Expo 2020: Dubai offers Covid-19 vaccines to representatives of participating countries

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai has issued directives to make Covid-19 vaccinations available to official representatives of countries participating in Expo 2020. These vaccines are currently being offered for free to all residents and Emiratis as well as select GCC nationals residing in the UAE.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai, of which the Crown Prince is also the chairman, held at the Expo 2020 headquarters.

“While the pandemic has brought the world to a crossroads, Dubai seeks to bring the global community together to unlock new possibilities and innovation that can help us tide over our most critical challenges,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

At the meeting, @HamdanMohammed issued directives to make COVID-19 vaccination available to official representatives of countries participating in Expo 2020 to ensure a safe experience for everyone.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 7, 2021

He added that the Expo 2020 site’s focus on sustainability and eco-friendliness has made the event the most sustainable edition of the show in its 160-year history, reported state-run Dubai Media Office.

The Dubai Crown Prince also directed the creation of a virtual platform for Expo 2020 to enable people from all over the world to attend its events and programmes.

“By next October, Dubai and the UAE will welcome the world for Expo 2020, which will open new horizons for closer international cooperation. Expo 2020 will provide a dynamic and innovative platform for fostering global collaboration in new technologies, innovation and future-oriented projects within the framework of the Expo’s main theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and its sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

At the same meeting on Wednesday, The Executive Council also approved Dubai’s Food Security Strategy, which is aligned with the National Food Security Strategy.

The Strategy aims to diversify food import sources, enhance local production, reduce food wastage, enhance food safety and quality, and build the emirate’s preparedness to face crises.

It also classifies food products based on four criteria including nutritional content, importance of the product for consumers, level of demand, and products that are irreplaceable and are used as raw material for other products.

Besides the food strategy, the council also approved Dubai’s Emergency Medical Services Strategy which seeks to enhance collaboration between public and private healthcare sectors. It aims to ensure high levels of readiness and responsiveness of emergency medical services during Expo 2020.

Furthermore, the Council approved the Comprehensive Flexible Mobility Plan for Dubai, which seeks to adopt the latest advances in public transit infrastructure and promote alternative modes of transportation that can help reduce the carbon footprint.

As per the strategy, 23 per cent of Dubai’s population will commute using public transportation by 2025, a goal that will help improve road safety. It will also serve 1.5 million inhabitants, or 40 per cent of Dubai’s residents. Also, pedestrian crossings, speed bumps, bikes lanes and parking slots will be significantly increased across the emirate.