Dubai becomes the first in the Middle East and Africa region to host the World Fair.

The much-awaited Expo 2020 Dubai, billed as the world’s greatest show and the biggest party on Earth, will be held on 20 October, 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in the Philippines announced

The Expo, to be held at Dubai, will run up to 10 April, 2021. Dubai ‘s theme for the event is dubbed, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” which will revolve around three sub-themes, such as Mobility, Sustainability, and Opportunity.”

UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Hamad Saeed Al-Zaabi said the year-long countdown kicked off in his country on 20 October with activities held in the seven emirates of the Arab federation.

The first expo or World Fair was first held in 1851 in Hyde Park in London, England. The World Fair/Expo is held every five years.

The Dubai edition will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center-Jebel Ali, Dubai South, which the UAE built especially for the Expo.

Delegations are expected from 192 countries, with each one having its own grand pavilion. Each pavilion will showcase a country’s respective products, services, innovations and technologies.

For the Philippines, Amb. Al-Zaabi said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Organizing Committee (POC) for Expo 2020 Dubai have inked a deal with Dubai-based RAQ Contracting Company LLC for the construction of the country’s pavilion.

The agreement was signed by Trade Secretary and POC Commissioner Ramon Lopez and RAQ Contracting Company CEO Rami al-Qaisi recently in Manila, the UAE envoy said.

Amb. Al-Zaabi cited the Expo 2020’s potential impact. “This event would be a once in a lifetime celebration of our country and its people, and the first ever to be staged in the Middle East and North Africa. Of course, with the expected participants from more than 190 countries and a millions of visitors from across the world, for sure our guests would be able to experience the hospitality of the Emirati people and, in this respect, our people would be contributing and sharing to the world our meaningful practices, understanding, familiarity, and that’s what is the meaning of Expo 2020 Dubai theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.’”

It can be recalled that Dubai headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, won the right to host Expo 2020 in November 2013 in what was a hotly contested event in Paris, France.

Dubai won over Ekaterinburg, Russia; Izmir, Turkey; and Sao Paolo, Brazil. A voting by the 168 members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions chose Dubai to host Expo 2020. BIE oversees the bidding, selection, and organization of World Expos.

With the win, Dubai becomes the first in the Middle East and Africa region to host the World Fair.

Around 25 million people are seen to come to the Expo 2020 and make it the most popular World Fair since 1851.