Nahyan Mabarak al-Nahyan says Expo 2020 volunteers embody Emirati values

Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak al-Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of the Dubai World Expo 2020, has praised the 30,000 volunteers who will help deliver an exceptional World Expo when Dubai welcomes the world from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Expo 2020 volunteers have completed more than 40,000 hours of training to date, demonstrating their readiness for the first event of its kind in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Training will continue over the coming months to prepare future volunteers for their roles.

Thousands of volunteers also attended Expo 2020's high-energy orientation experience at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, one of 13 identical sessions designed to inform and inspire, while adhering to strict COVID-19 security measures.

Expo 2020's extensive training programme equips volunteers with essential skills and knowledge for their roles, as well as demonstrating the warm hospitality of the UAE that will help create lasting memories for the millions of visitors during the six-month mega-event. From gamified online learning to face-to-face training for specific, site-specific roles led by Expo 2020 experts, the volunteers have been on an exciting learning journey.

Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak al-Nahyan spoke positively about the work of the volunteers ahead of the World Expo: "Expo 2020 coincides with the UAE's Golden Jubilee celebrations, and I am honoured to recognise that the Expo 2020 volunteers share a common set of values that reflect the principles on which our nation has thrived. They are from diverse nationalities, backgrounds and age groups, and will travel from all seven emirates to join us in welcoming the world with a spirit of compassion, collaboration and optimism for the future.

"We are now at the very beginning, and the commitment of the Expo 2020 volunteers has never wavered, even when faced with the challenge of a pandemic. We are grateful for their passion and dedication, rooted in an understanding of what Expo 2020 is capable of achieving. With their support, Expo 2020 is poised to fulfil its mission to create a better future for people and the planet, in the UAE and around the world".

Expo 2020 volunteers range from students and university employees to National Service cadets, housewives and retirees, as well as people with determination. UAE nationals make up 45% of the volunteers, collectively representing more than 135 nationalities and ranging in age from 18 to 79 years old. They will play a crucial role in managing the myriad of global experiences, events and discussions that take place every day at Expo 2020.

Emirati volunteer Kenan Abdul Ghani, 28, explained that he joined the Expo volunteers with the desire to give back to the country that has given him so much: "As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate and joined the Expo. It is a great honour for me to represent the UAE on this global platform. I am looking forward to the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai and working with my team in the country pavilions to learn about the cultures of more than 190 countries, as well as their customs and traditions".

Sameer Mazumdar, 21, from India, said: "I get to be a part of this great event which is one of the biggest events in the UAE and the UAE has been happening since the last 10 years or so ... I want to witness as many things as I can and I want to experience all the events behind the scenes ... not just as a visitor but contributing to it as well."

Cardela Coulson, 57, an Australian volunteer, said: "I'm originally from the Philippines, but I migrated to Australia, so I call myself a global citizen. I feel very good because it's going to be part of history, so I felt my grandchildren will be able to see that later on. It's Expo 2020 ... it's an experience that you won't be able to have in your lifetime in some way, because I'm 57 now ... I'm excited to meet and see different people from other parts of the world." 

Roopa Udeshi, 31, from India, said: "I'm from Mumbai ... and I live in Dubai for the last 10 years ... I always wanted to live in Dubai because it had a different feel and always looked towards the future, and I always wanted to be part of the future ... and today I'm standing here, standing in front of you as a volunteer because this is what Expo 2020 is: the future".

Jogi Gratil, 38, a volunteer from the Philippines, said: "I felt it is a privilege to be part of this historic moment. It's a once in a lifetime experience for me.... I believe that the UAE has given me many opportunities in my life, so I think it's time to give back and be part of this Volunteer Programme".

Suaad al-Marzooqi, a 19-year-old UAE national volunteer, said: "I am proud of my work as a volunteer at Expo 2020 Dubai, especially because it is my first experience working in a global professional environment. I am sure I will learn a lot here, more than I would have learned anywhere else, especially when interacting with visitors from different cultural backgrounds".

Joe Moscaritolo, a volunteer from the United States, said: "I went to a World's Fair when I was a teenager, my grandmother took me and my brothers to the New York Expo, actually in Flushing, New York, that's the only one I've ever been to. And now I'm at this one. As a volunteer and a visitor, we plan to come ... the technology, the amazing buildings ... There are over 190 countries, and I can't wait to see the different pavilions."

With the support of Etisalat, the Official Premier Partner of Expo 2020 Volunteers, Expo 2020 received more than 180,000 expressions of interest in volunteering, far exceeding the initial target of 100,000 applications. 

Coinciding with the UAE's Golden Jubilee, Expo 2020 is a celebration of the UAE's remarkable progress and the continued efforts of its leadership to invest in the future growth and development of the nation. It will unite more than 200 participants, including 192 countries, as well as businesses, multilateral organisations and educational institutions, in the shared purpose of solving some of the world's greatest challenges, inviting millions of visitors from around the globe to join in the creation of a new world during a six-month celebration of human ingenuity, innovation, progress and culture.

Text, photos and videos: Expo Dubai 2020.