Expo Dubai, over 24.1 million visits in 182 days

After 182 days of unforgettable experiences, Expo 2020 Dubai has come to an end, registering 24,102,967 visits, welcomed 192 countries and shown the world what can be achieved when humanity unites. The first countries for international visitors were: India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Russia, France and the USA, but visitors from 178 countries around the world were registered. Nearly one million students visited the Expo as part of the Expo Schools program, while the Expo University program hosted students from 56 national and 22 international universities. In addition, 2,777 world leaders visited Expo 2020. Expo 2020 Dubai was the first Universal Exposition to be held in the Middle East region and the first world event since the beginning of the global pandemic, which marked an important result for Dubai at an important historical moment for the UAE – made even more significant by taking place in the year of the nation’s Golden Jubilee – and paved the way for the next generation of change makers. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Higher Committee of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “After six incredible months, we are immensely proud to staging a Universal Exposition that sought solutions to some of our greatest global challenges, paving the way towards the future. Expo 2020 Dubai is a triumph that will go down in history as a beacon of unity and hope. It was a huge honor for the UAE as we celebrate our 50th year and a defining moment in our nation’s history. “Expo 2020 Dubai was hailed as a huge success and a beacon of hope, as it brought the international community together into one show of resilience in uncertain times, and has overcome a number of challenges, including the global pandemic, which necessitated its one-year postponement due to the limitations of life agios around the world, and adapting to the new Covid variants with a firm response in terms of safety and health protocols. Expo 2020 Dubai ended in a spectacular way with SE Reem Al Hashimy closing the entrance doors for the last time, after an exciting closing ceremony that paid tribute to the iconic moments of the Expo. His Excellency Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of world exhibitions, successfully greeted the first world Expo held in the United Arab Emirates. From the first Universal Exhibition in 1851 onwards, how have the concept and notion of the Universal Exhibition changed and evolved over the years? “When looking at why these events started, it was a way for the world and countries to showcase their latest innovations. The industrial revolution was coming, so it was really about showing how the world was industrializing. But, over time, and particularly after World War II, these events have changed and become much more human-focused – looking at what was important to humanity, how we’re going to move forward. Not just sustainably, but as a people, how can we keep moving forward? What you see now is an evolution of all of this. An exhibition that focuses on bringing people together and the future: Expo 2020 Dubai brought together 192 nations for the betterment of humanity. ”Speaking of these 192 participating nations, this was the first time that a Universal Exposition had a “One nation, one pavilion” policy, to ensure that each country has the opportunity to be fully represented. What impact do you think it had? “The ‘one nation, one pavilion’ concept was truly an admirable approach to giving each country its own voice. And this is really important in these events: to allow everyone to express who they really are. What really pleased me was how well countries – regardless of size, population or GDP, or whatever else you can consider – have presented themselves well; how they really analyzed an issue that is important to them. And no matter what role we can play in the future of humanity, what made me very happy to see was how countries came together to tell the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future “. In March, virtual visits exceeded 197 million. How significant is this number and what was the significance of having a Virtual Expo? “We have to be honest. Not everyone has the means to travel the world and come to an event like this, although I believe it has been made as accessible as possible. So of course we want people to be here physically, but we also want the message to get out as much as possible. There is a common question that the internet will spell the end of Expos, that we don’t need Expos because everything is online. I would say no. I would say the internet completes the Expo experience – virtual reality and augmented reality, for example, worked together to complete the visitor experience. I am glad that 197 million people were able to understand what was happening in Dubai, to take a look at what they may have missed, because these are limited events, and in six months they are gone. So the more you can learn, the better. But I believe that nothing can ever replace physically going to Expo and experiencing its sounds, smells and flavors ”. Do you think it has somehow changed the perception of a universal exhibition? “What it did was shape the perception of what Expo 2020 Dubai wanted to be. But each Expo is a project in itself and has a very different soul. That’s why these events continue over time … because they reinvent themselves every time. For me, Expo 2020 Dubai is very clearly a UAE Expo. But Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will again be something different. They cannot be compared to each other. I’m already excited to find out what Japan will organize for its Expo. ”Looking ahead, he thinks world exhibitions will focus more on impacting and encouraging the world to strive for a better future, moving away from presenting technological innovations ? “What you have to look at is that the Expos are a reflection of their times. If at a given moment the world needs technological innovation, this is what we will see at Expo. If what we need is to bring the nations together, to try to bring some kind of unity, solidarity and fraternity behind a certain cause, this is what we will see. Here in Dubai, in my honest opinion, we have had a mix of both. I don’t want to say it’s not innovative, because the innovations I’ve seen in the pavilions and proposed by the organizers are spectacular – there were amazing things to see. The wonderful thing about this Expo is that they are not innovations or concepts that the world will never see. What I’ve seen here are things that will likely have an impact on our daily life in about five years. And this is one of the powers we saw at Expo 2020 Dubai ”.