The UAE Government has made a formal request to postpone Expo 2020 Dubai and has proposed alternative dates. The request was made in a letter addressed to Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Mr Dimitri S Kerkentzes.
The letter sent from His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, confirmed the suggestion of the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee to seek a postponement of the event due to the ongoing global situation with regards coronavirus COVID-19, and also proposed the new dates of 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022
A BIE committee meeting is scheduled for 21 April where the request will be discussed, however the final decision can only be made if at least two-thirds of BIE members vote for it.
The letter sent to the BIE also requests that the official name for the event continues to be Expo 2020 Dubai.