Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai is gearing up, with full-frontal vigour, to host what has been touted as the biggest event of the year, Expo 2020, in October. Even as the site readies for the grandiose event, agreements have been inked between Expo 2020 Dubai and the Ministries of Interior and Defence as part of preparations for the World’s Greatest Show.

Expo 2020 will bring together participants from over 200 nations to shape a “better future for humanity.” Government entities have been developing programmes to encourage staff to engage in the cultural and creative experiences of Expo 2020.

Celebrations across UAE mark One Year countdown to Expo 2020

Now, in the first of its kind, the first official Expo 2020 Dubai retail store has been opened, offering an array of event-branded gifts, souvenirs and memorabilia, including the hugely popular Expo wristbands, camel soap and apparel made from plastic recycled in the UAE.

Featuring appearances from Expo 2020’s mascots and with a number of events planned over the coming months, the dedicated Expo 2020 store, now open at Global Village in Dubai, will add to the buzz around The World’s Greatest Show with only nine months to go until its opening on 20 October.

Part of Expo 2020’s Licensing and Retail Programme, the store will retail official merchandise produced by a range of innovative local and international businesses.

Sanjive Khosla, Chief Commercial Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Expo 2020 is just a few months away from opening its doors. Through a variety of Expo-branded merchandise, much of it crafted by local artisans and SMEs, our first official store will offer visitors from the UAE and beyond a taste of what to expect from The World’s Greatest Show.”

Souvenirs for sale include sustainably-produced apparel, plush mascot toys, personal care products manufactured using camel milk, and the much sought-after wristbands in colours denoting Expo’s subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Collectors’ items, such as gold and silver commemorative coins, will allow visitors to take home a piece of limited edition memorabilia to mark the largest event ever held in the Arab World.

Expo 2020’s branded merchandise is also available at outlets across the UAE including Official Partner ENOC’s Zoom stores, apart from Carrefour and Splash. They are also available at nine Dubai Duty Free locations in Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, the city’s first retail points of contact for international visitors.