Saudi National Day: Expo 2020 celebrates the Kingdom’s valuable contribution to the largest event to be held in the Arab world

 In honour of the 90th Saudi National Day on 23 September, Expo 2020 Dubai is celebrating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s spectacular contribution to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and the largest event ever to be held in the Arab world. 

Mohamed AlAnsaari, Vice President, Communications, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “As Saudi Arabia commemorates its 90th National Day on 23 September, it is very exciting to note the Kingdom’s significant contributions to Expo 2020, which starts in October next year.

“Its Country Pavilion, resembling a huge window opening up from the ground and soaring into the sky, will offer a peek into how the Kingdom is shaping both its own and the world’s future. It will take visitors on an immersive journey that also demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s welcoming character and rich culture.

“The next World Expo provides the ideal platform for the Kingdom to share its heritage and the creativity of its young, dynamic population to a global audience. With more than 190 participating countries, Expo 2020 is also an opportunity to convene the international community in a spirit of hope and optimism, and Saudi Arabia will play an important role in innovating and collaborating with the world to help shape a better future for all.”

Saudi Arabia Pavilion

With its theme ‘The sky is the limit’, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion resembles a huge window opening up from the ground and soaring into the sky. It will offer visitors an immersive journey that glimpses into the Kingdom’s glittering future and also demonstrates the country’s welcoming character and deep-rooted culture. 

Measuring more than 13,000 square metres, which is approximately the size of two football pitches, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion will be the second largest at Expo 2020 Dubai, after the UAE Pavilion, and is located in the Opportunity District. 

The pavilion’s exhibition will highlight the Kingdom’s openness to businesses and tourists, and a desire to build links and collaborate with other nations to create a better world for everyone.

Saudi nationals at Expo 2020
Saudi nationals make up a vital component of the workforce at Expo 2020, employed across the Expo organisation in a variety of departments, including Communications, IFT, International Participants, the Expo School Programme and the Director General’s Office. 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will reactivate its volunteering campaign in October 2020 in partnership with the Emirates Foundation. The initiative aims to attract an estimated 1,000 Saudi nationals to take part in the pavilion for the duration of the World Expo from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Expo supports Saudi social entrepreneurs 

Expo Live, Expo 2020’s global innovation and partnership programme that supports projects with innovative, creative solutions making a real impact on people’s lives and helping communities around the world build a brighter future – began in 2016. It has since expanded from 29 Global Innovators in 22 countries to 140 grantees across 76 countries, with each offered funding of up to AED 367,000 (SAR 374,745), providing expert advice and the opportunity to share their ideas with a global audience.

To date, the programme supports more than 20 social entrepreneurs hailing from Arab nations. This includes the Saudi Arabia-based mental health app Labayh لبّيه, which focuses on protecting patient identity by offering anonymous audio calls and in-app messaging, making it easier to reach professional consultants anywhere, anytime; and the Saudi Arabia-based YNMO platform and app, designed by clinicians, for clinicians. This SaaS (software as a service) solution allows users to design, monitor, store and share individualised treatment plans, enabling clinicians to be more efficient and effective when creating care plans and helping to improve the quality of rehabilitation and educational services for people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s participation in Expos

The Kingdom’s first World Expo participation was at Expo 1958 in Brussels. Since then, Saudi Arabia has actively participated in World and Specialised Expos. The Kingdom joined the BIE in 2007 and was rewarded with a Silver Award for pavilion design at Specialised Expo 2008 Zaragoza, as well as a Gold Award at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

About Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai will bring together millions of people and the greatest innovations from around the globe, helping to shape a better world under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. 

• The six months from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be an opportunity to be part of an unparalleled event and we are extending a warm Emirati welcome to the world 
• Expo 2020 will be an endless journey of discovery. Visitors will have access to the latest innovations and breakthroughs, with participants – including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions – coming together to highlight real-life solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges
• Expo 2020’s sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability will inspire visitors to make a conscious effort to think and live differently, and give them renewed optimism that, through collaboration, it is possible to make a lasting change to the world
• The first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) will be located on a 4.38 sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South 

Media Accreditation and Media Information System, Tawassul

Expressions of interest for Expo 2020 Media Accreditation are open via the Media Information System, Tawassul. 

Tawassul is regularly updated, providing the latest content assets, including press releases, photographs, audio and video, the electronic media kit, and information on broadcast and photography operations. It also provides you with important information and updates on facilities and services such as media accreditation, relevant visa information for international accredited media and permits. 

To kick off your journey with Expo 2020, please ensure that you:

1.           Register to access Tawassul at https://media.expo2020dubai.com.

2.           Once registered, submit an Expo 2020 Media Accreditation expression of interest. To attend Expo 2020 or cover Expo 2020 remotely using content and assets generated by Expo, you must be accredited. 

For support, contact Expo 2020 Dubai’s Media Operations team at media.services@expo2020.ae or +971 56 689 2101.

Visit: www.expo2020dubai.com 

Follow: Twitter: @expo2020dubai | Facebook: @Expo2020Dubai | Instagram: expo2020dubai

About World Expos

In 1851 the Crystal Palace was the centrepiece of London’s Great Exhibition – the first World Expo. It celebrated the man-made industrial wonders of a rapidly changing world. Architecture, contents and a theme, ‘Industry of All Nations’, were combined to create a big idea of nations meeting nations in shared technological and commercial progress. In more recent years, participants in World Expos, including governments, international organisations and companies, have gathered to find solutions to universal challenges and to promote their achievements, products, ideas, innovations, their national brand, and their nations as destinations for tourism, trade and investment. 

World Expos are held under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organisation responsible for overseeing and regulating international exhibitions (‘Expos’) and for fostering their core values of Education, Innovation and Cooperation. Today, four types of Expos are organised under the BIE’s auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos and the Triennale di Milano.