His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairs Expo 2020 Higher Committee Meet

16th September 2014 - His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Expo 2020 Higher Committee Chairman, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group today chaired the meeting of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee.

The meeting was held in the presence of its vice-chairman, HE Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Ruler's Court, and other Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee members to review progress against preparatory plans to deliver the 2020 World Expo event – the first-of-its-kind to be held in the Middle East North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. 

At the session, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State, Managing Director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee and Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Office, presented a detailed update on the setup and operations of the Dubai Expo 2020 Office to the Committee. 

Higher Committee Member, His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, and CEO Dubai World Trade Centre, presented progress on the masterplanning and development of the site for the Dubai Expo 2020. 

The Higher Committee then discussed matters pertaining to relevant work-steams and upcoming milestones including the Executive Committee meeting in October followed by the General Assembly in November 2014, both of which will be held in Paris.  These meetings form part of the mandatory updates required to be provided to the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) as Dubai prepares for the submission of all requirements to seek formal approval at the next critical Registration Phase in November 2015. 

Site readiness activity is currently underway on the Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali site, which will host Dubai Expo 2020, with full-fledged construction beginning by November 2015, once approval of plans by BIE is granted. 

Running October 2020 through April 2021, the Expo will launch the country's Golden Jubilee celebration and serve as a springboard from which to inaugurate a progressive and sustainable vision for the coming decades.