Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau

　　The next World Expo will be an “exceptional” event, Member States were told by Organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai during the 166th session of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on 27 November.With less than 11 months until the opening of the Expo, the Executive Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, informed the General Assembly that the Expo 2020 team, which currently has 1,200 employees, is “working around the clock to ensure we host an exceptional World Expo that leaves visitors amazed and inspired for years to come”.

　　Beginning with preparations on the site, Mr. Al-Ali announced that all Expo 2020-built infrastructure is now complete, with major pavilions in the final stages of construction. These include the Al Wasl dome, the centrepiece of the Expo site, which was crowned in September, as well as Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion – which is “pushing the boundaries of sustainable design” with 9,300m2 of solar panels and ‘e-trees’.

　　Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion, under construction at Expo 2020 Dubai

　　Beyond the physical aspects of the Expo site, Member States were informed about Expo 2020 Dubai’s rich cultural and entertainment programming. In addition to more than 60 live shows each day, the site will feature daily parades as well as a range of special celebrations to mark festivals and holidays, such as Christmas, Diwali and New Year celebrations.

　　With the opening date of the Expo approaching, Mr. Al-Ali highlighted the various campaigns to engage communities in the Expo, both in the UAE and further afield. Notably, the ‘Be There’ campaign – shown in more than 25 countries across the world – has driven awareness of the next World Expo as an event that cannot be missed. For children and youth, the Expo School Programme continues to grow as a platform for engagement, with the launch of the Expo’s mascot family in September “bringing the magic of Expo 2020 into the homes of families across the world.” Mr. Al-Ali also drew attention to Expo 2020 Dubai’s Arts and Culture programme, which has recently selected the winners of a contest to design drinking water fountains for the Expo site.