Impact and legacy

From the outset, Expo 2020’s vision was focused on the event’s long-term legacy, with a commitment to creating a meaningful impact for Dubai, the UAE, the BIE, and the world as a whole.

Retaining 80 percent of Expo’s infrastructure, the incredible site lives on in legacy, re-opening just six months after Expo 2020 closed. A clean, green, innovation-driven, human-centric city of the future known as Expo City Dubai, it forms a central part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, and has already been named as the venue for COP28.

Expo 2020 has proven to be a significant contributor to the UAE’s economic goals, including boosting the Small & Medium Enterprise sector and the creative economy, supporting the continued growth of industries including tourism, logistics and hospitality, and creating employment opportunities in the UAE and wider region.

Expo was a powerful platform for the forging of new partnerships, encouraging new connections and fuelling knowledge transfer and innovation. International participants, including the UAE, agreed a number of trade and economic deals during the six months, delivering tangible ongoing returns.

From the pioneering Volunteers Programme to the highly successful Expo School Programme and impactful Expo Live initiative, Expo 2020 reminded us of the shared values that connect us all, accelerating entrepreneurial spirit, awakening senses, and shifting mindsets.

As the first World Expo to be hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Expo 2020 was an unparalleled opportunity to shine a spotlight on the region and position it as an equal partner on a global stage. The event also coincided with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years of growth and kickstarting the next chapter of purposeful progress.