It was announced towards the end of March that the Dubai Expo 2020 would be delayed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although we were all anticipating the opening of the Expo this October, it looks like we’ll have to wait another year. An estimated 11 million overseas visitors were expected to attend the Expo.
Understandably, with the current lockdowns that are happening worldwide, this isn’t possible anymore. As highlighted in their statement, “while everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai remains firmly committed, many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have expressed a need to postpone Expo’s opening by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge.”
Although a general assembly may not be held by member states, it is still essential for them to cast a vote seperately by 29 May on the decided delayed date.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “we welcome today’s recommendation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Executive Committee to support a request by the UAE Government and Expo 2020’s Steering Committee to postpone Expo 2020 for a year. Now the official process for agreeing a delay begins, and we look forward to working constructively with BIE Member States, our friends, and partners to confirm the new date of October 1, 2021 when the Expo will open its doors, and the UAE will welcome the world.”
So far, the BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) has recommended postponing the dates to October 2021 – 31 March 2022. Depending on votes by other Member States, we will know by the end of May 2020 what the final decision will be.