Our Changed World Needs Expo 2020
The countdown is on to Expo 2020, and the UAE is demonstrating through action that it is ready to lead in the post-pandemic world.
By Xische Editorial, July 8, 2021
Source: angelbi88/Envato
The countdown is on! Expo 2020 is less than 100 days away and Dubai is gearing up to welcome the world. The world, however, is a much different place than we thought it would be when the Expo was originally envisioned for Dubai. Instead of shying away from the changed realities we all face, the UAE is embracing them for this Expo. In fact, the country is showing its leadership in the post-pandemic landscape having just secured its position as the world’s most vaccinated country.
This year’s Expo in Dubai will be the first time the world event is being held in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia. After a year of being physically disconnected because of the pandemic, the theme of the Expo is “connecting minds, creating the future.” Organizers are expecting more than 25 million visitors during the course of the event, which will last from the 1st of October to the 31st of March. Quite literally, the event will connect the world in new and creative ways.
Marking 100 days until the opening of the Expo, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, “Our success in hosting the world’s largest cultural event reflects the power of human solidarity in overcoming the pandemic. The global community is preparing for a new stage of collaboration by harnessing science and technology to combat the pandemic. Expo 2020 Dubai provides the platform for sharing knowledge and innovations.”
It’s easy to assume that preparations for the Expo come down to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place, the number of hotel rooms for guests is sufficient, and the right safety precautions have been set in motion. But this year, there is more to the preparations than the standard fare. That’s because the world is a fundamentally different and changed place. People everywhere are eager to experience the joy of being together in a shared physical space. The Covid-19 virus continues to mutate and devastate countries (especially in the Global South). By ensuring that its population is the most vaccinated in the world, the UAE is demonstrating through action that it is ready to lead in the post-pandemic world.
As such, the expo is a sort of test to see if the international community is ready to gingerly step back into the world of togetherness. If there was ever a better place for such an event, it would be the UAE. Preparing and handling the steady stream of visitors coming all from corners of the world will demonstrate the power of the country's efficient governance models. From AI-powered passport controls to the myriad of smart city technologies on display throughout Dubai, the past decades of infrastructure investment into cutting edge technologies will be incorporated into this year’s Expo. The UAE breathes innovation and it will be on full display as the world visits Dubai for the Expo.
Put simply, Expo 2020 is exactly what the world needs at this moment and Dubai is the perfect host for this pivotal event. As Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai reminded the media: “The scale and diversity of what Expo 2020 Dubai has to offer is remarkable, and a testament to the commitment, tenacity and collaborative spirit of each and every individual who has made this happen. Excitement is building, and we are ready to welcome everyone to an unmissable six-month celebration, the likes of which the world has yet to experience. No two days at Expo will be the same, and with so much on offer, every guest will be inspired to visit as many times as possible, to witness the collaborative power of innovation and collaboration and to join the making of a new world.”
We are indeed living in a new world and Expo 2020 is one of the first major events marking the emergence of this post-pandemic period. We can’t wait to explore the future in Dubai together.
