Dubai – Mubasher: Dubai government announced on Monday the postponement of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Dubai media office.
The two-third majority of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) member states remotely voted for the delay of the largest event to be held in the Middle East.
The vote for the postponement of Expo 2020 was opened on 24 April and will continue until 29 May after the UAE government had proposed to delay the event amid COVID-19 in early April.
With the majority of votes, the event will be convened from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, allowing the participating countries to consider the economic impact of COVID-19.
The Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: "This swift and overwhelming vote reflects the strength of our international partnerships and truly reflects the positive role the UAE and Dubai play with all countries around the world."
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, noted: "Their support for the postponement of Expo 2020 Dubai – which will be formally approved on 29 May – is a renewed sign of solidarity and demonstrates the shared will to work together in 'creating the future'.”
