December 14, 2018 – The 2nd World Majlis of Expo 2020 Dubai (the “World Majlis”) was held at the WEM.

　　The “World Majlis”conducted in-depth discussions on the theme of " Cities, Future, Change，and World Expos as experiments in mega-change"

　　So, what are the contents and conclusions discussed at this meeting?

　　World Expo and Global Dialogue

　　Since the first Great Exhibition held in London in 1851, World Expos have connected people and providedspecial spaces to spark dialogue amongst those who are curious about the future. With its mix of art andscience, imagination and analysis, machines and ideas, nations and people, the Expo is a special place forconvening inquisitive minds to come together and explore the future. Expos have always been a mirrorof their time.

Great Exhibition 1851London

　　Inspired by the format and values of the traditional majlis, the World Majlis is an original format for open,informed and measured conversations between diverse thought leaders and change-makers with theobjective of helping us to explore and better understand areas of great significance for society frommultiple points of view. The goal of these conversations is to generate new perspectives and incubatemeaningful connections between people and new ideas.

　　The World Majlis is taking place in the UAE and internationally in the lead-up to and during Expo 2020,with the goal of opening new horizons around the theme and the subthemes. Hosted in culturally significant locations, these conversations are committed to an inclusive andconstructive dialogue of the highest quality in an environment that reflects the UAE’s tradition ofwelcome and respect…

Cities, Future

World Expos as experiments in mega-change

　　INTRODUCTION

　　With the World Expo Museum uniquely positioned to showcase the impact and essence of World Expos,and Expo 2020 Dubai striving to take forward the Expo spirit as theupcoming host, the World Majlis inShanghai was the perfect setting for a conversation about the impact of Expos on a city and its people,and what this could teach us for the future.

　　In a session that brought together experts on a range of topics including culture, urban planning andtechnology, as well as thought leaders from Expo host cities –past, present and future –the conversationsought to address the following question: How can Expos shape the future of urban living and influencethe long-term development of host cities and beyond?

　　“As the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,Expo 2020 has the potential to positively influence urban development acrossDubai, the UAE and the region as a whole. The insights generated during theWorld Majlis session in Shanghai will help shape this journey, making a meaningfulcontribution to the impact of the next World Expo on future cities.”

　　Najeeb Al-Ali, Executive Director, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau

　　KEY FINDINGS

　　Expos must be considered as part of the wider strategic vision and masterplan for a city’sdevelopment. Expo authorities, government and citizens must work closely together toachieve maximum impact from an Expo-driven transformation.

　　Expos can be a powerful catalyst not only for the development of infrastructure, but also

　　have a significant impact on people and communities .

　　We must take a holistic view when envisaging the Cities of the Future, ensuring the needsof all citizensare considered and the values of inclusivity, harmony and empathy aresupported.

2020 Dubai Expo site planning

　　“The insights shared by participants during the latest World Majlis session willprove invaluable as we push ahead with the development of District 2020 –aconnected, tech-enabled destination that will reuse 80 per cent of Expo 2020’sbuilt environment to create a future city in which people can connect, create andinnovate for generations to come.”Marjan Faraidooni, Senior Vice President, Legacy Development & Impact, Expo 2020 Dubai

　　LESSONS FROM THE PAST

　　Behind every Expo has been a vision for change, a vision of a new life for the host city, and a new placewithin the world order for the host country. This has been the case for almost two centuries, since thefirst Great Exhibition of 1851 spawned a new area of London that is still a global hub for world renownedcultural and academic institutions today.

　　In fact, World Expos can be considered one of the greatest cultural and urban experiments in history,providing over 170 years of cumulative experience in executing change at the city level, and realigning acity’s aspirations, infrastructure and people with a new future.

EXPO 2010 SHANGHAI

　　But what can we learn from them? Do we now have a blue print for a Better City, a Better Life? Or aroadmap for Creating the Future?

