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First world trade fair in Mideast opens soon
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The first world fair to be held in the Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubai, opens its doors to exhibitors from almost 200 countries on October 1 after being delayed for a year by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 4.3 square kilometer site was desert when Dubai was chosen eight years ago to follow the 2015 Expo in Milan.
Now, US$6.8 billion later, the emirate more than ever needs the hoped-for economic boost from the global trade showcase, but will have to contend with continued COVID-19 restrictions, and probably reluctance to travel.
Before the pandemic, consultancy EY forecast the Expo would over its six months contribute 1.5 percent of the United Arab Emirates鈥 gross domestic product.
Dubai still officially expects 25 million visitors, more than Milan received and more than twice the population of the UAE. All those over 18 will have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or test negative.
But diplomats from five different countries said they had revised down their national pavilions鈥 visitor targets. James Swanston, an economist at Capital Economics, said the continuing obstacles to foreign travel meant the economic boost was likely to fall short of projections.
A spokesperson said the number of tickets sold was commercially sensitive, but that the Expo was 鈥渄elighted鈥 with sales so far. Many events will be streamed live online.
Dubai says it wants the Expo, an exhibition of culture, technology and architecture under the banner to be a demonstration of ingenuity, and a place where issues such as climate change, conflict and economic growth can be addressed. But its biggest role is still trade.
鈥淎ll major trading countries and powers plan to use Expo to refocus and to redefine their position in the world market,鈥 said France鈥檚 Expo commissioner-general, Erik Linquier.
The event is not without critics.
The European Parliament last week urged member states and companies to boycott the Expo in disapproval of the UAE鈥檚 human rights record, alleging 鈥渟ystematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and teachers speaking up on political and human rights issues in the UAE鈥 and pervasive 鈥渋nhumane practices鈥 inflicted on many of the migrant workers that the UAE relies on. The UAE rejected the resolution as 鈥渇actually incorrect.鈥
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