Australia welcomes Dubai as host city of World Expo 2020
Joint media release:
- Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP
- Minister for Trade and Investment, The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP
28 November 2013
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb have congratulated the city of Dubai on winning the right to host World Expo 2020.
This will be the first Expo ever to be held in the Middle East, and in the Arab world.
The Ministers expressed the hope that Dubai Expo 2020 will not only provide new and substantial opportunities to broaden the links between the two countries and people, but also promote future growth and stability in the region.
Dubai's bid for Expo 2020 was strong, reflecting the city's status as a global centre for the tourism and convention business and a global transport and logistics hub.
In supporting Dubai Expo 2020, Australia signalled our commitment to further deepening our relationship with the United Arab Emirates and with Dubai. The relationship is growing, with thriving trade, investment and tourism links, strong defence cooperation and wide-ranging dialogue and collaboration on foreign policy and international security.
Around 16,000 Australians live in the UAE, including about 10,000 in Dubai. We have a $5.6 billion trade relationship and about 350 Australian companies are registered in the UAE. With the introduction of the Qantas-Emirates partnership, about half a million Australians either visit or transit through Dubai every year. Dubai is also the host of our Australian Defence Force Middle East HQ.
The decision on the Expo 2020 host city was made at the General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE).