Top 10 Expectations from Expo 2020

As I post this write-up, the ticking clock tells me we have less than 936 days left for one of the biggest events in the history of the UAE. In terms of weeks, it is around 134, which might seem a long time, but in the context of a global exposition, in the run up to delivery of infrastructure, in the creative fulfillment of its envisaged theme and ramping up of services required for a mega event, it is not as long as it seems.

It seemed like a long time ago, when HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced in November 2013 the winning of the Bid. His Highness promised an expo that would astonish the world… and that is exactly what the organizers have set out to do.

Yet this write-up is not about the preparations. It is about expectations, as to what the life-changing event will do for the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE. As a resident for more than four decades, as an entrepreneur, and as a businesswoman, here I go with my top 10 expectations from the upcoming festival of human ingenuity:

1) Phenomenal success: This is my greatest wish and prayer. May the Expo attract millions of visitors over the six months duration, and make Dubai a shining jewel on the world map.

2) New thinking: Which country came up with many firsts in smart cities, smart government and much more, which country has the tallest man-made structure on land and the largest mall in the world, which country has a zero carbon, zero waste initiative, which country is planning hyperloops for intercity travel and flying taxis for intra city commute - UAE ofcourse. I expect that Expo 2020, the first ever hosted by a Middle East nation, will truly foster new thinking - a greater platform for creativity, innovation and collaboration, with its attendant benefits yielding long term positive impact in MEASA – Middle East, East Africa and South Asia.

3) Global Business Gateway: With the Expo designed as a gateway to the world’s emerging markets, I expect that the event will create a meeting ground for enterprising entrepreneurs, enterprise owners and global organizations. Interactive sessions will open up opportunities for local business seeking a global connect. If you think you have ‘been there and done that,’ get set for networking like never before.

4) Empowering Youth: Did you know that an Apprenticeship Programme was launched as far back as 2016? Currently, the program’s scope has been widened and it is expected that UAE Nationals will benefit from increased apprenticeship options. Simultaneously, the Youth Connect initiative will seek to empower young people in the UAE to explore new opportunities and onboard them on the journey towards 2020 and beyond. I expect a fresh talent pool to join the mainstream in the coming years, as apprentices emerge richer from their experience at Expo 2020.

5) Seamless Experience: Measures are underway to ensure that participant countries have a seamless experience. This includes entry permits, tax and customs exemptions and recognition of foreign driving licenses. Further, in an agreement with the Bureau International des Expositions, the UAE will also provide access to health insurance, education and the use of select radio frequencies. I expect participants and their family members to treasure memories of a seamless experience long after they return to their homeland.

6) Record participation: That brings us to an estimate of numbers. According to latest reports, Expo 2020 is expected to receive 25 million visits, with 70 percent of visitors from outside the UAE – the largest proportion in the 167-year history of World Expos.

7) Transportation: With over AED 25 billion investment expected to be spent on infrastructure-related projects for the Expo, you can expect Transportation to undergo a massive transformation. Dubai RTA’s Masar 2020 envisages integrated mass transit options, comprising metro, tram, buses and water transport. Latest technologies in smart mobility, such as cable car and self-driven smart cars, are envisaged, while conventional modes such as cycling routes and lanes would be introduced. Rail transportation will play a pivotal role… Metro Route 2020 will take 46,000 passengers per hour to and from the Expo site in under 16 minutes from Dubai Marina.

8) Job Creation: You will find me sharing this expectation for a good reason: I am an HR professional, and my greatest joy is when an open position is filled and the selected candidate reports to work with a mile-long smile. Name a domain, and you will find a role for it in the build up to the Expo. Over 300,000 jobs are expected to be created in supply chain, procurement, ICT, construction, logistics, hospitality, tourism, aviation, engineering, marketing, finance and more. Additional jobs will also be created in the wider economy, many of which would be contract staffing roles for temporary positions in diverse verticals.

9) Lasting Legacy: I expect that Expo 2020, besides stimulating a knowledge economy, will make an outstanding contribution to a sustainable future. The aftermath of the event will create a physical legacy in terms of District 2020, and a lasting legacy with stupendous impact on the region’s social and economic development.

10) Dream Come True: History has shown that countries and cities that successfully conduct global events, in the sporting or trade arena, significantly transform or reinvent themselves. When we look back in April 2021, the conduct of the event would have exceeded expectations, and culminate as dream come true, for Dubai.