The UAE government has proposed a new start date for Expo 2020. The event will begin on October 1, 2021 and run until 31 March, 2022. The event will feature pavilions from 192 countries.
In solidarity with participating countries, following discussions with the BIE and the Expo 2020 Steering Committee, the Government of the UAE has notified the BIE of its request to change the dates of Expo 2020 Dubai to 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022 https://t.co/iUSGWc66QB pic.twitter.com/in2siiF9ZQ
— BIE (@bieparis) April 4, 2020
Two-thirds majority of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Member States voted in favour of postponing the next World Expo by one year. The global mega event will now run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Two-thirds majority of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Member States voted in favour of postponing the next World Expo by one year. The global mega event will now run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. @expo2020dubai
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 4, 2020
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee Tweeted today: “We are thankful to @BIEParis Member States for their continued commitment to contributing to a World Expo in #Dubai that will play a pivotal role in shaping our post-pandemic world at a time it will be most needed.”
Earlier in April, Expo 2020 made a request to postpone the event by a year. The tweet read: ”
“We support the proposal to explore a one-year postponement at today’s Steering Committee meeting. We will follow due processes with Expo’s governing body, @BIEParis, on making the decision to delay, which requires a two-thirds majority vote from the BIE General Assembly.”
Dubai’s Expo is one of the many global events that have been cancelled due to the widespread pandemic. However, with countries slowly resuming normal life, looks like the Tokyo Olympics and UEFA European Football Championship will both now take place in 2021.