Countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai are united in their commitment to hosting a World Expo that builds bridges, inspires action and delivers real-life solutions to global challenges — that is the message from delegates attending the sixth International Participations Meeting (IPM), which ended on Wednesday. Convening for the final IPM before the Oct. 1 opening of Expo 2020 — one of the first mega-events to take place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic — they expressed unwavering support and enthusiasm for the six-month global gathering, which they see as an essential launch pad towards building a better world for everyone. More than 370 delegates traveled from around the world to attend the IPM in person, held May 4-5 at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai, to see first-hand Expo 2020's advanced state of readiness. They represented 173 of Expo's 190-plus participating countries, with many other participants attending virtually. Dr Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Yabis, commissioner general and project director for Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is delighted to join the 370+ delegates at this sixth and final IPM. The exciting two days of discussions and briefings we have participated in offer ample proof of Dubai's readiness and the UAE's commitment to ensuring an exemplary World Expo that kicks off on Octo. 1, 2021. "We were given a tour of all the infrastructural works and also briefed on the top-notch health and safety protocols that are in place across the entire venue. Getting a sense of the immense magnitude and logistics in hosting an event of this scale, we commend the Expo 2020 Dubai team and the leadership of the UAE for their courage and conviction in seeing this mega event through in a fitting manner, even amid the turbulent times we find ourselves in due to COVID-19." The most diverse World Expo ever, Expo 2020 will welcome more than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, academic institutions and businesses. For the first time in the 170-year history of World Expos, each participating country will have its own pavilion — a dedicated space where it can showcase its culture and progress to the world, creating partnerships and exploring solutions relevant to its circumstances and people. Some nations, including South Sudan, the world's youngest country, are participating in a World Expo for the first time. The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), and the largest event to be held in the Arab word, Expo 2020 is a point of pride for the whole region and an opportunity to showcase Arab culture on an international stage. During the two-day IPM, attendees were briefed on the latest in operations, security, city readiness, marketing and communications, and programming, while organizers also presented the stringent measures being taken to ensure the health and well-being of Expo's workforce, participants and visitors, in line with the UAE's wider efforts to combat COVID-19. Expo 2020 Dubai will run from Oct. 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the UAE. It is inviting visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet. — SG
