Four countries have been amongst the finalists in a bid to host Expo 2020. This evening (27th of November) in Paris, Dubai has officially been confirmed as the host for Expo 2020.

The bid reflected Dubai’s ambition for the future and is known as “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. This will also be the first time that the Expo has been hosted by a country in the MENASA region, therefore being a remarkable win and providing endless opportunities for the present and future population of the UAE. 

The UAE is full of culture, energy, opportunity and ambition which collectively made this an extraordinary candidate in the bid for Expo 2020. It is estimated that this win would add $24 billion to the UAE economy and create innumerable opportunities that would be created due to the increased demand in various sectors namely leisure and tourism (with an estimated 25 million visitors expected to arrive), construction and logistics. 

This win will see the emergence of entrepreneurial businesses and dynamic SMEs who will work collectively to deliver the ambition that the UAE has in ensuring that Expo 2020 is a memorable occasion. 

We at Grant Thornton are proud to have supported the bid for Expo 2020 and are excited at the changes that this win will bring to the future of the United Arab Emirates.