Majid Al Futtaim, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia's premier shopping mall, community, retail, and leisure pioneer, has officially declared that it will be the Official Hotel Partner for the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The collaboration was officially launched in a Majid Al Futtaim event at the Kempinski Hotel in the Mall of the Emirates. Her Majesty's Ambassador Patrick Moody, Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner Simon Penney, UK Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai Laura Faulkner OBE, and officials from the Department of International Trade UAE joined the event. Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim – Properties, Fuad Sharaf, Managing Director, UAE Shopping Malls, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, and Khalifa Bin Braik, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim – Hotels represented Majid Al Futtaim.

By promoting the company's compelling range of hospitality, leisure and entertainment experiences, shopping, and F&B offerings, the partnership seeks to foster prospects between Majid Al Futtaim, UK entities, businesses, and travelers in the lead-up to Expo 2020 – and beyond its six-month run that begins on 1 October 2021. In compliance with this, Majid Al Futtaim will welcome notable visitors and celebrities from the United Kingdom and provide them with exceptional VIP services and experiences during Expo 2020. All British delegates will be hosted through its world-class hotel brands. As part of the collaboration, Majid Al Futtaim and its partners will receive support from chances to take part in significant UK Pavilion business events.

“Becoming the official hotel partner of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 is a wonderful honor and privilege,” said Khalifa Bin Braik, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim - Hotels. We look forth to welcome British delegations and their associates to Dubai and our Majid Al Futtaim hotels and malls as proud partners. We anticipate that this collaboration will expand the strong and long-standing connection that Majid Al Futtaim has for its industrial partners in the United Kingdom through a wide variety of mutually beneficial industries and opportunities.”

Majid Al Futtaim is dedicated to developing pioneering and original solutions throughout its retail, real estate, leisure, and entertainment industries. This collaboration with the UK Pavilion – whose subject of ‘Inventing for a Shared Future' would see the exploration of technology, innovation and creativity, data analytics, and robots – aligns strongly with Majid Al Futtaim's long-term objective of developing quickly and being future-ready.

“We're pleased to welcome Majid Al Futtaim as a collaborator of the UK at Expo 2020, supporting us highlight the finest of the UK on the UK Pavilion and across the UAE at their variety of hotels, malls, and entertainment venues,” said Laura Faulkner OBE, UK Commissioner for Expo 2020 Dubai. We are delighted to present the UK to the world under one location, as we demonstrate how we are developing for a shared future.”

“Our collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim at Expo 2020 Dubai is evidence to the robustness of the UK-UAE trade and investment relationship,” said Simon Penney, Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The UK’s involvement at Expo 2020 Dubai will illustrate that cross-border partnership can fuel innovation and generate opportunities in the Middle East and throughout the world.”

The UK Pavilion and program of activities will showcase the extraordinary ideas and inventions of its country, while also commemorating the UK's diversity and excellence, and everything it has to provide, including its prominent contributions in technology and innovation toward the future, sustainable practices.

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo that will be hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) area, and the grandest event ever hosted in the Arab world, with over 190 nations taking part, including the United Kingdom. Expo 2020, which also will happen between the 1st of October 2021 and the 31st of March 2022, is a worldwide launchpad for business, setting new markets and opportunities to every business visitor by including far-reaching business initiatives that will aid in encouraging investment, forging contracts, and promoting international cooperation.

Majid Al Futtaim, established in 1992, in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia's largest shopping mall, community, retail, and leisure pioneer.

Majid Al Futtaim is a unique corporate success story that began with one man's goal to change the face of commerce, entertainment, and leisure in an attempt to "create exceptional experiences for everyone, each day." Since then it has developed into one of the most renowned and successful enterprises in the United Arab Emirates, encompassing 16 worldwide markets, engaging over 44,000 people, and receiving the highest credit rating (BBB) for privately-held corporates in the area.