Dubai, United Arab Emirates (June 13, 2024) – Taking forward its mission to advance innovative ideas that benefit people and the planet, Expo City Dubai Authority has launched a non-profit foundation to build on the success of Expo Live, the pioneering and impactful global innovation and partnership programme initiated under Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Expo City Dubai Foundation aims to bridge the gap between people, ideas and resources, creating a wide network of like-minded organisations to find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. It will actively support with funding, collaborations, investment and business opportunities, providing an enabling environment for social enterprises and problem-solvers from the Global South to scale and grow their ideas.
Following Expo City Dubai’s hosting of the COP28 climate summit and the most inclusive World Expo to date, the Foundation enhances the city’s position as a centre for meaningful partnerships.
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, said, “Rooted in the bold vision and values of Expo 2020 Dubai, our pioneering Expo Live innovation programme continues to benefit millions of people around the world, yet we know we have the potential to do so much more, create many more opportunities and spur even greater impact. The creation of the Expo City Dubai Foundation is not only integral to our city’s vision and values, but also an inevitable next step.”
“This new entity ramps up our commitment to a more sustainable, inspiring future, and demonstrates our determination to drive widespread positive change, while also reflecting our city’s track record as a trusted convener and our nation’s cherished value of giving. Working together, we can harness human ingenuity for true, meaningful progress, and we invite all who share our values – entrepreneurs, philanthropists, corporates and fellow foundations – to join us in this exciting new chapter.”
The Foundation builds on Expo Live’s remarkable legacy of innovation and partnerships, which has – to date – backed 191 initiatives from 92 countries. Announced in 2013, the programme’s first five cycles positively impacted 5.8 million people worldwide, created 160,000 jobs, improved healthcare for 1.1 million people and restored 36 million hectares of land.
The new entity plans a series of empowering partnerships designed to support social entrepreneurs across a wide range of sectors, based on the belief that a broad coalition of people working together can create tangible solutions that benefit communities and the planet.
