Addis Ababa, 1 June 2020 – The African Union takes note of the official announcement by the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to approve the one-year postponement of the Expo 2020 Dubai due to COVID-19 and maintain the name “Expo 2020 Dubai”, which the decision on a change of dates was made after reaching the required two-thirds majority vote of BIE member states, as stipulated by article 28 of the 1928 Paris Convention.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requested a change in dates of Expo 2020 Dubai following a meeting of the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee in which participating countries expressed their need to postpone the Expo’s opening in order to overcome the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is in this context that the Expo 2020 Dubai through a letter by H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General Expo 2020 Dubai, informed the African Union and other international participants that BIE Member States agreed to both the postponement and the proposed new dates for Expo 2020, which are now 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. This postponement will allow participating countries and international organizations to assess the impact of COVID-19 and find suitable Post-COVID-19 recovery plans for all the participating countries and organizations.

Together with other participating international organizations, the AU Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai, Dr Levi Uche Madueke, stated that: “Africa Union stands in solidarity with Expo 2020 Dubai and the BIE as consideration is being made to postpone the Expo world event in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. AU remains committed to the course of leveraging the Expo Platform to seek innovative solutions towards creating a better future for all».

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region since their inception in 1851. The African Union commends the work of the Government of United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) in working towards bringing participants and businesses closer to the world’s fastest growing markets, and create opportunities for accessing a region of more than 3.2 billion people with a collective GDP of more than US$ 6.5 trillion.

The African Union will continue to take an active part in the planning process of Expo 2020 Dubai and count on the continued support and valuable contributions so far provided by all its stakeholders including AU Organs and Specialized Agencies, AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, Financial Institutions, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations and the Academia to ensure that preparations continue to run smoothly until the new opening date while joining efforts towards the Continent’s preparedness and response against the pandemic.

Expo 2020 Dubai will provide AU stakeholders a multitude of opportunities to advance their respective commitment to sustainable development of the continent, as well as explore potential partnerships required for the socio-economic transformation of the continent as part of the Post-COVID-19 recovery plan.

For further information please contact:
For further information, contact
Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail: ochiengj@africa-union.org

Clelia Kakunze | Policy Officer | Bureau of the Chairperson | African Union Commission | E-mail: kakunzec@africa-union.org