Dubai eyes Expo 2020 delay by 1 year on coronavirus concerns

Organizers of Expo 2020 Dubai are currently exploring the possibility of postponing the event by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, state news agency WAM reported.

Expo 2020 convened a second virtual meeting on Monday of its Steering Committee, with representatives from the participating countries, as part of ongoing consultations that the impact of coronavirus will have on global preparations for the event.

"While everyone remains firmly committed to Expo 2020, many countries have been significantly impacted by coronavirus and therefore expressed a need to postpone the opening of the event by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge,” Reem Al Hashemy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai said.

She further elaborated that the Steering Committee fully supported the proposal to explore a one year postponement of Expo 2020 in the “spirit of solidarity and unity”.

Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which awards the event, welcomed Expo 2020 organizer's recommendations.

“Any decision on the Expo will be collaborative and agreed upon collectively in a vote of the countries that form the BIE,” Kerkentzes said.

The committee will move forward in supervising the process to follow in accordance with the rules and regulations of the BIE convention.

Approximately 25 million visitors were expected to visit Expo 2020 Dubai, which was projected to run from Oct. 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, with 192 participating countries and more than 200 restaurants.

While everyone involved in #Expo2020 Dubai remains firmly committed, many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have expressed a need to postpone Expo’s opening by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge. pic.twitter.com/8xgk5D0UJl

— Expo 2020 Dubai (@expo2020dubai) March 30, 2020