Mohammed sets up executive body for UAE's bid to host Expo 2020

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued directives to set up an executive body that will be responsible for the UAE's international bid to host Expo 2020, one of the world's oldest and largest international events.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has all it takes to host the world's cultural event. He also noted the capabilities of the UAE and its people to organise the global event, lobby for international support for its bid to host the fair which attracts millions of visitors throughout six months with the many countries having large pavilions to showcase their social, cultural and economic achievements.

Sheikh Mohammed further stressed: "UAE can amaze the world and is well-prepared for such a large-scale event with its infrastructure which ranked high in reports by the World Economic Forum (WEF), its strategic location which makes it an ideal gateway between the East and the West as well as a history of successes in hosting global events."

According to the resolution issued by Sheikh Mohammed, the Executive Authority for Expo 2020 will be chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Reem Al Hashemi as deputy chairman and chief executive officer. Members of the authority include federal and local representatives.

The authority will prepare a full dossier for the international competition on hosting the World's Fair and for lobbying for international support from 156 member countries of The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

In its bid to host EXPO 2020, the UAE is competing with Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Thailand. The winning country will be announced in 2013.

If its bid wins, the UAE will host the World Expo under the theme "Connecting Minds.. Building the Future" in Dubai between 4th February 2020 to 30th June 2020.

The dossier will include details on the capabilities and expertise of the UAE for hosting the event as well as the changes the UAE, and Dubai in particular, will make in preparation for receiving the huge numbers of visitors expected to throng the venue.

The World Expo represents an international opportunity to celebrate the world's different cultures. The latest edition of the event saw 23,000 cultural and heritage events which represented all of the world's cultures.

It takes place every five years and lasts for six months and is organised by the 156-member Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) (International Exhibitions Bureau). The UAE will present its case to BIE and all the participating countries in a coordinated programme over the coming year, aimed at achieving the required votes.

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