United Nations

Delivering the largest COP in history with world-class event design.

80k+

In-person attendees across 14 days, plus 3,000 virtual participants making this the largest ever COP attendance

166

World Leaders hosted in a world-class custom built theatre

5k+

Global media attendees amplified COP28 to all corners of the world

480k m²

Footprint spanning multiple venues and green field sites

The challenge

As the eyes of the world fell on COP28 – the UAE’s first major international gathering of world leaders – the UAE Government required exceptional brand and experience design across fourteen days for 80,000+ attendees, 166 World Leaders, 5,000+ media, and 3,000+ virtual participants. The scale and complexity demanded intricate planning with a full-service, extensive scope and only a nine-month lead-time in a highly complex global stakeholder environment to deliver the most sustainable, accessible, interactive COP ever.

Approach

Drawing on our experience delivering COP26 and our nuanced understanding of the complexities of a COP, Identity worked collaboratively with the UAE, UNFCCC, UNDSS and other high-level partners in a complex stakeholder landscape. Working closely with the UAE to understand their objectives, ambition and guiding principles, Identity transposed these into creative and comprehensive event strategies to deliver the Blue Zone. Placing the guest experience at the heart of the design, we created a high-quality, integrated and thoughtfully–considered environment including a dedicated Presidency space to host 166 World Leaders plus global thought-leaders to the World Climate Action Summit – a first of its kind for COP space to support intensive programming.

Result

COP28 was the largest, most attended and most digitally advanced COP to date, setting a new global benchmark for hybrid participation and delegate experience. What distinguished COP28 was not only its technical scale but also the vision and determination that underpinned it. Identity convened, steered and aligned a complex network of stakeholders and suppliers, resulting in the most ambitious and inclusive delivery ever undertaken at a United Nations climate conference. By identifying efficiencies and optimisations across the lifecycle of the project and deploying effective procurement strategies, the project was delivered well within the assigned budget. Through leadership, discovery and relentless pursuit of excellence, Identity ensured COP28 was more than just another summit, it was a turning point in how the world comes together to tackle climate change.