The UAE government has formally requested the postponement of World Expo 2020 Dubai, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) said during a statement on Saturday.
Following consultations with the BIE, participating countries and key stakeholders, the UAE has proposed October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, because the new dates for Expo 2020 Dubai, said the statement.
The BIE’s executive committee will meet virtually on April 21 to debate the postponement. The meeting will see the participation of 12 elected Member States also because the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes.
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A final judgment on a change of dates can only be made by a two-thirds majority vote of BIE Member States.
The UAE’s formal letter was sent to Dimitri S. Kerkentzes. In it, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the UAE, sought the postponement of the planet Expo following in-depth discussions by the Expo 2020 Dubai steering committee with the Organiser and therefore the BIE.
BIE said the UAE Government also requested approval to continue using “Expo 2020 Dubai” because the official name of the event. This decision for the delay has been taken because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and in solidarity with participating countries.
The request of the UAE Government follows a gathering of the Expo 2020 Dubai steering committee on March 30, 2020. The committee , composed of representatives of the BIE, participating countries and Expo 2020 organisers, reviewed with grave concern the main impact of the spread of Covid-19 on global public, social and economic health, and agreed to explore with the BIE the likelihood of a 1 year delay to the opening of Expo 2020.
