The much awaited Dubai Expo 2020 will open doors to the public following a spectacular Opening Ceremony, that will be streamed across the world.
From October 1 to March 31, 2022, Expo 2020 will bring together more than 200 participants, including 192 countries, plus millions of visitors, to collaborate on ways to protect the planet for our communities and future generations, inviting them to join the making of a new world.
With the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020, the first World Expo to be hosted in the Middle East and the biggest event of its kind after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, hopes to reinvigorate the global and regional economies to face the challenges of tomorrow. Viewers from anywhere in the world can join the evening’s proceedings via a global live stream, available on virtualexpo.
This will be followed a night later by three spectacular fireworks displays in Dubai, marking the first full day of the Expo in a spectacular visual celebration commemorating the journey from winning the bid in 2013 to opening the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.
The official Expo 2020 app allows users to tailor their visit to Expo, matching individual interests to create a personal schedule of events and attractions, across a site twice the size of Monaco. Visitors can use the app to buy tickets, choose from more than 200 dining options and themed culinary events, and manage reservations for Expo 2020’s intelligent Smart Queue system – offering guests the ability to reserve a convenient time slot to visit a pavilion of their choice, and avoid queues.
Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the Official Digital Services Partner of Expo 2020, the app – available to download via the App Store or Google Play – allows visitors to create an Expo 2020 account or link their social media account, as well as access a GPS-enabled interactive map of the Expo site and step-by-step directions to points of interest across Expo.
A chatbot on the app will provide information on making visits to Expo 2020 safe and enjoyable, including details on opening times, parking options and how to reach Expo using Dubai’s extensive public transport options. Mohammed Alhashmi, Chief Technology Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Hosting the world in one place for six months, Expo 2020 offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore new frontiers and join in a celebration of creativity, innovation, human progress and culture. Whether you’re interested in boarding the Garden in the Sky observation tower 55 metres above the ground; partying at Expo Beats, our monthly music festival featuring a global cast; or experiencing the spectacular Expo Water Feature, the Expo 2020 app has everything on offer at your fingertips.”
Gerado Canta, Senior Managing Director and Executive Sponsor for Accenture’s partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Accenture, in partnership with Etisalat Digital, helped to develop the event’s visitor-facing digital channels, including the official Expo 2020 app, virtual assistant and website, enabling Expo 2020 to bring its story to millions worldwide. The mobile app is a window for visitors worldwide to learn about Expo 2020 and plan their visits via curated journeys to ensure an accessible and relevant experience for all.”
Latest data from Dubai Tourism shows that the city welcomed close to 3 million visitors from January to July 2021. Dubai also ranked second globally ahead of London and Paris in terms of hotel occupancy with hotels enjoying 61 per cent average occupancy levels in the first seven months of 2021. Dubai was one of the first cities globally to reopen its markets and businesses, and continues to stay open. This was achieved through a prudent and staggered approach to the reopening of sectors while ensuring strict compliance with globally benchmarked health and safety protocols.
The UAE also has one of the world’s highest per capita vaccination rates. With the return to normal life, residents and visitors are now able to experience the diversity of Dubai’s offering covering the tourism, leisure, entertainment and retail sectors, with precautionary measures across the board.
