Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed sets out Cop28 higher committee

Up to 45,000 people a day are expected to attend climate summit at Expo City Dubai

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, at an unrelated event in Abu Dhabi. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu DhabiShow less

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, has announced the reformation of the National Higher Committee to oversee preparations for the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (Cop28).

The event, at Expo City Dubai, will be held from November 6 to 17, 2023.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, will serve as committee chairman.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, is vice chairman, state news agency Wam reported.

The committee includes dozens of officials and ministers, as well as security and police chiefs.

These include Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister of State for Food Security; Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth; and Lt Gen Abdullah Al Marri, chief of Dubai Police.

Sheikh Mansour said the minister and officials involved reflected the UAE’s commitment to delivering a successful and inclusive Cop28 that would "advance critical climate negotiations and create equal opportunities for all stakeholders and segments of society to find practical solutions", Wam reported.

The summit will serve as a platform for the UAE to promote its view of climate action as an opportunity that drives sustainable economic and social development for all nations.

Expo City Dubai unveiled: in pictures

Expo City Dubai is set to open in phases from September 2022, with a full relaunch in October. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors can take a trip on the Garden in the Sky from September 1 for Dh30.

Later, as residential sectors open, the district will become a '24-hour neighbourhood' in which people live and work, and can visit.

The Expo metro station in June 2022.

Dubai Exhibition Centre in June 2022.

Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer and Marjan Faraidooni, chief visitor experience officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, at a news conference in June 2022 to announce Expo City Dubai.

The entrance gates await new residents and businesses.

Ahmed Al Khatib said the district would be free of single plastics and was built with an emphasis on the environment.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed, chairman of Dubai Airports, speaking at a press conference welcoming the next chapter at Expo City Dubai.