https://arab.news/gpdrm
When Dubai hosted Expo 2020, it became the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to hold the event, redefining the possibilities of a World Expo. Historically, these global gatherings, stretching back to 1851, have been dynamic showcases of experimental architecture, international collaboration and technological advancement. Yet, for almost two centuries, women were largely absent from their production and focus.
Dubai notably changed this narrative, largely due to the formidable leadership detailed in “When Ground Shifts,” the insightful new book by Reem Al-Hashimy, the UAE minister of state for international cooperation and the visionary behind Expo 2020. As Expo 2025 Osaka passes its halfway point, it continues to build on this rich history, while the anticipation for Expo 2030 Riyadh further underscores the region’s commitment to this global platform for innovation and collaboration.
Al-Hashimy’s book is far from a mere chronicle of milestones; it is a candid, first-hand account of the immense personal and international challenges she navigated — from being appointed a minister at 29 to delivering Dubai’s final presentation in Paris while heavily pregnant and repeating her mantra of “hope is not a method.” The anecdotes reveal the tireless effort required to deliver a World Expo.