　　According to Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of the BIE, in order to be truly impactful,World Expos must be considered as part of the wider strategic vision and masterplan for a city’sdevelopment –they are not a means to an end, but rather an instrument or tool in catalysing growth. MrLoscertales gave the example of the 1998 Expo in Lisbon, which not only had a significant and lastingimpact on the country’s employment levels, tourism industry and econ

　　omy, but also catalysed thecomplete redesign of the previously neglected eastern part of the city. This redevelopment created anentire new neighborhood using components from the Exposite, with the former industrial wastelandnow the main business district of the city and popular residential area.Several participants also commented that a successful legacy vision also required support from a rangeof stakeholders, all working closely together to achieve and benefit from the maximum impact. Thisincludes not only Expo authorities, but also government and the citizens themselves.

　　“Integration between the government and citizens creates the best results aswas the case in Japan. Shanghai also showed what a World Expo can do for acity, where the citizens supported its vison during and after. These are examplesof some of the urban best practices that can inform how we continue to driveprogress on the journey to 2020 and beyond.”

　　Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General, Bureau International des Expositions

　　“The location of the Expo site is very important and needs to be considered inrelation to the long-term vision for the city. And many of these principles that we’retalking about today apply not only to World Expos but other events, such as theOlympic Games.”

　　Professor Joan Busquets, Chair Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the GSD, Harvard University

　　“The upcoming specialised exhibition will be held in 2023 in Buenos Aires and will bethe first Expo in Latin America. We will develop our neighborhoods to give all thecitizens the same opportunities with the Expo site being in the middle of the city.”

　　Hernán Santiago Lombardi, Secretary of Government of the Federal System of Public Media and Contents of Argentina

　　ACCELERATING GROWTH

　　History has shown us that Expos, and mega-events more generally, can be poweful catalysts when itcomes to existing plans for new infrastructure developments or enhancements. China provides twoclear examples of this –the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai saw a planned extension to the city’s metroaccomplished 25 years ahead of schedule, whilst the upcoming International Horticultural Expo in Beijinghas expedited the construction of a number of new highways, enhancing connectivity and improvingtraffic flows.These projects may be led at a government level, but the impact can be felt most strongly by the everyday citizens, and it is this that is driving the long-term vision for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

Japan becomes the host country of Expo 2025

　　“2025 will be the second time that Japan has hosted a World Expo and we know itcan be a powerful catalyst for socio-economic development. This is an opportunityfor us to try something new, and address the growing needs of a population that arenot only living longer lives, but wanting to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

　　Jun Kuroda, Deputy Director General, World Expo 2025, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

EXPO 1970 OSAKA

EXPO 1992 SEVILLE

　　The cutting-edge technology developed for or during an Expo can also become part of daily life for acity’s population. It may also continue to serve as ‘best practice’and inform future innovation.For example, the Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) railway originally developed to connect Madrileños tothe 1992 Expo in Seville is still widely considered to be one of the best examples of a high speed railwayin the world. It also continues to influence work on a range of areas, including ArtificalIntelligence.This will also be true of the innovations set to be unveiled at Expo 2020, including the first majorcommercial deployment of 5G services in the region.

　　“Shanghai gives us lots of examples of how the extraordinary technology developedfor an Expo can transform the lives of everyday people. I see a real opportunity forExpo 2020 to do the same.”

　　Dr Zhu Xiaoxun, Executive Vice President, Siemens Ltd., and Head of Siemens Corporate Technology, China

The 2019 World Horticultural Expo will be held in Beijing

　　“Now when you arrive in Shanghai, you can see that it is very convenient to goanywhere thanks to Shanghai Expo metro line which was the result of ShanghaiExpo. For the Beijing Horticulture Expo that will be held in 2019 in Beijing, you willsee a new international airport in Beijing which will become one of the biggest in thewhole world.”

　　Zhang Liang, Director of China Pavilion at Expo 2015 Milan, Vice President of CIEC

EXPO2015 MILAN

　　BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE – THE IMPACT

　　ON PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES

　　Whilst some may question the validity or relevance of a physical mega-event in today’s digital age,previous experience shows that the opportunities an Expo can offer for face-to-face connections cancreate a meaningful legacy for the people living in a host city. The impact created by human interactionsmay not be as tangible or immediate as infrastructure developments, but is no less powerful.

