional activities. Expo organisers are seeking to recruit up to 15 Official Partners over the next year, and the Official Providers programme will launch in 2018.
Expo 2020 Dubai's aspiration is for all Partnerships to facilitate commercial activities that reflect the organisation's overarching theme of 'Connecting Minds Creating the Future' and three sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. These partner organisations will play an integral role in connecting Expo 2020 with global participants, visitors and other international stakeholders, and will ensure the transformative legacy of the mega-event, the first for the MEASA region.
Three Premier Partnerships have been announced to date and Expo 2020 Dubai is delighted to have the active support of these leading UAE companies, which have grown to become global brands: a. Emirates Airline: In May 2016, Expo 2020 Dubai announced Emirates Airline as its Official Airline Partner. As Expo 2020's first Premier Partner, Emirates Airline will play a key role in bringing visitors to the event. Emirates' strong global brand and marketing efforts, and its extensive route network to over 150 destinations means that it is uniquely situated to support Expo 2020 Dubai in attracting 25 million visitors, 70 per cent of whom are expected to travel internationally to visit the Expo.
b. Etisalat: In June 2016, Expo 2020 Dubai announced its second Premier Partnership with Etisalat - the UAE's leading international telecoms and technology service provider. Thanks to this world-class partnership, the site of Expo 2020 Dubai will be one of the fastest, smartest, and best-connected places in the world during the global mega-event. Etisalat will be involved in creating the infrastructure for the Expo site, enabling Expo 2020 Dubai to provide visitors and participants with a cutting-edge, immersive digital experience. Etisalat will also provide onsite Wi-Fi capabilities for up to 300,000 people on the site each day, during operations.
c. DP World: Also in June 2016, Expo 2020 Dubai named DP World, one of the world's biggest port operators, as its Premier Global Trade Partner. Expo's partnership with DP World means that countries participating in Expo 2020 will be able to use ports in their home countries and Jebel Ali Port for their transport requirements as they prepare to take part in the event. The agreement will also offer opportunities for DP World to enhance its international profile and build partnerships with the event's participants.