The first Emirati participation in a World Expo dates back to 1970, when Abu Dhabi had a pavilion at Expo 1970 Osaka. Since gaining its independence in 1971, the United Arab Emirates has participated in all World Expos and most Specialised Expos, with some award-winning pavilions. The UAE joined the BIE in 1997, and in 2013 was elected to host World Expo 2020 in Dubai.