Power Letters 2021: Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, executive director, commissioner general office, Expo 2020 Dubai

As we emerge from the shadows of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for a World Expo has never been greater. Expo 2020 Dubai will be a vital, timely platform to bring the world together, in a spirit of hope and optimism and a unified purpose to inspire solutions towards some of our biggest challenges – from climate change to equal access to education, digitalisation and healthcare, to enabling meaningful, long-term business and economic growth in our region and beyond.

While the pandemic may have forced us to delay our megaevent by a year, our work continues unabated. The sustained commitment of Expo’s international participants – as evidenced by their contribution to virtual meetings and events, and through furthering partnerships that are already adding value to the UAE and the world – is not only humbling, but it also highlights how important it is for us all to come together to share new ideas for a better world.

To that end, we have announced significant collaborations in 2020. These include joining forces with DP World and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to spur worldwide animal
and habitat conservation; participation in Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition, a climate action and five-year forestation plan; and, together with DP World, becoming a Global Alliance founding partner of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

In the UAE, we have always embraced challenges and achieved the seemingly impossible while maintaining our values of tolerance, inclusivity, generosity and togetherness. Our World Expo, running from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, is a reflection of these principles, and will play a crucial role in welcoming a more resilient and better future for everyone.

Hosted in one of the world’s most dynamic and future-focused economies, located at an international gateway, Expo 2020 will attract millions of visitors and more than 200  participants – including countries, multilateral organisations, educational establishments and companies – on a collaborative platform that is committed to pursuing tangible opportunities for international trade and investment.

It will offer a world of connections, inspiring multi-cultural exchanges and business partnerships that will help reinvigorate the economy of the UAE, the region and the world. Our mega-event’s carefully curated programming calendar will make use of a purpose-built 4.38 sqkm site with cutting-edge smart-city technology, including ultra-fast 5G connectivity, robotics, and next-generation urban environment transportation and management services. This will help drive new meaning to conversations, over both the physical and digital worlds.

Expo 2020 is a long-term investment for the future, with 80 per cent of its infrastructure living on as part of District 2020, a smart mixed-use urban environment designed to  promote an innovation-driven business ecosystem and balanced lifestyle.

Ultimately, our World Expo will deliver a meaningful legacy by contributing to both domestic and international economies, by bringing the world together in a spirit of optimism
and providing a catalyst to a more stable, sustainable and diversified economy. It will also unlock solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time and, as a result, drive a positive impact for people and the planet.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s founding, Expo 2020 will continue the ambitious vision of the UAE, showcasing Dubai as a world-leading city of the future.