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Reviewed September 2023
The Expo 2023 Doha, or the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition, is an International Horticultural Expo to be hosted by Doha, making it the first A1 International Horticultural Exhibition in Qatar, the Middle East, and North Africa. Initially planned to take place in 2022, the event had to be postponed to new dates between October 2023 till March 2024 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Expo 2023 Doha was developed under Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which emphasizes the sustainability aspects within its four development pillars—economic, social, human and environmental—and with the support of the Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and the Ministry of Municipality.
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Expo 2023 Doha news
As per the announcement by authorities, the Hayya card system will be available for visitors at Expo 2023 Doha. The Hayya system will be made available for a six-month period to welcome visitors to the Expo 2023 later this year
Although the details of the entry procedure are set to be announced, there is an expectation of increased tourism by easing the process. As explained by Expo 2023’s secretary general Mohammed Al-Khoury, “We are expecting the participation of 80 countries and the entry of three million visitors to Doha during the exhibition period,”
The new Hayya e-visa will come in different categories based on nationality, residency, or other international visas already in possession of the traveller. There are three additional categories of travellers who will be granted easier approval.
The A1 category will include all nationalities that do not qualify for visas on arrival or visa-free entry, while A2 is designated for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents, which now includes all professions. The A3 category is set for international visitors who have visas or residency from Schengen countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
According to the officials, the period of these visas depends on the country of origin and is usually 30 days. They also detailed that no visa request should take more than 48 hours to receive a response.
Moreover, international visitors must provide accommodation details for their stay and share information for emergency contact. A passport-style photo in digital format will also be required to be submitted to complete the application.
Expo 2023 Doha dates
At the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in Paris, it was agreed that the event will be held between 2 October 2023 and 28 March 2024 for a period of 179 days.
It was originally scheduled to be held from 14 October 2021 to 17 March 2022 but was then rescheduled to 2023.
Expo 2023 Doha location
The Expo 2023 Doha will be located in Al Bidda Park, a few steps away from Corniche Street, situated between the West Bay and Doha Port. Furthermore, with 80 participating countries, an area of 150,000 sqm is reserved for international participants.
Expo 2023 Doha theme
The Expo 2023 Doha will be organised under the theme “Green Desert, Better Environment.” The theme has been chosen to primarily inspire visitors by proposing solutions to promote a prosperous green life in the desert in a fruitful international
cooperation.
Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar, will have the four following sub-themes
Modern Agriculture
The main objective of this sub-theme is to combine tradition and modern technology for a balanced use of resources and provide innovation, research and scientific advancements to produce safe, sustainable and affordable food for the increasing population of the world.
Modern Agriculture focuses on 4 topics:
- enhancing farmers’ role
- bridging knowledge and technology
- ensuring coordination solutions
- promoting permaculture
Technology & Innovation
With an aim of taking productivity and sustainability further, the Expo 2023 Doha will be a vehicle for future green solutions while playing an important role in changing the direction of the use of fossil fuels, creating solutions for urban industrial pollution and advancing alternatives for chemical-intensive agriculture.
Technology & Innovation focuses on four topics:
- hands-on experience
- rainwater harvesting
- alternative energy solutions
- urban greenery and urban farming
Environmental Awareness
With the objective of raising everyone’s attention to change attitudes and behaviours, Expo 2023 Doha will be a tool for encouraging the protection of natural resources and raising a sense of connection to the natural world while promoting environmental development.
Environmental Awareness highlights three areas:
- affiliation instead of education
- foodprint
- perma-gardening
Sustainability
The shared goal of humanity is to achieve a lifestyle compatible with biodiversity and ecological balance. This involves striking a balance between diverse requirements while being aware of the economy, technology, environment and social sciences.
The three pillars of Sustainability were re-defined under the theme of Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar:
- economic invest in innovative agricultural technologies.
- social establish the connection of people with nature to raise awareness.
- environmental transformation of dry and arid land into agricultural areas and forests.
Expo 2023 Doha areas
The Expo 2023 Doha will be divided into three distinct areas where volunteers will be assigned. The northern area will host the international exhibits, while the remaining two areas will come alive with diverse functions and experiences.
Each area of the site will be designed to offer an exceptional experience to participants and visitors.
Family Area
Leveraging an abundance of pre-existing features, this section of the Park will serve as a focal point for family enjoyment, various activities, gatherings, and outdoor adventures. The central area covers an approximate size of 500,000 square meters.
International Area
The International Area acts as the main entrance and centrepiece of the Expo, housing international gardens, exhibitions, and events. The northern part covers an area of approximately 700,000 square meters.
Cultural Area
Due to its close proximity to the historical core of Doha and the presence of the Old Fort and Old Rocks on the site, the Cultural Area is an ideal location for hosting cultural and traditional activities and exhibitions. The southern zone covers an approximate area of 500,000 square meters.
How to participate in Expo 2023 Doha?
Around three million worldwide visitors are expected to attend Expo 2023 Doha or the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition.
During the 164th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on 22 November 2018, Expo 2023 Doha received formal recognition as an International Horticultural Exhibition. On that same date, the Exhibition’s Organiser was also officially granted the right to promote the event to various states and intergovernmental organizations as the Official Participants.
Please note that the Official Participants are States and Intergovernmental Organisations that have accepted the invitation of the State of Qatar to participate in Expo 2023 Doha, and Exhibitors are governmental and non-governmental entities, organisations, private companies and associations.
To participate or volunteer in the Expo 2023 Doha or the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition, follow the steps given below:
Confirmation of participation
The first phase of the participation process is carried out by confirming participation with the submission of an official letter or Note Verbal through diplomatic channels in response to the official invitation letter sent by the State of Qatar.
The official response should include:
- participation form
- official Letter/Note Verbal with the following information;
- approving participation or acknowledging non-participation;
- appointing a Commissioner General of Section. Please note that the Commissioner General of the Section is a representative of the participating country and is solely responsible for the country’s section at the Expo 2023 Doha.
- identifying the supervising department within the Government or appointing a specific entity/company/horticultural association to organise the participation of the country in Expo 2023 Doha. In both cases, the country shall remain the official participant.
Determining the terms of participation
After the submission of the Participation Form and official Letter/Note Verbal through diplomatic channels, negotiations may be carried out between the organiser and the Official Participants to specify the terms of participation.
However, once the Theme Statement in the Participation Form is approved by the organiser, the Participation Contract must be signed by the organiser and the Official Participant. The Participation Contract must further be signed by the Commissioner General of Section, Secretary General of the Organiser, and countersigned by the Commissioner General of Expo 2023 Doha.
The Official Participants may:
- send the signed Participation Contract by emailing [email protected].
- visit the Expo 2023 Doha Exhibition Site and sign the Participation Contract with the organiser in Doha.
For more information, please refer to the Expo 2023 Doha Exhibition Site participation guide.
Expo 2023 Doha volunteer registration
Volunteer registrations for the Expo 2023 Doha volunteer programme took place through the official Expo Doha website. However, the volunteer registrations for 2023 are now closed.
As per the announcement of the official website, the volunteer registrations for Expo 2023 Doha reached around 50,000.
