Introduction
The Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to bring international visitors to the UAE to display their various architecture, commodities, and crafts, among many other things. The UAE anticipates a boost to its economy resulting from the proceeds of the Expo, in particular to such sectors as tourism, entrepreneurship, and employment. The paper aims to discuss Expo 2020 Dubai and the benefits expected from hosting the occasion.
Brief History of the World Expo and its Impacts on the Development of Humanity
The World Exhibition brings together civilizations from all over the globe to exhibit their commodities and artistry and communicate information about their places of origin and motherlands with enthusiasm. It is the pinnacle of human civilization’s tremendous achievements, with an unmatched allure (Craik, 2020). The World Exhibition type of gatherings dates back to prehistoric times. As early as the 15th century, Persia hosted the first Expo, which had a more important purpose than a marketplace (Craik, 2020). The London World Expo marked a watershed moment in the evolution of commodity derivatives to the abundance of new industrial technology and hence is considered the first World Exhibition in the contemporary sense. Western countries developed a strong interest in the Exhibition from that point on, recognizing its critical role in showcasing industrial advancements and fostering the interchange of innovation, commerce, and civilization (Craik, 2020). The second World Expo was held in 1853 in New York, the United States of America, where the developing USA first displayed its capabilities to the globe (Craik, 2020). Those World Exhibitions were representations of an incredible age of creativity, comprehensively showcasing commercial civilization’s latest advancements during that era.
The World Expos staged at the beginning of the twentieth century were continuations of the nineteenth-century conception of techno centrism; yet, there were significant changes. The Environment Expo originated in a technological world and aimed to gaze further into the great expanse ahead, transcend innovation, and focus on culture and human situations. The 1915 World Fair in San Francisco, California, was a monumental occasion for China, as many of its unique displays drew favorable attention from international visitors (Craik, 2020). Nine chambers were dedicated to agriculture, commerce, education, philosophy, the humanities, communications, resources, food, and gardening.
The 2000 World Exhibition in Hanover has frequently been contrasted to the 1900 World Fair in Paris. This Exhibition was the ideal approach to summarize humanity’s successes in the twentieth century and herald a new century and millennia (Eppinger, 2019). After careful thought, the expo administrators incorporated resource sustainability as one of the Exhibition’s issues. The 2005 Aichi Exhibition in Japan picked the concept ‘Nature’s Wisdom,’ emphasizing the importance of reuniting humanity with the environment, society, and ecosystem coexisting harmoniously and unlimited ambitions for the future (Han, 2020). The architects documented humanity’s progressive estrangement from ecology through intelligence and innovation, as seen by the numerous and different exhibitions (Han, 2020). The World Expo is more than a large-scale display; it serves as a global salon, bringing together territories and humanitarian bodies to address worldwide challenges and potential developmental prospects. In essence, the World Exhibition unquestionably contributed significantly to the globalization of culture, entertainment, and, particularly, the exhibition sector.
Impact of the Dubai Expo 2020 on the United Arab Emirates
Economic Development
Expo 2020 has boosted state-led projects in Dubai significantly with enhanced transportation and communications system, intelligent buildings, and the District 2020 Exhibition location area, which will transform once the Fair comes to an end. The most frequently cited estimate is USD 8 billion for Dubai’s investment in the Expo (Nadkarni, 2019, p. 341). Indeed, from the moment the Exhibition was revealed in 2013 until 2031, the occasion is anticipated to produce USD 33 billion for the global economy (Nadkarni, 2019, p. 341). Moreover, it is expected to accelerate Dubai’s productivity expansion to an average of 6.4% yearly between 2014 and 2016 and maybe to 10.5% by 2020 (Nadkarni, 2019, p. 341). There are already preparations underway called legacy strategies to ensure that the property industry continues to expand and market swings are minimized once the Tradeshow millions of tourists depart. Therefore, with Dubai hosting the Expo 2020, the UAE’s economy is expected to grow immensely.
Tourism
Since its launch via various modes of communication, Expo 2020 has played a vital part in Dubai’s digital marketing and identity. Expo 2020 is estimated to draw a crowd of 25 million people (Haneef and Ansari, 2019, p. 287). At the onset of the occasion, up to 100,000 extra hotel spaces, including many modern luxury resorts, will be completed (Haneef and Ansari, 2019, p. 287). To enhance tourism further, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) will host a variety of attractions (Haneef and Ansari, 2019). Additionally, an expansion in the overall number of hotels is projected in the run-up to the Exhibition, as is continued more extraordinary employment creation in the tourism sector. The specific monumental occasion is critical to the company’s overall marketing plan. Therefore, Expo 2020 is an excellent chance for Dubai and the UAE to capitalize on worldwide attention to share their extensive cultural legacy.
