• A statue in the Mobility Pavilion. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    A statue in the Mobility Pavilion. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • The UAE pavilion with Al Wasl Plaza in the background seen from above at the Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    The UAE pavilion with Al Wasl Plaza in the background seen from above at the Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Al Wasl Plaza, seen behind new buildings at the Expo site. Dubai Expo 2020
    Al Wasl Plaza, seen behind new buildings at the Expo site. Dubai Expo 2020
  • The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • The Expo Entry Portal at the Sustainability District at Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    The Expo Entry Portal at the Sustainability District at Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • The Children and Science Centre with Al Wasl Plaza in the background. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    The Children and Science Centre with Al Wasl Plaza in the background. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Al Wasl Plaza's dome, where the opening ceremony will be displayed next year. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    Al Wasl Plaza's dome, where the opening ceremony will be displayed next year. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Al Wasl Plaza, the centre of the expo site and where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    Al Wasl Plaza, the centre of the expo site and where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Inside the Mobility District at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    Inside the Mobility District at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
  • Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
    Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai: UAE, Jordan and Netherlands to host summit on water, energy and food security


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The UAE, Jordan and the Netherlands will jointly host a two-day summit during Expo 2020 Dubai that will focus on the issues of water, energy and food security.

The Water, Energy and Food Summit will be held in January 2022 to coincide with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

It will combine policy-making with practical solutions for water, energy and food challenges.

Among the challenges that affect the availability of water, energy and food are climate change, a rising global population and increasing urbanisation.

Jordan, the UAE and the Netherlands share many water, energy and food security challenges

The world’s population is expected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, making the management of natural resources ever more important.

“Jordan, the UAE and the Netherlands share many water, energy and food security challenges, so working together and sharing our knowledge and experiences in all three areas will enable us to draw on our collective expertise to deliver the best possible results,” said Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food Security.

“The high-level Water, Energy and Food Summit is an essential component of Expo 2020 and will enable our respective countries to create a road map for pooling our resources and combining synergies to deliver more sustainable systems, not just for our three nations, but for the wider global community.”

  • The steel structure that is Al Wasl plaza - the heart of the Expo. Courtesy: Expo 2020 Dubai
    The steel structure that is Al Wasl plaza - the heart of the Expo. Courtesy: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Expo 2020 set to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Expo 2020 Dubai
    Expo 2020 set to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The completed centrepiece of Expo 2020, Al Wasl Plaza, pictured in January. The steel trellis is wide enough to fit two Airbus A380s inside. Expo 2020 Dubai
    The completed centrepiece of Expo 2020, Al Wasl Plaza, pictured in January. The steel trellis is wide enough to fit two Airbus A380s inside. Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Al Wasl Plaza's massive dome will have images and videos projected onto it. Pawan Singh / The National
    Al Wasl Plaza's massive dome will have images and videos projected onto it. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Solar 'trees' line the streets. Pawan Singh / The National
    Solar 'trees' line the streets. Pawan Singh / The National

In the run-up to the summit, interactive youth roadshows in each of the three countries will explore challenges in water, energy and food security, the results of which will then be presented to world leaders during the event. In addition, youth ambassadors will be announced in the summit programme.

The summit is the first of its kind to focus on regional and national policy steps needed to address the challenges in an integrated manner.

The collaboration will build on Expo 2020's role as a global convener to highlight the complex issues surrounding these three essential resources and emphasise the need for collective action.

“The UAE is a living innovation lab for food production technologies in arid climates, and Expo 2020 Dubai – an unparalleled global gathering dedicated to delivering solutions to our most pressing challenges – presents the UAE, the Netherlands and Jordan with a timely opportunity to work together on developing and implementing innovative solutions that we can share with the world," said Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation.

"This trilateral partnership exemplifies our commitment to cross-border collaboration and our belief that through collective action, we can achieve the sustainable development goals, resulting in a cleaner, safer and healthier future for all by 2030."

During the conference, the Netherlands will initiate a research collaboration involving academic and research institutions from the three countries, which will be presented during the summit through interactive policy simulations and discussions.

Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions – in pictures

  • The US Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The US Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • The Netherlands pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: V8 Architects
    The Netherlands pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: V8 Architects
  • The Luxembourg pavilion, under construction at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020
    The Luxembourg pavilion, under construction at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020
  • France's Expo pavilion. Courtesy: France Expo 2020 Dubai
    France's Expo pavilion. Courtesy: France Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Swiss pavilion for Expo 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The Swiss pavilion for Expo 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Australian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
    The Australian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Irish pavilion located in the Mobility District, near Jubilee Park. Courtesy: Embassy of Ireland
    The Irish pavilion located in the Mobility District, near Jubilee Park. Courtesy: Embassy of Ireland
  • The Austrian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Austrian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Bahrain Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Bahrain Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • Belarus's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Belarus's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Belgium Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Belgium Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Czech Republic Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Czech Republic Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • Finland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Finland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • France's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    France's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The German Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The German Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Italian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Italian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • Japan's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Japan's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Monaco Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Monaco Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Netherlands' Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Netherlands' Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The New Zealand pavilion for Expo 2020.
    The New Zealand pavilion for Expo 2020.
  • Norway's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Norway's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Omani Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Omani Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • Poland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Poland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Saudi Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Saudi Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Spanish Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Spanish Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The South Korea Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The South Korea Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Sweden Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Sweden Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • The Swiss Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    The Swiss Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • Thailand's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Thailand's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
  • An artist's impression of the UAE pavilion.
    An artist's impression of the UAE pavilion.
  • The UK pavilion at Expo 2020.
    The UK pavilion at Expo 2020.
  • Ukraine's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
    Ukraine's Expo 2020 Pavilion.