Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, has visited the Expo 2020 Dubai site, where he met with Expo 2020 National team members and reviewed their exceptional preparations for the global event.

He toured the site with  Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, and was briefed on final preparations of the World Expo, its state-of-the-art facilities, and pavilions that focus on the event’s three sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

He also visited the UAE Pavilion, which tells the story of the UAE and how it has become home to people from all over the world. Sheikh Khalid, accompanied by Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, met with the UAE Pavilion National team and praised their efforts and readiness to welcome guests from all over the world to the UAE.

He said: “We are proud of the exceptional preparations that have been made at Expo 2020, including the event’s international agenda. The UAE Pavilion will enhance cultural exchange and convey the UAE’s rich cultural heritage to the world.”

 Reem Al Hashimy welcomed Sheikh Khalid’s visit, and praised his commitment to following up on the efforts of the National team, and reviewing the UAE’s preparations. She said: “We are ready to stage an exceptional edition of this global event and to welcome guests from around the world to the UAE.”

She continued: “The UAE Pavilion offers incredible design and an outstanding experience to visitors through the authentic human stories it tells of the UAE and its people.”

The UAE Pavilion is the host country pavilion at Expo 2020. It tells the story of the UAE from its ancient roots, including its people, goods and ideas, to its transformation into a unified country, and home to people from over 200 countries. It narrates the UAE’s ambitious cultural legacy, conveying to the local and international community stories about the authenticity of the UAE’s people, the legacy of its ancestors and its deep-rooted history.

It also offers visitors an inspiring experience that explores the true meaning and positive impact of the legacy of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, while fostering human connections, and helping to shape a bright future for all.

The world’s largest cultural event and the largest global event since the start of the pandemic, Expo 2020 will host 192 countries. Under the theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, it starts on 1 October 2021 and expects 25 million visits from within the UAE and abroad.

A delegation from Dubai Customs and the General Directorate of Drug Control at Dubai Police has visited Expo 2020 site as part of collaboration and coordination between government entities.

Meanwhile,  Dubai Customs’ delegation included Dr. Abdullah Busnad, Executive Director of Customs Inspection Division at Dubai Customs, Adel Obaid Al Suwaidi, Director of Technical Support Department, and Khalid Ahmed, Senior Manager of Passenger Operations Department, Terminal 1. Dubai Police’s delegation was headed by Colonel Khalid bin Muwaiza, Deputy Director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics.

Busnad highlighted the importance of shared efforts and collaboration between Dubai Customs and General Department of Anti-Narcotics as a strategic partner in fighting illicit practices through exchange of relevant information.

The delegation toured different facilities at the site including the central operations room and the logistics operations room. They learnt about the latest procedures taken to ensure smooth and safe experience for all visitors and exhibitors.

The delegation visited a number of pavilions in the soon to launch exhibition, including the impressive Terra - Sustainability Pavilion, which meets the highest available accreditation for sustainable architecture - LEED Platinum certification.

Dr Busnad and the delegation expressed their admiration for the impressive mastery that was evident in all pavilions, heralding a historic hosting of Expo.

“Dubai Customs provides exceptional services to the visitors and exhibitors of Expo. Hosting this historic event is a big value to our local economy, and it will further promote Dubai as a preferred tourism, trade and investment hub,” said Busnad.

The global mega event will run from 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022, and more than 190 countries and international organisations will participate. With this in mind, Dubai Customs released a comprehensive guide for participants to learn about all customs facilities and services available for them. These include the dedicated Smart Expo Customs Channel, iDeclare App, among others.

Meanwhile, as a s a premier partner and the official banking partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, Emirates NBD Group has joined hands with Mastercard, the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, to create two exclusive new card programmes: Emirates NBD Expo Mastercard Prepaid Card and the Emirates Islamic Expo Mastercard Credit Card.