UAE starts World Expo campaign

The UAE on Tuesday launched its official campaign to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

In November 2011, the UAE officially presented its bid to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris to host the World Expo in Dubai between January 4 and June 30, 2020.

Under the theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” the 2020 World Expo in Dubai will serve as a global hub for ideas and a springboard for creativity, said  Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of the Emirates Group, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo.

The winner among the five candidate cities – which include Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey) and Sao Paulo (Brazil) – will be announced by the BIE following a vote by its 160 member nations in November 2013.

However, a BIE delegation will visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi this week to assess whether Dubai will be awarded the right to host the World Expo 2020. The team will also hold talks with various government officials. This will be the first visit by the BIE officials since the country submitted bid for the event.  The UAE has proposed hosting the six-month expo at “Exhibition City,” a 400-hectare site to be constructed on the southwestern edge of Dubai, adjacent to Dubai World Central, home to Al Maktoum International Airport, which will host the 2013 Dubai Airshow.

Replying to a query, Hilal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre and member of higher committee for World Expo 2020, said Dubai will be pumping roughly $2 billion to $4 billion to develop the exhibition area and infrastructure there.

He said Dubai will be investing roughly the same amount which other host cities have previously invested in the range of $2 billion to $4 billion. He also expects the emirate to enjoy same return which cities who have hosted this prestigious event before.

Factoring in direct and indirect benefits, Germany’s hosting of the 2000 World Expo created more than $7.4 billion in value for that country. While tourism arrivals in Shanghai rose 13 per cent when China hosted its first Expo in 2010. More than 73 million visitors attended the six-month event.  The Shanghai expo generated $2 billion in revenues for the host city. This financially profitable event also raised Shanghai’s profile in Asia and across the world.

Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dubai has infrastructure in place but it still needs support from the 159 member countries to host the event.

He said the cities are awarded to host expos on two basis: One is technical where infrastructure, tourist accommodation, people transportation and exhibition areas are evaluated. In the second category, the

“Expos are unique events of international cooperation dedicated to the communication of innovation and the promotion of global dialogue,” said Loscertales. “We look forward to learning more about the UAE project, its vision and its bid campaign for hosting World Expo 2020 in Dubai.”

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo, said that “By connecting people, which lies at the heart of our vision as a cosmopolitan nation, we can foster greater cooperation and understanding between peoples and cultures. By connecting minds, we celebrate our common aspirations and work to create a brighter future. That is our vision for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.”

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