Team heads to Paris for World Expo bid

Following the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a high ranking delegation headed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Civil Aviation Authority in Dubai, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, will head to Paris for talks with officials and members of the BIE (International Bureau of Exhibitions) over the UAE’s bid to host the World Expo 2020.

The delegation will include Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of the Court of Dubai Ruler, Ahmed Al Shaikh, Director General of the Dubai Government Media Office, Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre and Mohamed Meer Abdalla Al-Raeesi, UAE Ambassador to France. Representatives of a number of federal and local organisations will also accompany the delegation.

During the meetings of the BIE’s General Assembly, the delegation will give a detailed presentation of the UAE’s strengths and credentials as a potential host for the World Expo 2020. Russia, Brazil, Turkey and Thailand, the other four countries competing for the event will be presenting during the meeting as well. The winning bid will be announced in 2013.

The UAE delegates will also meet representatives of a number of the BIE’s 157 member states to highlight the country’s qualifications as a potential host, including its state of the art infrastructure, its central position on the world map and remarkable record of success in organising and hosting global events and exhibitions.

The move shortly follows Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s directives to set up an executive body that will be responsible for the UAE’s international bid to host Expo 2020 chaired by Shaikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, with Reem Al Hashimy as deputy chairman and chief executive officer. Should the UAE bid be successful, the country will host the World Expo under the theme ‘Connecting Minds. Creating the Future’ in Dubai between January 4, 2020 and June 30, 2020.

The World Expo is one of the largest international events organised for more than 150 years. It takes place every five years and lasts up to six months.

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