Entrepreneurship
More commercial possibilities have been established and will remain over the next six to eight months and beyond due to more corporations setting headquarters in the UAE in the run-up to Dubai Exhibition 2020. Additional assistance has been made accessible through organizations such as Dubai Future Accelerator, which assists business people in utilizing the city as a testing ground for developing answers to future growing concerns. Exhibition 2020 is estimated to attract over 20 million tourists, providing entrepreneurs and SMEs with dramatically increased exposure to external funders, clients, and contributors. It is an ideal platform to encourage their products and services and a unique chance for better communication in an environment where individuals are receptive and willing to discuss. World Exhibition provides business entrepreneurs with a one-of-a-kind worldwide business model for marketing their products and services to a global reach of lenders and firms on a local, metropolitan, and worldwide platform.
The Distinguished Initiatives Associated with the Expo 2020 and the Anticipated Benefits Towards Technology-based Economy
The Expo 2020 Dubai’s initiative is to host the most environmentally responsible World Fairs ever. While this may appear unrealistic, sustainability has been integrated with everything they have done – from architecture and construction to lasting influence long after the Expo. In achieving a sustainable economy, technological innovations and devices will be used. Furthermore, sustainability would be achieved through reprocessing and the promotion of natural alternatives. They anticipate encouraging others to re-enforce their stewardship of the environment and safeguarding the earth for generations to come.
The World Excellence Practice Program showcases natural remedies to the globe’s most pressing problems by highlighting projects from throughout the planet that has delivered resilient and comprehensive initiatives, intending to replicate them elsewhere. Additionally, Expo 2020 will be working towards building the groundwork for future civilizations’ sustainability by focusing on human development and technical breakthroughs while remaining mindful of our planet’s environmental and mineral wealth. In my opinion, the distinguished initiatives associated with the Expo are marked by an important message of promoting innovation for everyone and establishing a support base for creative solutions that change the world for the better. Furthermore, highlighting sustainability as an integral concept of the Fair is an essential step to meeting the needs of the evolving society.
District 2020
District 2020 is the district that will be developed by repurposing the Exhibition 2020 Dubai setting and changing it into a technology-driven, sustainable model of metropolitan community living. Household neighborhoods, greenways, co-working spaces, and intelligent connectivity will be transformed (Haneef and Ansari, 2019). District 2020 aspires to a sustainable lifestyle through the smart network grid (Haneef and Ansari, 2019). District 2020 will collaborate with various groups to use sophisticated new technologies to help companies and residential life run smoothly. A few examples are Ai Technology, the Internet-of-things, 5G network, nanotechnology, advanced analytics, and blockchain (Haneef and Ansari, 2019). Siemens, Terminus Group, and DP World are among the critical tenants of District 2020.
In my view, initiatives such as Scale2Dubai have an important strategic intent since Dubai aims to create possibilities for a wide range of businesses and start-ups. Scale2Dubai, headquartered in District 2020, is a worldwide business initiative that will assist various start-ups and corporations in expanding their operations in Dubai through new market accessibility (Haneef and Ansari, 2019). This campaign will solicit input and partnership from domestic and global groups, Fortune 500 firms, government agencies, and academics. These plans are driven to achieve the Expo 2020 Dubai initiatives to have a sustainable economy for future generations.
Reference List
Craik, J. (2020) Expo 88: ‘Fashions of sight and politics of site’. In Celebrating the Nation. Routledge, pp. 142-159.
Eppinger, J. (2019) Towards the sustainable city: planning and urban development for the year 2000 world exposition in Hanover, Germany. London: Routledge.
Han, S.H. (2020) ‘Stifled by freedom of expression: the “Statue of a Girl of Peace” and the legacy of colonialism and historical revisionism in Japan’, First Amendment Studies, 54(2), pp. 261-273.
Haneef, S. K. and Ansari, Z. (2019) ‘Marketing strategies of Expo 2020 Dubai: a comprehensive study’, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 11(3), pp. 287-297.
Nadkarni, S. (2019) ‘Conclusions: Expo 2020 and its impact on Dubai’, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 11(3), pp. 341-345.