Delegates will discuss the bid theme; explore Dubai and the UAE, and experience first-hand the country’s hospitality and enthusiasm for World Expo 2020
More than 250 representatives from the 167 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation that oversees World Expo, will arrive in the UAE ahead of the Dubai Expo 2020 Theme Symposium, entitled Connecting Minds, Creating the Future: Partnerships for Global Innovation and Sustainable Development, starting on Tuesday 22nd October until Thursday 24th October.

The Theme Symposium is an opportunity for the UAE to further demonstrate how its theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, raises relevant and global issues for the member states of the BIE in order to leave a lasting legacy that directly benefits communities around the world. The subthemes of Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity represent the cross-cutting challenges we all face and must tackle together if we are to be successful in finding the solutions for sustainable development to drive future progress.

The Symposium will also allow the BIE representatives to witness and experience first-hand the many unique advantages that the country offers as a potential host nation, including the country’s stability and safety, its open and dynamic economic environment, the readiness of its infrastructure and the overwhelming public support for the bid.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, in his capacity as Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Dubai Expo 2020 bid, said, “We are delighted to welcome the representatives from the Bureau International des Expositions. Over the coming days we look forward to exploring the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future together. It is my hope that our guests enjoy their short stay with us and leave with an understanding of what a World Expo in Dubai and its legacy could mean, not only for Dubai and the UAE, but for all member nations of the BIE, the wider MENASA region and for future generations across the globe.”

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Dubai Expo 2020 bid, said, “The Theme Symposium represents a critical milestone in our bid to host the World Expo in 2020. It promises to be a highly engaging event with an opportunity not only to hear from our country’s leadership but to engage with local and international experts on the theme. We are confident that the programme we have put in place will bring to life the conversations we have had with delegates throughout the last two years of the bid and will underline the unique opportunities that only a World Expo in Dubai in 2020 can bring.”

The programme for the Theme Symposium includes morning conference sessions and interactive discussions on the theme with afternoon tours to highlight some of the UAE’s key assets and initiatives.  The tours, called ‘Learning Journeys’, give a greater understanding of the UAE’s culture and heritage as well as the country’s robust infrastructure, operational readiness and credibility in line with the subthemes.

The ‘Learning Journeys’ include: the Burj Khalifa, DP World, Emirates Aviation Academy, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.

Importantly, Expo Live, the 7-year programme of global collaboration and innovation, will also be showcased. Expo Live is an initiative to make Dubai Expo 2020 a source of innovation and partnership that will create a legacy of concrete solutions to some of the most defining challenges of our time in the areas of Mobility, Sustainability, Opportunity.

Two projects, D.Light and Pure Home Water, have already been supported by the Expo Partnership Fund of 100 million Euros and will be presented at the Theme Symposium.

D.Light produces the world’s most affordable high-quality solar lantern, empowering more than 20 million lives already with a view to impacting 100 million lives by 2020. Pure Home Water uses innovative filtering technologies with simple clay pots to bring safe clean drinking water to communities across the developing world.

Dubai is competing against three other candidate cities in its bid to host the World Expo in 2020. The host nation will be announced on 27 November 2013 following a vote by the 167 member nations of the BIE.