The UAE government has proposed a new start date for Expo 2020 Dubai, the governing body of the world fair said.
The event would begin on October 1, 2021 and run until 31 March, 2022.
Bureau International des Expositions made the announcement on Saturday. Expo 2020 was due to begin on October 20.
In solidarity with participating countries, following discussions with the BIE and the Expo 2020 Steering Committee, the Government of the UAE has notified the BIE of its request to change the dates of Expo 2020 Dubai to 1 October 2021 - 31 March 2022 https://t.co/iUSGWc66QB pic.twitter.com/in2siiF9ZQ
— BIE (@bieparis) April 4, 2020
It followed the decision by Dubai's authorities last week to look at postponing the six-month event to allow the global tourism and business markets to recover from the impact of coronavirus.
Paris-based BIE has convened a meeting of its executive committee for 21 April to discuss the proposed change of dates. The change can go ahead if two-thirds of the committee, comprised of 12 elected member states, vote in favour.
The formal request was made in a letter addressed to Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the BIE, from Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
BIE said the expo steering committee "reviewed with grave concern the major impact of the spread of Covid-19 on global public, social and economic health".
It also said the UAE has proposed that Expo 2020 be kept should the change in dates go ahead.
Governments across the globe are working to halt the spread of Covid-19, of which there were more than one million confirmed cases as of this weekend. In the UAE, the number of cases has doubled in the past five days to 1,264 as of Saturday.
Speaking last week, Reem Al Hashimy, director general of Expo 2020 Dubai and Minister of State for International Co-operation, said
Dubai drones disinfect city against Covid-19
“As we worked towards October 2020, something terrible happened to our world,” she said.
“And so our journey must take a different turn. We must adjust our opening dates for Expo 2020 Dubai and spend the time now with our friends across the globe, banding together, working together to emerge stronger than ever before.
“When we come together as one, humanity has no limits.”
Dubai Expo may be delayed due to Covid-19
