The French Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai was officially inaugurated on Thursday in the presence of Reem Al Hashimy, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai and Minister of State for International Co-operation and Franck Riester, Delegate Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness together with the Pavilion’s main sponsors.

ENGIE, the first ambassador of France’s Pavilion, participated in the inauguration ceremony and was represented by Sébastien Arbola, Executive Vice President in charge of Thermal Generation and Energy Supply activities at ENGIE Group and CEO of ENGIE Middle East, South & Central Asia, Turkey and Africa.

“For over three decades, ENGIE has been the leading provider of power, desalinated water, and energy services to its customers in the region, in collaboration with local stakeholders. Once again, ENGIE is proud to support its local partners by participating in the success of EXPO 2020 which will undoubtedly contribute to shaping a more sustainable future for the region and the world,”, emphasised Sébastien Arbola during the inauguration.

From October 2021 to March 2022, the 2020 Dubai Universal Exposition will be themed “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, based on three interwoven topics: mobility, sustainability and opportunity.

During this world event, the mission of the France’s Pavilion is to promote French heritage, with all its human, philosophical, artistic, cultural and entrepreneurial wealth, but also its science and technology.

With millions of visitors expected and 180 countries represented, Expo2020 Dubai will offer France a unique arena to showcase its vision of the ecological and inclusive transition.

A leader in the energy transition and flagship of French industrial excellence, ENGIE became in 2019 the first ambassador of France’s Pavilion, showcasing its solutions to transform energy use and its work towards more sustainable mobility.

On this occasion, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ENGIE emphasised how this partnership will embody ENGIE’s ‘Raison d’être’, “From Day 1 we will partner with the France Pavilion and have developed together a vision and concrete programs that reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet. We look forward to participating in Expo2020 and pursuing action with our entire ecosystem to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.”

FINAL PREPARATION : The Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee – the high-level task force entrusted with steering progress on the largest event ever held in the Arab world – has reviewed on Wednesday final preparations and reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming the world for an exceptional World Expo, during a meeting led by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee.

The meeting was attended by committee members, including Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of H.H. The Ruler’s Court of Dubai, UAE; Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai; Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police; Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan Higher Committee and Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority; and Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality.

The Higher Committee discussed the final preparations of the Expo site, as well as the programming that will be on offer to provide a visually striking, intellectually enlightening and emotionally inspiring 182 days for all visitors. The legacy of the Expo 2020 site was also addressed, with a focus on ensuring that Expo’s plans are fully aligned with the recently unveiled Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, and to contribute to the UAE’s continued development.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “In just a few months, Expo 2020 Dubai will open its doors to the world and, soon after, we will mark the UAE’s Golden Jubilee. This milestone will see us celebrate everything our young yet future-focused nation has achieved, including the extraordinary delivery of the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia to the highest standards, despite the unprecedented challenges the world has faced this past year.”

Reem Al Hashimy said: “Hosting the first World Expo in the region embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the country to become a global hub for enlightenment, creativity, innovation and human coexistence. We have always understood that the success of this national project requires a concerted, collective effort among UAE Government entities, as well as partners and participants from across the world.