Dubai is the destination where the world comes to celebrate. With the opening of the much-awaited Expo 2020 Dubai, scheduled from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, that reputation is going to get a fillip further, which would benefit other GCC countries as well.

From architecture to entrepreneurship, from technology to art and culture, education to tourism, and entertainment to culinary delights of different nations, the biggest ever Expo, with 200-odd pavilions and 191 participating nations, it is going to be an experience for a lifetime for sure, and it is expected to bring the world together in every aspect.
This is the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and the theme of this Expo itself is quite unique, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. From reality to augmented reality, the Expo, delayed by almost one year, is going to a tourists’ marvel in all respects.
The Expo was originally scheduled from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, but the authorities were forced to postpone it owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. But it has not anyway affected the spirit of the six-moth long fest.
The theme for this edition has been finalized on the concept that bringing the world together can catalyze an exchange of new perspectives and inspire action to deliver real-life solutions to real-world challenges, according to the organisers.
This time the Expo revolves around three subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. This will motivate the visitors to preserve and protect the planet, explore new frontiers and build a better future for everyone. 
With more than 191 participating nations, numerous pavilions, events, attractions and experiences, Expo 2020 Dubai UAE aims to inspire and initiate change and create a better future for us.
The Expo has been designed in such a manner as to attract people cutting across cultures and generations. From the robots that interact with the visitors to water defying gravity and Garden in the Sky with an observation tower and ‘flying park’, the event is going to be a tourist’s marvel. And to add to that there is music, food and whatever you imagine, it is there.
When Dubai Expo unlocks the potential for individuals and communities to shape the future and ensure the smarter and more productive movement of people, goods and ideas, both physically and virtually, it would not just result in a more sustainable future for the planet and its beings; it will also bring about a positive impact on other countries in the region.
Since Dubai is the hub of activities in the Gulf region, and the world is fast recovering from the pandemic situation that affected every faculty of life, from the micro to the macro level, the dynamism induced by the Expo will definitely benefit the countries like Oman.
In the recent days, Oman has been reporting a significant improvement in the Covid-19 situation which is further boosted thanks to the high rate of vaccination. This would definitely improve the confidence of the visitors. Since Oman connect with many countries in the region, the inflow of tourists to Dubai will help in improving the tourism sector in Oman as well. Moreover, the authorities have already announced that the country is “ready to welcome back visitors”.
On the other hand, the Expo is a great opportunity for sustainable business, which is also the focus area of Oman. In its effort to be part of building a better world and shape the future, the Oman Pavilion in the Expo, titled ‘Generations of Opportunity’, is based on storytelling of Luban and its life cycle, which is a representation of the human life. Like this tree, each part of the life cycle allows us to explore opportunity through the themes of growth, harvest, trade and use, according to the people behind it. 
Since the pavilion aims to highlight the country as a distinct destination for tourism, and also for doing business, thus promoting investment opportunities across various sectors, it would also benefit Oman at the tourism front as well as the investment segment.
How big this Expo is going to be is evident from the projection that over 25 million visitors are expected here in the next six months. This means, more than twice the population of the UAE are expected to be there, and this is expected to give every neighboring country its slice of the pie. Yes, this is the time to market our potential and attract the world to our folds.