The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions; (BIE) Executive Committee tentatively approved Dubai’s request to move its Expo 2020 fair to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The committee said its member states will vote on the proposal to move the event to 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022, and the final vote count is expected by 29th May.
The proposal requires two-thirds approval, but, due to the disruption caused by the virus across the world, the proposal appears to easily pass. The Bureau’s Executive Committee voted unanimously to support the proposal.
The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions; (BIE) Executive Committee tentatively approved Dubai’s request to move its Expo 2020 fair to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The committee said its member states will vote on the proposal to move the event to 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022, and the final vote count is expected by 29th May.
The proposal requires two-thirds approval, but, due to the disruption caused by the virus across the world, the proposal appears to easily pass. The Bureau’s Executive Committee voted unanimously to support the proposal.
The Bureau Secretary-General, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, in a statement said “I am confident that when the time is right, Expo 2020 Dubai will be the best platform to build, with renewed optimism and hope, and a better and brighter future for all.”
The UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, Reem Al Hashimy said, “We welcome today’s recommendation of the BIE Executive Committee to support a request by the UAE Government and Expo 2020 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 1 October 2021 when the Expo will open its doors, and the UAE will welcome the world," Al Hashimy said.
