Dubai World’s Fair Seeks Licensees

Global event will target a third of official product licenses to go to small- and medium-sized businesses.

The 2020 World’s Fair, called Expo 2020 Dubai, has revealed plans to appoint 70 official licensees to create a line of retail products for the global event.

A world’s fair (sometimes referred to as a world exposition or universal exposition) is a large, public exhibition that differs in character and is held in varying parts of the world. The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions is the international sanctioning body for the world’s fairs.

During its search, the six-month event will accept tenders for more than 5,000 unique products, which will be sold at a dedicated 3,000-square-meter superstore on the Expo site.

The superstore will also serve as the flagship outlet of a wider retail network, with additional Expo 2020 Dubai outlets launching across the United Arab Emirates leading up to the event’s opening in October 2020. An online store will also be available.

Additionally, the event plans to award a third of its agreements to small- or medium-sized enterprises, with products spanning commemorative jewelry and watches to souvenirs and digital games. It will also seek partners for locally produced goods, such as ceramics and clothing, that capture the culture and heritage of the United Arab Emirates.

“Expo 2020 will welcome 25 million visitors,” says Gillian Hamburger, vice president, commercial, Expo 2020 Dubai. “Each and every one of them wants to take home a unique souvenir to remind them of their experience. We are looking for designers, craftsmen and artisans to work with us to create a unique range of licensed products for visitors to Dubai in the lead-up to and during Expo 2020. It is a significant opportunity.”

The licensee search will take place across 2017 and into 2018.