The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and the U.A.E. Consulate in Los Angeles, in partnership with the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, co-hosted a senior delegation from Expo 2020 Dubai for roundtable luncheons in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. The delegation – which included Manal AlBayat, Senior Vice President for Business Development and Integration; Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President for Commercial; Omar Shehadeh, Senior Vice President for International Affairs and Engagement; and Nadimeh Mehra, Director for Legacy Development and Impact – met with a range of companies focused on education; venture capital; logistics and transport; big data; internet of things; augmented reality; construction and real estate; and travel and tourism.
L to R: Danny Sebright, President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council; Sarra Mumayiz, Manager, Business Development & Integration, Expo 2020 Dubai; Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Expo 2020 Dubai; His Excellency Abdulla Alsaboosi, Consul General, U.A.E. Consulate in Los Angeles; Manal AlBayat, Senior Vice President for Business Development and Integration, Expo 2020 Dubai; Nadimeh Mehra, Director for Legacy Development and Impact, Expo 2020 Dubai; Danah Khatib, Project Manager, Culture, Expo 2020 Dubai; and Omar Shehadeh, Senior Vice President, International Affairs and Engagement, Expo 2020 Dubai
His Excellency Abdulla Alsaboosi, U.A.E. Consul General in Los Angeles, provided remarks on the importance of the U.S.-U.A.E. trade and commercial relationship, highlighting recent new ventures in California.
“H.E. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has prioritized promoting Dubai Expo 2020, the first World Expo for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. With the U.A.E.’s strategic location, every major global city can be reached from Dubai in one stop,” said H.E. Alsaboosi. “It is great to have the delegation from Expo 2020 on the West Coast to discuss the various aspects and opportunities for collaboration to interested parties. Here in California, new bilateral partnerships and economic opportunities continue to arise. Just this month, U.A.E. investment company Mubadala launched a new venture capital business and opened its first U.S. office in San Francisco. Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) also launched its new investment subsidiary, Jumeirah Energy International Silicon Valley Company (‘JEI Silicon Valley’).”
Mr. Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, discussed the latest developments regarding the U.S. government’s intent to participate at Expo 2020 Dubai. “With the signing by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week of a formal letter of intent to participate in Expo 2020 with a U.S. Pavilion, the U.S. government has signaled the importance of Expo 2020 Dubai to U.S. business interests. Companies like Accenture have already signed major agreements with Expo 2020 Dubai to open a hub in District 2020 to harness world-class digital and physical infrastructure, and UPS has signed on as an Official Partner to handle one of the most complex logistical challenges in the world.”
Expo 2020 Dubai’s leadership provided important insights into the progress of Expo 2020 and the business opportunities it creates for U.S. companies. Ms. AlBayat said: “Innovation is in the DNA of World Expos, and as the first Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, Expo 2020 Dubai offers a unique chance for U.S. businesses to show their creativity to a diverse international audience and their fast-emerging economies. This will be a fantastic opportunity for American firms of all sizes.”
“After Expo 2020 Dubai, the site will transform into District 2020 – one of the world’s best-connected locations, allowing U.S. businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators to benefit from the U.A.E.’s position as a global hub for business as they build new partnerships. They will be able to benefit from a development that is designed specifically to stimulate and support innovation.”
Ms. Mehra continued the presentation by outlining Expo 2020’s legacy plans. Expo 2020 Dubai, located in Dubai South, the Emirate’s flagship urban project, will be redeveloped and rebranded into District 2020 not long after the conclusion of Expo in April 2021. District 2020 will be a ready-built community hub with 700,000 square feet of residential space, education facilities, and parkland designed to connect, create, and innovate.
In addition to the three roundtable luncheons, the Expo 2020 Dubai delegation also held separate meetings and site tours with senior business officials from AECOM and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), among other local companies.
To provide a better understanding of the scale and importance of Expo 2020 Dubai, it is of note that the global destination recently began its search to recruit more than 30,000 volunteers who will play a crucial role during Expo’s six-months of operation. Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 and is expected to attract 25 million visits, with 70 per cent coming from outside the U.A.E.
To find out more about Expo 2020 Dubai, please click here.
To find out more about the U.S. Government’s intent to participate at Expo 2020 Dubai, please click here.
To register your business for Expo 2020 Dubai, please click here.
