Residents and visitors extend full support for Dubai 2003

DUBAI - As the UAE prepares to host the biggest and most important global event held in the region - the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund - local residents and visitors have expressed their support for the event and the massive impact it will have on international perceptions of the Arab World.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 3 Sep 2003, 12:20 PM

Last updated: Wed 1 Apr 2015, 9:46 PM

Now that the final countdown has begun, citizens, tourists and expatriates are all expressing confidence in the UAE's ability to host a truly world-class event that will reverberate around the world. Johann Premfors, a Swede, works in IT and has lived in Dubai for ten years. "I am very impressed that Dubai is hosting an event of this magnitude. This is definitely going to raise the credibility of Dubai as well as the UAE as a whole. It is important that the rest of the world understands that this region is not all about conflict, but one of great opportunity and wonderful avenues for direct and indirect investment."

UAE citizen and resident of Dubai, Amna Ahmed is full of pride at her country's achievements. Employed in the Guest Relations Division of the Emirates Towers Hotel, she is thrilled at her country winning the race to host this event. "The implications of this are definitely not limited to business or finance. The benefit of such high-profile international exposure will seep down to all of us and our own lives will reflect the benefits."

Robert Kidd is an architect who helped design Dubai's skyline-defining Emirates Towers. A Briton, he has been in Dubai for seven years now and he remembers hearing about the event while travelling. "Hosting an event like this is an extremely positive move, and an especially timely one for the entire Arab world. Aside from the Dubai World Cup and the Desert Classic Golf championships, this is definitely the biggest image-building exercise undertaken here. For the people of the other parts of the world, this meeting will present a true image of the Arab world, and slowly but surely, opinions about this place will definitely change." Hisham Amiri, a UAE national, works as a part of the e-Government initiative of the Government of Dubai. Hisham represents the youth of the country, who have all made conscious efforts to gain a foothold in tomorrow's world, and have a say in national development.

An IT specialist, Amiri maintains that Dubai is at a landmark point in history, poised for greatness. "For such a young country to host this event in the most luxurious manner means that the UAE will now be open to international business in a more focused and serious way. As a national, not only am I proud, I also appreciate the opportunities that such a move towards globalisation will present to me and my generation." A Scottish tourist in Dubai, Lesley Johnston, said, "I'm not sure how this will affect me for the time that I'm here. From what I understand, this is a great opportunity for this place to completely transform itself in the eyes of the world."

Hussain Seidat, an Iranian, has lived in Dubai for the past 25 years. He is General Manager of a trading company and firmly believes that Dubai could not have wished for a better platform over which to build its reputation internationally.

"Even though it is a short stay for most of the VVIPs and other heads, I am sure that every opportunity to introduce the city and country to the delegates and officials will be exploited to the fullest."