The UN presence at Expo will inform, inspire and engage visitors to take impactful action towards a thriving future for people and planet.
Maher Nasser, Commissioner-General for UN at Expo
Expo 2020 represents an extraordinary opportunity for the United Nations to engage millions of people and create lasting engagement, for action and impact. The UN presence at Expo will invite visitors to engage in the powerful story of the value of multilateralism through the celebration of International Days, thematic weeks and programming in the Opportunity Pavilion.
With the convening power of the United Nations and the universality of its work, the UN programmes will highlight the ideas and experiences that unite us. The UN events, programs, and International Days at Expo will inform, inspire and engage visitors to take impactful action towards a thriving future for people and planet.
Mr. Maher Nasser, Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2020 and Director for Outreach in the Department of Global Communications, leads the United Nations’ participation at Expo 2020 in Dubai with support from his Deputy Commission-General, Ms. Dena Assaf, Resident Coordinator for the UN in the United Arab Emirates.
Expo 2020 Dubai, being held under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, is open to the public from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
World Expos play a unique role in convening a global stage for new ideas and technologies, engaging people, and spurring support for global priorities across national boundaries. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 will welcome visitors from all over the world.
In February 2019, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres accepted the invitation from the Government of the United Arab Emirates to participate, welcoming it as an opportunity to highlight the positive impact of the United Nations across the globe, and the need for multilateralism to tackle humanity’s biggest challenges.
The much-lauded United Nations presence at Expo 2020 Dubai engages visitors in success stories of multilateralism at work through the decades from the 1940s to the present day. A popular element of that engagement featuring material prepared by a Yearbook Unit team led by Associate Editor Lonjezo Hamisi are currently on display at the #UNHub with the title, ‘UN Timeline Wall’. Responding to the resonance of that display among Expo 2020 visitors, the Yearbook Unit launched its latest online publication: Building the future: Stepping stones in United Nations history, based on over 100 stories of United Nations contributions to human rights, climate action, gender and racial equality, sustainable development, and peace and security. Each of the 115 ‘stepping stones’ that make up Building the future tells a brief story of the United Nations in service of transforming our world, accompanied by a related photo or graphic. Follow the link to learn more about the publication.
The United Nations Bookshop online offers a wide variety of United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) themed gifts with an emphasis on recycled and sustainably sourced materials. Explore the Expo 2020 selection today and visit us here. All proceeds from sales support the work of the United Nations.
You can also find Expo stamps issued by the United Nations Postal Administration here.
Take Action Now
Individuals
ActNow is the UN campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Every one of us can help limit global warming and take care of our planet. By changing our habits and making choices that have less harmful effects on the environment, we can tackle the climate emergency and build a more sustainable world.
Businesses
Step up and commit your business to set science-based targets aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5℃. Sign the Business Ambition for 1.5℃ commitment letter and join the visionary corporate leaders taking ambitious climate action.
Businesses
Commit to implement the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 by signing and submitting an entry letter to the UN Secretary-General.
Act Now at Expo
Join the #ACTNOW AT EXPO team and participate in the #ACTNOW AT EXPO challenge to take action for people and planet.
Global Goals Week at Expo
Expo 2020 is an unparalleled opportunity to mobilise citizens around the SDGs. Events during the week of 15-22 January took stock of how far we have come and explored how we can act together to deliver on this international roadmap. Best practices in last-mile delivery, livelihood and enterprise development, and the rights of women and girls were highlighted.
UN Secretary-General’s message at the Mission Possible-Opportunity Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s video message is played at the Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion where Expo 2020 brings to life the SDGs. The pavilion seeks to raise visitors’ awareness of the SDGs and the issues surrounding them through a simple message: a small change can have a big ripple effect and together, through our collective action, we can create safer, cleaner, healthier world for everyone.”
World We Want
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched a global conversation on the world’s future, inviting everyone, everywhere to participate, to commemorate the United Nations 75th anniversary. #TheWorldWeWant exhibit is a special collection of 75 photos, curated from more than 50,000 images crowdsourced from over 130 countries. It is a creative response to the Secretary-General’s call to hear directly from the peoples of the world about their hopes and dreams for the future. The carefully chosen photos of the #WorldWeWant collection were curated outside of the #UN Hub at Expo 2020 Dubai.
