Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on Earth. And now, it’s adding yet another superlative to its roster with Expo 2020 Dubai, which is set to be the largest event ever staged in the Arab world.
The exposition — which touts the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” — is expected to draw 20 to 25 million visitors to the city between Oct. 20, 2020, and April 10, 2021.
“Any interest that you can imagine, you will find at this expo,” said Ronen Paldi, president of Ya’lla Tours, an operator offering Expo 2020 tours in addition to itineraries across the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula.
Throughout the expo’s six-month duration, Ya’lla clients will have a variety of options, including individual exploration of the event and day trips to Abu Dhabi, as well as to neighboring countries. Ya’lla recently launched a dedicated website promoting tours to Dubai for the expo.
One of the world’s first expos was held in 1851 at The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, to showcase the latest inventions across the globe. Since then, destinations worldwide have hosted similar expos every few years, maintaining the tradition of sharing achievements in science and technology.
Each event features a new theme; past subjects have ranged from ecological awareness and athletics to aerospace engineering.
“Like everything in Dubai, this expo is going to be the biggest, the most sophisticated, the most technological and the most environmentally friendly — any superlative you have in the English language, you can apply to it,” Paldi said.
The event runs for six months between 2020 and 2021.
Credit: 2019 Yalla ToursExpo officials estimate that only 30% of the visitors will be from neighboring Arab countries, while 70% will be foreigners coming to Dubai for the event. Additionally, more than 190 nations will be represented, and each will build a pavilion designed to celebrate its unique culture and innovation. Monaco, for example, plans to build a polygonal, gem-like architectural structure that will immerse visitors in mirrored exhibition spaces simulating the French Riviera. Thailand, meanwhile, will demonstrate its dedication to environmental sustainability with a floral pavilion that provides natural shading and heat insulation. Even Israel — a country with strained ties to the UAE — plans to share its innovations in areas such as water, information and medical technologies.
The level of financial investment from each participating nation conveys a sense of the scope of Expo 2020, which is also the biggest expo yet, according to Paldi, who says that India has pledged to spend more than $80 million on its pavilion, and New Zealand will invest $26 million.
“It’s a major event, and unlike any that has been seen before,” he said.
Paldi adds that there will be 160 daily shows from the various countries, along with hundreds — if not thousands — of food outlets featuring ethnic cuisine from around the world.
Dubai anticipates that the mammoth event will provide significant benefits to its economy and tourism. The expo’s projected long-term economic impact is approximately $33.3 billion. To prepare, the city is adding about 60,000 new hotel rooms, and after the event finishes, the infrastructure will be converted into new airports and convention centers — making Dubai an even more alluring travel destination for future visitors to the Arabian Peninsula.
The Details
Expo 2020 Dubai
www.expo2020dubai.com
Ya’lla Tours
www.yallatoursexpo.com
