Organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai have requested to have the event postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Scheduled to start in just over 200 days, Expo 2020 says due to the current “global situation” gripping the world, “it is clear that this is not the right time” to host the event.Expo 2020 Dubai is currently earmarked to commence on 20 October 2020 and to run for nearly six months through to early April. In response to the escalating COVID-19 situation, Expo 2020 is now seeking a green light from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to delay the spectacle for approximately 12 months.
“While everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai remains firmly committed, many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have expressed a need to postpone Expo’s opening by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge,” Dubai said.Approval to delay Expo 2020 requires a two-thirds majority vote from the BIE Member States.Reem Al Hashemy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai said: “The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of solidarity and unity, we supported the proposal to explore a one year postponement at today’s steering committee meeting.”
Expo 2020 Dubai said the top priority for the event was to keep all parties healthy and well.“We continue to stringently follow the guidance from the local health authorities and the World Health Organisation, and we will continue to do so as we navigate through these challenging times.”The statement ended with the quote “Stay home. Stay safe”.Emirates is an Official Premier Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai.Image credit: Expo 2020 DubaiWant to be in the luxury travel know? Subscribe to our free eNewsletter here to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
