Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said he was encouraged by the progress of Expo 2020 after visiting the site on Monday.
Sheikh Mohammed also took a helicopter ride of the Expo site to get a birds eye view of its progress. He was accompanied by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
During his visit, the Dubai Ruler was briefed by department heads and directors of the progress made by the Expo team in the areas of real estate and development, international participants, its legacy, business development and integration, and youth connect, WAM, the UAE state news agency reported.
He also underlined the importance of youth being integrated in the Expo journey and the key work being carried out in planning the Expo and the legacy that will follow.
Sheikh Mohammed said he was also pleased to see the progress made by RTA in the construction of the Metro link to a new station at the Expo site - Route 2020.
He concluded by emphasising the role of thousands of volunteers who will be recruited to ensure that the culture and values of the UAE will be reflected throughout the Expo, which expects to see 25 million visitors - 70 per cent of which from overseas.
“His Highness was a driving force behind our successful campaign to win the right to stage the next edition of the World Expo in 2020,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee. “He has continued to be extremely supportive of our mission on our journey since then towards October 2020 and is always interested in our progress.
Sheikh Ahmed received the delegation along with Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau Director General.
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Also present were Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee members Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Vice Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Director General of HH The Ruler’s Court of Dubai, UAE Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICDHE), Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Dubai Municipality, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), and Major-General Abdullah Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.
“We have had private and public commitments for participation from more than 120 countries and have recently announced our seventh commercial Premier Partner,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
"His Highness’s visit and continuing guidance is a source of great encouragement and inspiration as we work towards a World Expo that will have a long and meaningful impact on both the UAE and wider region."
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Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration for all, which, through its theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, will provide a platform to encourage creativity, innovation and collaboration. This is underpinned by Expo’s three pillars: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
Expo opens on October 20, 2020. and closes six months later. More than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, corporations and educational institutions, are expected to take part. It will be the first world Expo to be held in the Middle East.
