UK breaks ground on Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, welcomed the United Kingdom’s International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, to Expo 2020 Dubai as the UK became the latest country to break ground on its pavilion.

A UK delegation led by Dr Fox was in the UAE to mark the start of construction for the UK Pavilion, located in Expo’s Opportunity District. The pavilion will explore the theme ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’, while also showcasing British expertise in the arts and the space sector.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy said: “The UAE and the UK have long enjoyed a robust, mutually-beneficial relationship that will continue to thrive as we forge partnerships across all sectors, from trade and tourism to art, technology and education. Expo 2020 Dubai will provide a strong platform to expand those partnerships, and we congratulate the UK as it begins the construction of this artistic and AI-inspired pavilion.”

Dr Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, said: “The Expo provides a global platform to showcase our ambition for the future, and our participation provides excellent opportunities for UK businesses.”
He continued: “The United Kingdom hosted the first ever Expo, the Great Exhibition in 1851, so we really appreciate the value of Expos and what they can bring to the country that hosts them, and what they can also bring to the countries that participate.”

The long-standing relationship between the UAE and UK continues to strengthen, built on a thriving bilateral relationship that spans economic, strategic and cultural interests and enabling extensive cooperation in the region and around the world.

The two countries agreed in 2015 to ramp up bilateral trade to AED 116 billion (GBP 25 billion) by 2020, with latest figures for 2017 showing bilateral trade at more than AED 82 billion (GBP 17.5 billion). In April 2019, the UK hosted the fifth UK-UAE Joint Economic Committee, where they set out a new economic partnership – a mutual approach to enhancing trade and investment between the two nations.
Expo 2020 Dubai, with its theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, offers all 192 participating countries an unparalleled opportunity for sharing innovations and knowledge, forging new business partnerships and promoting trade.

The eye-catching UK Pavilion, featuring an illuminated, continually changing poem, created through visitor input and generated by artificial intelligence, will provide a strong platform for the UK to showcase its expertise to millions of visitors from around the world.

The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 will showcase the finest inventions and ideas of our time. It runs from 20 October 2020 until 10 April 2021 and expects to attract 25 million visits, with an unprecedented 70 per cent of visitors expected to come from outside the UAE.

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