Expo 2020, the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia provides a great opportunity for Gulf countries to rebuild their economies as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the event could add up to AED 122.6 billion (USD 33 Billion) to the UAE GDP alone between 2013 and 2031 and as many as 905,000 job possibilities, resulting in a 1.5 percent rise in the UAE's estimated annual GDP.

Dubai has long recognized the importance of startups as agents of innovation and catalysts to economic growth and development. At Expo 2020, there are various programs both by the Expo organizers and the participating pavilions to promote entrepreneurs.

The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai features four showcases that highlight the country’s burgeoning agricultural-commodity sector, technological strength, culture, and tourism, all while promising zero net emissions. As its economy recovers from COVID-19, the mega-event offers an opportunity for the country to attract tourists, investors and strategic partners to take its recent strides to new heights.

The UAE government recently proposed an amendment in the UAE Bankruptcy Law (Federal Decree No.9 of 2016) which aims to support viable businesses that are experiencing financial difficulty in the context of an “Emergency Financial Crisis”, a situation which affects trade and investment in the UAE and which expressly includes the ongoing pandemic.

The lithium and battery storage sector is dominated by a handful of markets, but surging global demand coupled with increased traction of the element are now generating exciting new partnership opportunities across emerging markets. As countries scramble to diversify the existing China-dominated lithium battery value chain, Zimbabwe, the UAE, and Estonia are three key players we believe should partner to capitalize on the growing lithium market.

As Expo 2020 focuses on urban development and planning as one of its key thematic areas, it is critical to recognize the efforts made by country pavilions as well as private companies to boost the environmental efficiency and sustainability of urban planning and development solutions.

Under the theme “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future,” Dubai's Expo 2020 will showcase several technology initiatives that may have far-reaching implications for the future of global business in a digital-first world.

Expo 2020’s theme “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future” encapsulates the promising future of Dubai’s content creator industry. The UAE has developed influencer-friendly policies and tapped content creators to raise awareness of government initiatives and accelerate social and economic change.

As Serbs and other Balkan nations, like Montenegro and Slovenia, participate in the upcoming Expo 2020, the UAE should consider deepening its ties in the Balkan region — both for economic opportunities and geopolitical gains. The Balkans, on their part, should fuel their economy by leveraging Expo 2020 to showcase their geostrategic value.

Since winning the Expo bid in 2013, the UAE government has doubled down on investments in areas like transportation, logistics, marketing, and tourism to make the Middle East’s first World Expo a success—and a sustainable one at that.

The UAE is home to a large number of Small and Medium Consulting Firms (SMCFs), serving diverse clients in an array of industries and geographies. Yet, there is a conspicuous lack of information on their identities, activities, achievements, and obstacles. As a result of these information gaps and asymmetries, SMCFs typically operate in silos, including in situations where they would benefit from greater cooperation and collaboration.

The Emirati film industry is growing at a steady rate and currently represents 420 million euros to the local economy, but numbers only tell part of the story. By generating demand for culturally specific yet relatable stories, the UAE can paint its cultural portrait on the big screen while creating a viable and sustainable creative ecosystem.

Ramadan 2021 comes at a challenging time for the UAE economy. Reduced working hours coupled with an ongoing pandemic will likely result in very different economic trends compared to previous years, including 2020.

While COVID-19 has accelerated digital adoption across the world, innovation in the UAE is growing at an unprecedented pace and builds on the government’s recent efforts to transform this desert oasis into fertile ground for tech entrepreneurship in the Gulf.

Despite the steady growth of investments by the Middle East in Africa, trade between Saudi Arabia and the region remains low. However, the current economic and regulatory environment in African countries and the KSA are favorable to amplifying linkages between the two regions.

Expo 2020 will host the largest number of African countries to ever participate in a World Expo.

Over two-thirds of Africa’s vast population, an estimated 600 million people, lack access to energy. But Africa’s energy poverty masks the wealth of natural resources that can be used to light up the continent. With significant geothermal, hydro, wind and solar resources, investments in green energy could yield significant returns. Morocco, Kenya, and Rwanda are three countries with particularly compelling prospects for UAE green investments.

For the past decade, the UAE has been the leader in African investment within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). With investments in all four corners of the continent, the UAE is the largest investor in Africa, second only to China.

This report explains current trends in Chinese trade and investment in the UAE, and identifies emerging opportunities for China in the Emirates and broader Gulf region.