Expected to be the largest show in the world, the next World Expo, a trade show held every five years, will be postponed to 2021 because of the Coronavirus crisis.
After the Tokyo Olympic Games, it is now the turn for the Expo 2020 Dubai to be postponed. The trade show was initially due to open on October 20, 2020 and last until April 2021. But as the COVID-19 keeps spreading worldwide and raises uncertainty of how long it will last, it will finally open in October 2021.
“Many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have therefore expressed a need to postpone the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge,” said event director general Reem al-Hashimy in a statement.
“The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of solidarity and unity, we supported the proposal to explore a one-year postponement at today’s Steering Committee meeting.”
No less tan 192 countries are expected to have their pavilions and show the best showpieces of culture, business and technology the countries have to offer. The Dubai Exhibition Centre was built expressively for the event, featuring 45,000 square meters of exhibition space spread over two sites, and will include a theatre and an auditorium.
The last editions took place in Milan (2015), Shanghai (2010), Aichi (2005) and Hannover (2000).
