Mohammed unveils Dubai 2020

Dubai 2020, a new initiative that will explore the emirate's potential to host the World Expo and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, was launched yesterday by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dubai 2020 will focus on a number of sectors within Dubai and the wider UAE around the common goal of furthering social and economic progress for the region.

Central to this project, a Working Group of government and private sector representatives will explore the potential and possibility of Dubai hosting the global events in 2020. The Games take place every four years. The World Expo takes place every five years. The two events coincide in the same year every 20 years.

Bringing together these two world events in one place – each for the first time in the Middle East – would be a unique proposition, uniting business, science and technology with sport, education and culture.

Speaking about Dubai 2020, Sheikh Mohammed said: "We need to engage our community here in Dubai and the UAE in a discussion about our vision and everyone's role in our future. For this we need a clear, common goal that highlights shared universal human values. The Dubai 2020 initiative will look at how we can shape our environment and society for future generations. It will address, in an integrated way, the building blocks that underpin social and economic progress – sport, education, culture, business, science, technology, health and the environment.

"These two global events – the Olympic Games and World Expo – give us a sense of common purpose and play to our strengths. Dubai is already home to people from different nationalities and cultures who live in friendship and peace. And I believe we can deepen this respect and mutual understanding if we work together to achieve something spectacular and meaningful," said Sheikh Mohammed.

As per a decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed, the Working Group will be chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, while Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be the Vice-Chairman. Members of the Working Group are Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Owais, Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Ahmad Abdullah Al Shaikh, Yousuf Yacob Al Serkal, John Ferguson and Giselle Davies.

A feasibility study will be undertaken before further decisions are taken regarding making any formal bids to the International Olympic Committee and the Bureau of International Expositions.

Sheikh Mohammed has mandated Falcon and Associates to lead the Dubai 2020 project and Working Group. Falcon and Associates, a firm under Falcon Holding, established in conjunction with the Dubai Media Office, will initiate and review a range of strategies to secure Dubai's position as an attractive location for inward investment.

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