The Arab League has signed a contract for the participation of the Cairo-based pan-Arab organisation in the Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

Expo Dubai will take place from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021.

Hossam Zaki, assistant secretary-general of the Arab League, signed the agreement with Najeeb Al Ali, executive director of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, in the attendance of Juma Mubarak Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt, reported state news agency Wam.

Zaki said the Arab League's secretariat general would spare no effort to have an impressive engagement in the international exhibition, which will be staged for the first time in the Arab World, it said.

UAE selected the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", with sub-themes being 'Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity’, added the report.