Qatar will be hosting the International Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2023 Doha Qatar from October 2, 2023, to March 28, 2024. First of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, the expo will explore sustainable solutions that enable the sustainable cultivation of trees and crops, especially in desert and arid lands. The expo’s theme is “Green Desert, Better Environment”. The six-month-long event is expected to draw three million visitors from all over the world and will feature pavilions of more than 80 countries.
The expo will be taking place at Al Bidda Park located at Doha’s scenic seafront, and the preparations by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Ministry of Municipality are in full swing. The work on the main 1,700,000sqm facility that will house the expo is over 80 percent complete, according to officials. Qatar is using innovative sustainability and greenery solutions at the expo facility —including hydroponic structures and mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) retaining wall — to reduce the use of water and other resources. The Expo area is divided into three areas: the international area, the cultural area and the family area. Each area will have various activities and events over a period of six months.
Expo 2023 Doha will be particularly important for Qatar, GCC, MENA and other desert and rid regions. It will showcase the solutions and research to fight desertification and for greening the arid lands. Techniques that enable the sustainable cultivation of trees and crops in arid lands play an important role in reversing desertification. The expo will also boost the agriculture sector in the region.
The expo will be the largest event in the country after last year’s football world cup. The participating nations will showcase their products, services and research during the expo. The expo will also feature universities highlighting their research on best practices in agriculture in the region.
As part of its sustainability strategy, Qatar has adopted measures to conserve resources especially water used in irrigation. Municipalities in Qatar have planted water-efficient trees and plants suitable to the hot summer climate and have increased the use of treated wastewater in irrigation. Officials say that alternative techniques have reduced the irrigation requirement for crops and trees by 70 percent.
Expo 2023 Doha is a huge opportunity for the region and the world to find answers to water, energy, and food scarcity problems.
