Photo:Courtesy of Terminus Group

World Expos have increasingly become a platform for countries around the world to showcase their achievements and cultures to their peers, with many of these advances invariably driven by private enterprises at the forefront of innovative technology. 

With Expo 2020 Dubai ending on March 31, one such company has been at the forefront of highlighting future technology to the world, as the event's 'Official Premier Partner'. Already renowned for driving the AI CITY concept and implementing smart urban digitalization, that company is Terminus Group.

As an Expo 2020 Official Premier Partner, Terminus Group has not only been instrumental in assisting the event with state-of-the-art, AI-powered networks, it has arguably been the most visible contributor of future tech to the visitor experience. This is due the 152 AI-powered, Titan Series, autonomous robots, which have interacted and assisted visitors and staff alike. More famously, Terminus Group has become known for its development of the now internationally iconic, orange robot mascot - "Opti."

That said, has Expo 2020 turned Terminus Group from a domestic technology driven powerhouse into an international player? And how is it now positioned in the global conversation on AIoT?

To analyze this, we need to step back and examine the ambitions of Terminus Group's founder and CEO, Victor AI. Since its formation in 2015, international expansion was, for many, inevitable, but it was only during Victor AI's visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in late 2019, that the opportunity to become an Official Premier Partner of Expo 2020 was identified as the perfect platform to kick start that ambition.

Many foundational factors that predate Expo 2020 were already clearly in play. Therefore, Terminus Group's international ambitions and Dubai's hosting of the World Fair became a synergetic alliance of much wider influences.

The signing of the Official Premier Partnership, Terminus Group has enjoyed a series of related successes and achievements since July 2, 2020. Not least among them is the establishment and opening of Terminus Group's first regional HQ, at the Expo 2020 site. This ten-year lease commitment sees the company as an anchor tenant within the post-event's smart city, legacy development - District 2020.

In terms of direct business, Terminus Group has since formed a strategic partnership with Injazat, the UAE and regional market leader for digital transformation, cloud, and cyber security. Commercial deals with the region's leading food delivery service provider, Talabat, and regional hotel group Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) were also signed. The latter two deals now look set to expand in scope, beyond Expo 2020, with the deployment of Terminus Group's smart devices across the region.

Terminus Group's achievements are numerous and look certain to be influential on the company's international development for years to come. In terms of brand recognition, there are few now who are not familiar with Terminus Group among Middle East and many international audiences - a result of the concentrated exposure and interaction by the company's representatives with over 192 country pavilions, during Expo 2020. 

Regarding  the key takeaway points for the Terminus Group leadership, Victor AI said: "The unique experience of being an Official Premier Partner to Expo 2020, has revealed a clear appetite for Terminus Group's patented and proprietary AIoT, smart devices, and AI CITY platforms, across international markets. 

"With deals and prospects from government to corporate entities, we have seen the international ambitions of Terminus Group accelerated further through this partnership and seen the ever-growing bonds between the UAE and China further cemented."