Case Study: Expo 2020 Dubai achieves streamlined procurement and digital transformation with SAP Ariba

Expo 2020 Providing Excellent Experiences to Millions Through Digital Transformation

Expo 2020 Dubai faced the challenge of planning and operating a once‑in‑a‑lifetime, six‑month world expo with more than 24 million visits, hundreds of international stakeholders, and hugely complex procurement needs—from building iconic pavilions to coordinating thousands of suppliers. Organizers needed to replace manual spreadsheets, prepare for a dramatic spike in transaction volumes, and create a single source of truth across finance, HR, and procurement to run the event at scale.

By implementing SAP S/4HANA as the digital foundation and SAP Ariba Strategic Sourcing Suite to automate procure‑to‑pay, Expo 2020 centralized supplier management, automated approvals, and provided supplier portals and dashboards. The transformation delivered tangible results: 10–12% average sourcing savings, a 33% reduction in procurement cycle times (from 90 to 60 days), 26% of spend awarded to SMEs, reduced paper processes, stronger cross‑department collaboration, and real‑time financial visibility—helping power the event’s operations and leaving a reusable digital legacy.

Expo 2020 Dubai

Adam Bektic

Director of Procurement and Contracts