UAE eyes World Expo

Top Stories

UAE eyes World Expo

DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh 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.

By (Wam)

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Thu 17 Nov 2011, 12:35 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 10:37 AM

Shaikh Mohammed stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh 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 and 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.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed in conversation during their visit to the Dubai Airshow on Wednesday . — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd

“The 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,” Shaikh Mohammed stressed.

According to the resolution issued by Shaikh Mohammed, the Executive Authority for Expo 2020 will be chaired by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive, with Minister of State 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 fair and 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 February 4, 2020, to June 30, 2020.

The said 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 BIE (International Exhibitions Bureau). The UAE will present its case to the BIE and all the participating countries in a coordinated programme over the coming year, aimed at achieving the required votes.


More news from