Expo 2020 catalyst for economic activity in UAE: Sheikh Ahmed

Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, has recognised more than 45 organisations in the UAE that have invested in bringing their employees to Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

In a ceremony held in Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed, accompanied by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, praised the organisations for recognising the incredible opportunities Expo 2020 Dubai is presenting.

Semi-government, free zone and corporate organisations were among those congratulated, including a number of Expo 2020 Partners: DP World, Global Trade Partner; PepsiCo, Official Beverage and Snack Partner; SAP, Innovative Enterprise Software Partner; UPS, Official Logistics Partner; and Jacobs, Official Programme Delivery Management Provider.

Sheikh Ahmed said, “Since its inception, the UAE has been an ambitious and resilient nation, facing and overcoming numerous obstacles, but rising to become an economic role model and symbol of tolerance for the world, in less than 50 years. While our lives may have been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation successfully introduced a phased economic reopening and moved onwards and upwards to pursue our goals - and Expo 2020 Dubai is at the heart of these aspirations. “Expo 2020 is a catalyst for economic activity in the UAE and beyond, and will also be an unforgettable experience for millions of people. I am pleased to see that many organisations have recognised the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that it will offer and I thank them for choosing to be part of our incredible journey.”

Expo 2020 presents numerous initiatives that will galvanise the economy, building on the UAE’s reputation for facilitating business and trade, with world-class infrastructure, business-friendly regulatory frameworks and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Among these is Thrive Together - a dedicated, business-focused programme offering a range of curated networking, knowledge-sharing and thought-leadership events, as well as tailored products and services that will enable visitors and participants to explore new business opportunities, form impactful partnerships and collaborate towards sustained economic prosperity in the UAE, the region and beyond. It also leverages the connecting power of Expo 2020 Dubai, which will bring together 192 nations, as well as multilateral organisations, academic institutions and millions of visitors to inspire meaningful change and create a brighter future for all.

The companies that have purchased Expo 2020 Dubai passes for employees include: Al Naboodah Group Enterprises, Al Sahel Contracting, ALEC, BESIX Construct LLC, CEO Clubs Network, Chevron Al Khalij, Clyde & Co, Commercial Bank International, Commercial Bank of Dubai, DHL Express, Doka Gulf FZE, DP World, Dragon Oil Holdings, Driven Properties, du, Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Holding, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Dubai South, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Steel, Fine Hygienic Holding, Global Village, Henkel, Honeywell International Middle East, HSBC Bank Middle East, International Free Zone Authority Dubai, ITHRA Dubai, Jacobs, Khansaheb, KPMG Lower Gulf, Lafarge, Majid Al Futtaim Holding, Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla, Nakheel, National Bank of Fujairah, Odoo Middle East DMCC, PepsiCo, PwC, Saipem Netherlands BV, SAP, Sharaf Group, Societe Generale, The First Group, UPS and Zegna.

The UAE is preparing to be the world’s leading destination for travellers over the next six months during the Expo 2020 Dubai, while the local hotel sector has regained its pre-pandemic reservation rates.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) revealed the total number of passengers travelling to the UAE grew in August 2021 to over 2.5 million, compared to 814,000 in the same period of 2020, surging by 207 percent.

In its statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the GCAA highlighted increased figures in national air traffic statistics for August, which recorded 45,953 flights.

The preventive measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic are one of the significant factors that helped boost the country’s stature as a safe travel destination, despite the pandemic continuing globally.

The UAE leads the list of countries in terms of vaccine distribution rate, with 79.3 percent of population being fully vaccinated until 13th September, with the number of coronavirus tests conducted being 78,651,247. The percentage of those received the first dose is 90.5.

Tourism experts and specialists predict the coming period to be a real breakthrough for the tourism sector after it recently regained its balance following a series of critical decisions made by the UAE Government, most notably allowing fully vaccinated individuals to apply for an entry visa.

In 16 days, the UAE will witness the grand start of the Expo 2020 Dubai, one of the world’s most anticipated events and will make the country the top tourist destination over the next six months. The expo is expected to receive over 25 million local and foreign visitors.