The Higher Organising Committee for Expo 2020 on Tuesday signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre at the committee's headquarters in Dubai.
Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State and Managing Director of the Expo 2020 committee, and Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmouk, CEO of Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from both entities.
As per the terms of the agreement - which officially appoints Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre as the heritage strategic partner for Expo 2020 - the centre will organise a wide range of events and activities to promote the UAE's heritage and culture during Expo 2020, which will be held in Dubai over nearly six months.
Reem Al Hashimy, said, "We are pleased to appoint the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre as the Heritage Strategic Partner for Expo 2020. The appointment constitutes an important step in our efforts to promote this international exhibition, add a cultural and heritage dimension to the event and enrich the experience for visitors and exhibitors. As a credible and trusted source on UAE national heritage and cultural traditions, the centre has played a salutary role in preserving the country's heritage and passing it on from one generation to the next. We are fully confident that the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre will be able to achieve our goals for the Expo 2020, promote this international event effectively and highlight the heritage of our beloved nation in a befitting and honourable way." For his part, Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmouk praised the efforts made by the Higher Organising Committee for Expo 2020 led by H.H. Sheikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the committee, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and Group, and Reem Al Hashimy, enabling Dubai to win the honour of hosting such a prestigious international event.
"We are proud to be selected as the Heritage Strategic Partner for Expo 2020. We would like to extend our thanks to Reem Al Hashimy, and her team for their relentless quest to promote UAE's cultural heritage and for entrusting us with this all-important mission. The Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, under the leadership and support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, is advancing at a vigorous pace towards achieving its founding vision, following the prudent insights and guidance of the UAE Government. We have been able to make huge progress in several areas, foremost among which is building a pool of globally competitive Emirati individuals, consolidating citizens' sense of belonging to their homeland and strengthening the national identity among the youth, and generally deepening patriotic fervour among people all around the UAE." Bin Dalmouk added, "We look forward to working together with the Higher Organising Committee for Expo 2020 and establish the heritage concepts of the UAE to create a unique experience for all visitors. The exhibition provides our country an opportunity to show the world its capability for innovation by staging a world-class event that combines state-of-the-art technology with a proud display of our cultural heritage and traditions." Expo 2020 will be held in Dubai under the slogan "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", which reflects the spirit of partnership and cooperation that have been the driving forces behind Dubai's success in finding new avenues of growth and innovation. The exhibition, with its three thematic concepts of "Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity", will serve as a platform for connectivity to help pioneer new partnerships for growth and sustainability for the future.
The exhibition is expected to attract up to 25 million visitors, of which 70 per cent will be international visitors. During the course of the exhibition - to be held from October 20 to April 10, 2020 - the 50th National Day of the UAE will be celebrated, providing a platform to develop a sustainable future vision for decades to come. Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first to be held in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region.
Since the first World Expo was held in 1851, which was known as the "Great Exhibition", Expos have become among the world's biggest and most important international events. Over the exhibition's six-month duration, Expos attract millions of visitors who explore and discover pavilions, exhibitions and cultural events staged by hundreds of participants including nations, international organisations and businesses.
Source: WAM