Expo City Dubai Foundation Invites Global Partners To Drive Impactful Change

Expo City Dubai Authority has launched a non-profit foundation to build on the success of Expo Live, the 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 network of organisations to find solutions to pressing global challenges.

The Foundation will actively support funding, collaborations, investment, and business opportunities. It aims to provide 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, stated, "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. 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."

She added that this new entity ramps up their commitment to a more sustainable future and demonstrates their determination to drive widespread positive change. The Foundation reflects the city’s track record as a trusted convener and the nation’s cherished value of giving. Entrepreneurs, philanthropists, corporates, and fellow foundations are invited to join this new chapter.

The Foundation was launched at a gathering that included Reem Al Hashimy, Hessa Buhumaid, Director-General of Dubai’s Community Development Authority, and other government officials, foundations, partners, and innovators. Hessa Buhumaid said, "We are delighted to welcome the Expo City Dubai Foundation as an invaluable partner in our community development efforts."

Buhumaid emphasised their commitment to providing a supportive regulatory environment where the Foundation can flourish. Joint efforts aim to expand the Foundation’s scope of work towards a cleaner, safer, sustainable, and more dignified future for communities worldwide.

Panel Discussion on Philanthropy

The event included a panel discussion on philanthropy and social development with Hessa Buhumaid and Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and UAE Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy. Badr Jafar highlighted that with trillions of dollars in strategic philanthropy expected across Asia and Africa in the coming years, the UAE is uniquely positioned as a global hub for philanthropic solutions.

Jafar noted that the Expo City Dubai Foundation is central to realising this opportunity and responsibility. The Foundation builds on Expo Live’s legacy of innovation and partnerships, which has backed 191 initiatives from 92 countries. The programme’s first five cycles positively impacted 5.8 million people worldwide.

Impactful Initiatives

Since its announcement in 2013, Expo Live has 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 various sectors.

The belief is that a broad coalition of people working together can create tangible solutions that benefit communities and the planet. The Foundation aims to continue this legacy by fostering collaborations that address global challenges effectively.

With inputs from WAM