The Government of the State of Qatar has formally requested a two-year delay to Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha in a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri S. Kerkentzes.

　　In the letter, His Excellency Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Subaie, the Minister of Municipality and Environment, seeks BIE approval for the Horticultural Expo to change its opening dates to 2 October 2023 - 28 March 2024. The request follows in depth discussions between the Government of the State of Qatar, the Organiser, the BIE and the Association of International Horticultural Producers (AIPH) on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

　　The letter also specifies that should the Member States approve the change of dates for Expo 2021 Doha, the Government of Qatar requests approval to change the name to “Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha Qatar” as the official name of the event.

　　Qatar’s request for a change of dates will be examined during the next meeting of the BIE Executive Committee scheduled for 14 October 2020. As stipulated by Article 28 of the 1928 Paris Convention, a final decision on the change of dates can only be made by a two-thirds majority vote of BIE Member States, which would take place at the following BIE General Assembly scheduled for December 2020.

　　Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha Qatar was recognised by the 164th General Assembly of the BIE in November 2018 and is set to be the first Horticultural Expo to take place in the Middle East. Themed “Green Desert, Better Environment”, the Expo will take place on a 80-hectare site in Al Bidda park in Central Doha.