Over 24 million visits recorded at recently concluded Expo 2020 Dubai

Over the course of the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai which opened to the public on October 1 and concluded on March 31, there were 24,102,967 visits recorded, according to state news agency WAM.

“We owe our sincere gratitude and respect to everyone who has come together to become part of this – from our 30,000-strong volunteer force, to the dedicated Expo Tribe, our participants and partners, and of course the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee. This has been a truly collective effort and a shining manifestation of our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’,” said Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai.

It was the first world expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the first to be hosted by an Arab nation.

According to a report commissioned by Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Dubai in January 2022 increased to Dhs460 compared to Dhs293 in January 2021, marking an increase of 56.3 per cent and outperforming Milan, the host city for Expo 2015, which recorded RevPAR of 54.5 per cent in 2015.

There were 759 hotels and hotel establishments accounted for in Dubai in January 2022 compared to 711 in January 2021, while guest nights in January were at 3.04 million during the same month this year compared to 2.65 million in January 2021.

Read: Today is not the end of Expo 2020, but a new beginning – Sheikh Mohammed

Arrivals at Dubai International Airport recorded growth of 12.7 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020, while the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade jumped 27 per cent over 2020 and 11 per cent over 2019, a growth trend largely driven by Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Expo also proved a boon to businesses within Dubai. The report found that 76.5 per cent of companies in Dubai registered growth in their businesses during Expo 2020, while 73.5 per cent managed to build new business relations over the course of the Expo.

In terms of services provided by Dubai Chamber during the event, 70.6 per cent of respondents to the survey conducted as part of the report said they benefitted from networking, 47 per cent benefitted from the Global Business Forum series and 47 per cent benefitted from B2B meetings.

6 months of culture, creativity, the meeting of minds and shaping the future. #Expo2020Dubai is one of the biggest success platforms, and the beginning of a lot of future achievements through which Dubai will astound the world. pic.twitter.com/YMjRuu2CJ6

— Latifa MR Al Maktoum (@LatifaMRM) April 1, 2022

Titled, ‘Business Integration for Growth, Digital Transformation and Global Partnerships’ the report was developed by the Chamber in collaboration with the Oxford Business Group.

In total, Dubai Chamber of Commerce organised 98 events during Expo 2020 Dubai, which were attended by more than 25,000 participants from over 130 countries.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce facilitated 1,500 bilateral business meetings between UAE investors and their global counterparts, and received 1,746 visiting delegations from over 60 countries during the event, which were joined by 3,350 government and business leaders.

Seven new economic and professional bodies were licensed by the Dubai Association Centre, which was established in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the Dubai Economy and Tourism and Dubai World Trade Centre.

“Our goal is to be the best chamber in the world when it comes to driving competitiveness and growth. At Expo 2020 Dubai, we have been able to put this mission and vision into action. Our efforts in supporting the mega-event have helped to strengthen Dubai’s reputation as a place to do business,” said Hamad Buamim, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers.