The European Union will participate in Expo 2020 Dubai in United Arab Emirates, starting on 1 October under the theme: “Connecting minds, creating the future”. The EU will engage through a set of high-quality events and activities to showcase European contribution to tackling global challenges in line with the core themes of Expo 2020 Dubai: sustainability, opportunity and mobility.
More than 40 events and activities will be promoted by EU institutions together with our Member States, focusing on five thematic areas: Sustainability, Green Deal and Climate change; Food, Farming and Health; Innovation and Digitalisation; Inclusivity and Equality focusing on women empowerment; and Business and Trade cooperation.
Expo 2020 Dubai will be a significant opportunity to prepare for a more sustainable future by engaging with participants from around the world, in one of the first major global events to be held physically since the breakout the COVID-19 pandemic.
As noted by the High Representative/Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell: “The fight against climate change or the promotion of sustainability and inclusivity are some of the challenges of our time. Expo 2020 Dubai choosing this motto, provides a very visible opportunity to underline the EU’s commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism to build common understanding and overcome them, together”.
The activities promoted by the EU also feature prominently in our bilateral engagement with the United Arab Emirates, as the host country of Expo 2020 Dubai. “The EU is committed to supporting UAE’s domestic transformation and economic diversification efforts, in line with our bilateral Cooperation Arrangement. I am looking forward to discussing in detail these pertinent issues with our Emirati partners during my visit to the UAE later this week,” stated High Representative Borrell.
In addition, the “EU Honour Day” on 23 October will be the occasion to celebrate the EU’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai along with the Member States, through cultural activities with young artists and cultural professionals from Europe and the rest of the world, to foster diversity and intercultural dialogue.
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Exposition to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region since its creation in 1851. A record of 192 nations will be participating.
A dedicated website in English and Arabic will promote EU’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as a WebApp application allowing citizens around the world to know more about the EU and its 27 EU Member States. On social media, EU’s presence can be followed through the hashtag #EUatEXPO and via the Twitter account of the EU Delegation to the UAE @EUintheUAE (link is external).