DP World celebrated the success of its Expo 2020 programme with a recognition event at its ‘Flow’ Pavilion in Expo City Dubai, and awarded the ‘Expo 2020 Dubai Medal’ – granted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – to employees and partners for their significant contributions.

The event was attended by the guest of honour, His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. It was also attended by DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and senior DP World executives including Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, UAE & Jafza; Maha Al Qattan, Group Chief People and Sustainability Officer; and Daniel Van Otterdijk, Group Chief Communications Officer, presenting the tokens of appreciation to employees and members of Dubai Police.

Over the course of its six-month presence at the event, DP World, a leading provider of global end-to-end supply chain solutions, welcomed a large number of prominent local and international personalities, and over 1.2 million visitors to its pavilion. The pavilion hosted many events – including high-profile government meetings, MoU signings and engagements.

It also welcomed nearly 3,000 government officials from 80+ countries, 2,500 thought leaders and more than 10,000 students. At its peak, the pavilion received as many as 34,000 visitors in a single day, signifying the large-scale success of the initiative and the extraordinary contributions of DP World employees and partners.

The decision to award the Expo 2020 Medal came in an initiative by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum towards contributors to the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, in appreciation of their tremendous efforts during the event and the preparatory phase that lasted for many years to provide a great experience for all visitors and participating countries.

Speaking at the event, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Our people have always been our most valued strength. The remarkable success of our Expo 2020 programme would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and commitment of our people and partners. From the initial planning stages, all the way through to its execution, their contributions have helped us build a legacy with Expo 2020, allowing us to share our vision for global trade with more than a million people. This may well influence the shape of local, regional, and global economies for decades to come. We are proud to work with some of the sharpest minds in the world.”

His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said: “As a key stakeholder in the Dubai story – and indeed, across international trade as a whole – DP World’s presence at Expo 2020 went far beyond ordinary event participation. It was a representation of what Dubai has achieved, and can accomplish, to a global audience. I congratulate the DP World teams on their commendable success.”

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World UAE & Jafza, further stated: “As key enablers of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, DP World UAE and Jafza are among the foundational pillars of regional and global trade, and personify the economic aspirations of the UAE’s leadership and its people. What makes our achievements at Expo 2020 so significant is that our partners and employees have directly guided us towards new channels to unlock growth and possibility. These awards are a marker of our appreciation.”

DP World’s ‘Flow’ Pavilion was centred around the very concept of Flow, demonstrating the connectivity and movement of cargo across the world and highlighting DP World’s vital role of smarter trade in the global economy. DP World UAE is home to the flagship Jebel Ali Port, the region’s premier maritime commercial gateway and hub to more than 3.5 billion people, contributing significantly to Dubai’s GDP and UAE’s economy.

The UAE hosted Expo 2020 Dubai from November 2021 to March 2022, staged under the central theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. The event was a global success, attracting 24 million visitors and defying the tremendous challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It further magnified the UAE’s achievements by marking the first time in Expo’s 170-year history that the event was hosted by an Arab nation, amassing a gathering of 192 countries.