　　“Shanghai Expo not only brought about enhancements to the city’s infrastructure,but also led to significant change in the mind-set and behavior of its people. Thestreets became cleaner, people became better at queueing, public facilities becamemore hygienic…our societybecame more harmonious and more civilized.”

　　Hong Hao, Chairman, World Expo Museum.

　　“The first fast speed train linking Madrid and Seville was an outcome of the firstWorld Expo to take place in Spain in Seville ‘92. This change in the infrastructurecompletely changed the life of the average citizen in the country.”

　　Ambassador Eduardo Lopez Busquets, Former Deputy Commissioner, Expo Zaragoza 2008

　　Hosting an Expo can also provide an important opportunity for a city to position itself on the worldstage and align its global aspirations with a specific cause. The 1998 Lisbon Expo was cited as a goodexample of the importance of choosing a theme that was relevant to the city’s future aspirations. Underthe theme ‘The Oceans: A Heritage for the Future’, the Independent World Commission on the Oceanspresented a report at the Portuguese Pavilion, placing Portugal at the forefront of global efforts, andalso saw a number of maritime institutions relocate to Lisbon.

　　“The theme of each Expo has to be relevant to the host city and its people, notonly in terms of the content developed for the Expo period itself, but also whenenvisaging the long-term legacy.”

　　Rolando Martins, Chief Visitor Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai

　　BUILDING THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE – A HOLISTIC VIEW

Majlis

　　If we recognise that Expos, and mega events more generally, can catalysetransformations across arange of dimensions –economic, social and physical –we should also consider them in relation to theCities of the Future. What are the issues and priorities that need to inform an Expo’s strategic vision andlong-term legacy? Do these ‘guidelines’apply irrespective of whether a city is preparing for a megaeventor not?

　　One recurrent theme, first emerging during the recent Next Gen World Majlis held with UAE youth, wasthe importance of public spaces. Empathy, tolerance and inclusivity –components of a harmonious andcivilized society –are best driven by human interaction and cultural exchange. Physical spaces such asparks and public squares can provide the right setting for this.

　　When we are designing and developing the cities of the future, we need to take aholistic view. We need to consider the needs of citizens at every level of society -where are they going to live? How are they going to access everything they need?”

　　Michel Ogrizek, Former Director of Communications, World Economic Forum

　　“Cultural exchange is still so important and powerful and face-to-face, eye-to-eyeis still the most powerful way of doing this. It’s what we see, what we touch, whatwe hear and what we smell. Expos are a fantastic platform for this, and I am veryexcited to explore the UAE’s culture in 2020.”

　　Catherine J. Wang, President, Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival

Cooperation with schools for Expo 2020 Dubai

　　The economic fragility of mega-cities, where a significant percentrage of GDP isconcentrated, must alsobe considered. How can we ensure that the Cities of the Future are protected against the potentiallydevastating impact of external forces such natural disaster, epidemics and global economic crises?Participants also spoke about the need for new developments and infrastructure that are sympatheticto the existing landscape. Our ability to maintain a strong sense of cultural and historical identity reliesin part on our ability to find the fine balance between old and new.

　　And finally, with more than 40% of the world’s population under the age of 25, youth must be a prioritywhen we are envisaging the Cities of the Future. Employment and access to health and education, aswell as wider opportunities for empowerment and active participation must all be considered.

　　“A World Expo host city needs to work with a credible amount of companies,countries, and stakeholders. We [in UPS] expect to employ over 1000 people for theExpo 2020 Dubai only. For us as an organisation, this is an excellent opportunityto train young people to deal with international organisations on multiple levelsacross a global culture and structure which is an opportunity you cannot give toyoung people very often.”

　　Harld Peters, President, UPS China

　　QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS

　　In today’s fast paced and increasingly efficient world, how can we slow down and create‘kinder’cities?

　　How can Expos shape the future of urban living and influence the long-term developmentof host cities and beyond?

　　How can we ensure that the Cities of the Future are protected against the potentiallydevastating impact of external forces such natural disaster, epidemics and global economiccrises?

　　THE WAY FORWARD

　　Expo 2020 Dubai will integrate the knowledge and outcomes of this World Majlis to inform furtherconversations before and during the next World Expo.