The Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, has convened to hear the latest updates in preparing to host an exceptional World Expo.

The meeting, held at Expo 2020 headquarters, was attended by committee members: His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau; His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Cabinet Member and Minister of State, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Media Council; His Excellency Dawood Abdulrahman Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; His Excellency Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police; His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM); His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC); and His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties.

The high level taskforce, entrusted with steering progress on the largest event ever held in the Arab World, reaffirmed its commitment to hosting an exceptional World Expo and that developments are on track.

HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “It was a very productive meeting, at a time when all our efforts are concentrated toward fulfilling the pledge made to deliver an exceptional World Expo. It deserves to be the World’s Greatest Show, and we are on track to deliver the event on time. We are sparing no effort in pursuit of this goal, and with it, we will honour the whole country, the people of the UAE, and our wise leadership.”

During the meeting, the National Media Council presented progress of construction of the UAE Pavilion, while officials from Expo 2020 updated the Committee on the status of the three Thematic Pavilions (Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability), Dubai Exhibition Centre and the Expo Village, and shared developments related to international participants and ticket prices.

The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to attract 25 million visits between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. Organised under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, the six-month celebration of human brilliance and achievement will welcome more than 200 international participants, including 192 nations.