The organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai have revealed that the need to stand in solidarity and unity with participating countries who have been ravaged by the COVID 19 pandemic informed the decision to postpone the expo by one year.
According to a statement by the Director-General for the much publicized Expo, Reem al-Hashimy, the organisers have thrown their weight behind the timely advice to postpone the event for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have therefore expressed a need to postpone the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge. The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of solidarity and unity, we supported the proposal to explore a one-year postponement at today’s Steering Committee meeting” he said.
The announcement came after a meeting between officials from the United Arab Emirates and foreign countries participating in the nearly six-month-long event that was due to begin in October.
An estimated 11 million overseas visitors were expected to attend the showpiece of culture, business, and technology featuring pavilions from 192 countries.
A final decision will be made in June by member states of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions, which awards the event.
Two sources familiar with the matter said it was unlikely member states would vote against postponing.
The delay is set to be a major blow for Dubai as the emirate – which would have spent over $8 billion on Expo-related infrastructure projects by the end of the fair – was relying on the event to boost its economy.
Dubai-based Arqaam Capital last year forecast an economic benefit from the Expo to go up to $9 billion in incremental tourist spending.
Expo 2020 Dubai was the last major international event that was still officially scheduled to go ahead this year until this new decision. Recall that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was last week postponed by a year.