Held for the first time in the region, Expo 2020 Dubai, has opened its doors to welcome participants and visitors from around the world. As the host city of the event, Dubai, also a UNESCO Creative City of Design, continues to pursue its aspiration to “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and promoting sustainable development.

During the Expo, over 192 participating countries and manifold organizations gather in Dubai to showcase their elements and innovation towards sustainability. From solar farms and other renewable resources of energy to recycling wastewater, the city of Dubai also demonstrates its ambition to encourage sustainability and adaptability. However, the city’s efforts to boost its sustainable development are not limited to technology and infrastructure, but also through culture and creativity.

On this occasion, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the city of Dubai, together with Dubai international Airport and the Emirates Airline have joined forces for a communication campaign to further promote UNESCO, its Creative Cities Network and the city of Dubai as a Creative City of Design. This collaboration has resulted to a video presentation that has been screened throughout Dubai International Airport, as well as an audio interview of Mr Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO and Mr Eng. Dawood Abdul Rahman Al-Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality on the nexus of culture, cities and sustainability.

This joint initiative aims to further enhance both locally and internationally the awareness on the importance of culture and creativity as well as cities’ essential contribution to and great potential for sustainable development.