Expo 2020 (Arabic: إكسبو 2020‎) is a World Expo, currently hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite being postponed, organizers kept the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in Paris named Dubai as the host on 27 November 2013.

Event site

The main site of Expo 2020 Dubai is a 438-hectare area (1083 acres) located between the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, near Dubai's southern border with Abu Dhabi. The master plan, designed by the American firm HOK is organized around a central plaza, entitled Al Wasl, enclosed by three large thematic districts. Each one is dedicated to one of the sub-themes of Expo 2020 – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.The infrastructure of the 4.38 km2 Expo 2020 site was built by Orascom and BESIX. The site has an emergency centre which includes an isolation room, emergency care room, ambulances and helicopter services.

Opening ceremony

Expo 2020 was officially opened on 30 September 2021. The ceremony featured performances by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli ("The Prayer"), Emirati singer-composer, Hussain Al Jassmi, Mayssa Karaa and Almas singing the Expo's theme song, "This Is Our Time", British singer Ellie Goulding ("Anything Could Happen"), Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu (a duet of John Legend's "If You're Out There"), American singer Andra Day ("Rise Up"), and Chinese pianist Lang Lang, among others. The opening declaration was made by the Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Themes

The theme of the Expo is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The expo will also have three subthemes: opportunity, mobility and sustainability, each with its own pavilion. Mission Possible - The Opportunity Pavilion is designed by AGi Architects, Alif - The Mobility Pavilion by Foster and Partners, and Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion by Grimshaw Architects.

In 2021 it was announced that the three thematic pavilions would open for a limited time before the full opening of the expo. The Sustainability Pavilion Terra opened on 22 January 2021 until 10 April 2021.

Sustainability

In addition to Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion in the sustainability district, there will be a Hammour House which explores coral reefs; a district stage that seats 300, and several national pavilions: Brazil's Walk through a waterfall, the Czech Republic's Water the desert, Singapore's Enter a rainforest, Germany's Wear cutting-edge devices, the UAE's Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, and the Netherlands' Enter a miniature world pavilion.

Pavilions

The following nations and organizations are participating in Expo 2020:

Mascots

There are 6 mascots: Salama, Rashid, Latifa, Alif, Opti, and Terra. Rashid and Latifa are a 9 and 8-year-old brother and sister duo, Salama is a ghaf tree, and Alif, Opti, and Terra are the respective guardian mascots for the mobility, opportunity, and sustainability pavilions.

Partners

In order to raise awareness about smart recycling, Expo 2020 will organize nationwide bus tours with the waste partner Dulsco. L'Oreal is the expo's beauty partner. Accenture is the expo's Digital Services Premier Partner.Cisco is the expo's Official Premier Digital Network Partner.CNN will be the official broadcaster for Dubai Expo 2020. DP World is the expo's Premier Global Trade Partner.

Developments

Economic

The Dubai Expo 2020 is associated with a rise in the UAE's GDP, as predicted by the International Monetary Fund.

Diplomatic

In November 2019, the UAE permitted Israeli passport holders to enter the country during Expo 2020. Israelis were allowed to have their own pavilion at the event and to even visit the country afterwards. In August 2020, the UAE and Israel agreed to fully normalize relations, superseding the previous agreement.

Ticket prices

Three types of passes can be booked: daily passes, monthly passes and seasonal passes. The daily pass is applicable for one day only, costing AED 95. The monthly pass offers unrestricted entry for 30 consecutive days and costs AED 195. The seasonal pass offers unlimited entry for the entire six months of the Expo and costs AED 495. Entry is free for children below the age of 18, students holding valid ID cards of recognized academic institutions, and visitors aged 60 and above. Tickets are also free for people of determination (disabled people), with 50% off being offered for one caretaker. Tickets went on sale worldwide from 18 July 2021 at the Expo's official website expo2020dubai.com.

Stamps on Expo 2020

Stamps on Expo 2020 issued by postal administrations

Year	Country	Topic / Pavilion Theme	No. of stamps	Denomination / Value	Date of issue
2013	Turkey	Expo 2020 Izmir Candidacy	1	4.40 ₤ - Turkish lira	April 4th
2014	United Arab Emirates	Expo 2020 Candidacy winner	3	AED 3 for the 2 stamps, AED 10 for the Souvenir Sheet	Sep 30th
2020	Monaco	Monaco 360	1	1.16 € - Euro	October 2nd
2021	France	France Pavilion	1	1.50 € - Euro	June 21st
2021	Czech Republic	National Pavilion at Expo 2020	1	Z º - No Face Value (Face value Kč 45.00)	Sept 8th
2021	Luxembourg	Architectural design of the Pavilion	1	0.80 € - Euro	Sept 14th
2021	San Marino	Expo 2020	1	3.90 € - Euro	Sep 21st
2021	United Nations	Connecting Minds,Creating the future	3	Contains three stamps, one for each UN Office. Denominations are US$1.30, CHF 2.00 and € 1.80	October 1st
2021	Poland	Creativity inspired by nature	1	8 zł - Polish złoty	October 1st
2021	United Arab Emirates	Connecting Minds, Creating the future	6	AED 3 for the 5 stamps, AED 20 for the Souvenir Sheet	October 1st
2021	Brazil	Architectural design of the Pavilion	3	5.20 R$ - Brazilian real	October 18th

Note - Slovakia had planned to issue a stamp on 1st October 2021 but it did not materialize.

District 2020

After the 6-month run, The site used for the fair will become part of a 3,000,000 sq m development called District 2020. District 2020 will include 200,000 sq m of commercial and residential spaces with buildings like the Al Wasl Dome being retained in the district's design. Abiding by the rule of sustainability, Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion will become a children and science centre, while Alif - The Mobility Pavilion will become a commercial building. Mission Possible - The Opportunity Pavilion will be rebuilt as a mixed-use space, with plans for the UAE Pavilion still under planning. There will be 2 hospitals, a school and 200,000 sq m of office spaces. The district will be well connected by road and is located near the Al Maktoum International Airport. The Expo 2020 metro station, located next to the Al Wasl Gate, will be renamed as District 2020 in the future.