HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today led a delegation that unveiled one of Dubai Expo 2020’s flagship initiatives, Expo Live, in a presentation to the 166 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris. As per His direction, and as part of the unveiling, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed, highlighted, under the bid’s overarching theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, the importance of partnerships, and what will be the foundation and the legacy of Dubai Expo 2020.

In attendance were His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; as well as the Higher Committee for Dubai Expo 2020, led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Building on the bid’s theme of partnership, Expo Live will start to deliver on the promise and power of global collaboration as early as 2014. Expo Live will make Dubai Expo 2020 not just a global showcase event, but also a powerful engine of innovation for future progress.

The presentation explained how Expo Live will challenge the world to identify the greatest global issues for the 21st century across the three Dubai Expo 2020 sub-themes of Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity. By doing so, Expo Live will bring to life the aspirations of the bid’s overarching theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, and create a concrete programme for partnership and innovation with the Expo Partnership Fund of 100 million Euros. The fund will accelerate entrepreneurial spirit around the world and support projects of varying size, scale and stages of development; all with the same objective of delivering a lasting and positive impact.

Partnerships will be facilitated between people and organisations all around the globe to deliver solutions before, during and after the six-month World Expo. The resulting ideas and innovations will be showcased during the Dubai Expo 2020 itself – demonstrating the message that ‘together we can accomplish more’.

Her Royal Highness Princess Haya told the delegates at the 153rd BIE General Assembly that the UAE’s dramatic transformation in the past 40 years was led by a vision, by hard work and, most important of all, by partnership – and that it is the promise of partnership with each BIE member nation that Dubai Expo 2020 will deliver. Drawing on the UAE’s history and heritage, Dubai Expo 2020 will create a living example of what can be achieved when talents, ambitions and passions are pooled together. She added that the spirit of partnership is where World Expos draw their greatest strengths – the connections they make, the people they inspire and the future they build.

In turn, Dubai and the UAE will be enriched by the Expo values, uniting the region and the world with the first World Exposition held in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region – and enhanced by the joyful national celebrations of the UAE’s 50th anniversary.

Dubai Expo 2020 would be the most international World Expo in the 169-year history of the event.  Thanks to the UAE’s unmatched infrastructure, strategic geographic positioning and global connectivity, the 2020 World Expo in Dubai will attract an estimated 25 million visitors. 70 per cent of these attendees would come from outside the country – the first time in World Expo history that a majority of visitors originate from outside the host nation.

During the General Assembly, bidding cities were informed of the results of the BIE Enquiry Missions conducted earlier this year to assess the feasibility of each candidate city and nation. The BIE General Assembly formally adopted the candidature of the United Arab Emirates, having met the required criteria. The UAE’s Enquiry Mission took place in February and was commended for the level of national support, as well as for the strength and vision of its bid in line with the traditions and values of World Expo.

In accordance with BIE regulations, every country must submit an aid package as part of their file. The UAE presented a development assistance package of 150 million euros ensuring strong representation for all developing nations.

The final presentation will be held in November 2013 at the next BIE General Assembly and the winner will be announced following a vote by the member nations.