Dubai promises to astonish the world

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Business, Cities, Culture, Dubai, News, Politics, Tourism, Travel, World Expo

Celebrations are underway in Dubai, UAE, after the city won the right to host the world’s fair in 2020, the first in the Middle East.

“To the world: we renew our promise to astonish you at Expo 2020,” Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted shortly after winning the bid.

“Dubai will bring to life our vision: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”

Rival bids came from Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey.

My previous post on Expo 2020

Dubai was the front-runner from the very beginning of the bidding process, and on Wednesday it won in all three rounds of voting by member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

“Expo 2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Our goal is to build a better future for the region’s youth. The UAE will achieve it through collaboration and inspiration at Expo 2020.”

The BIE noted that in just a few decades, Dubai had become one of the world’s most modern, innovative and technological cities, attracting investors and workers from more than 200 countries.

“With a target of 25 million visitors, the Expo will continue building Dubai and the UAE’s status as a world hub…”

Canada and Britain were among the countries supporting the Dubai bid.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird congratulated Dubai, saying in a tweet that it was the right proposal, right place and right time.

Sheikh Mohammed’s photo is courtesy of Dubai Government.

Dubai is poised to win Expo 2020

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Business, Cities, Culture, Dubai, Life, News, Politics, Social, Tourism, Travel, World Expo

Delegates from nearly 170 countries are meeting in Paris this week to choose the host of the 2020 World Expo.

The competition is between front-runner Dubai, UAE, and Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey.

All indications are that the Bureau International des Expositions will overwhelmingly choose Dubai on Nov. 27.

There are many reasons for that, primarily no other city competing for the world’s fair can match what Dubai offers – it has ultra-modern infrastructure, solid financial backing and above all an impeccable track record of hosting mega events.

The Dubai Airshow that concluded just last week is just an example. It generated a record US$206 billion in business for Boeing, Airbus and others.

Dubai has also won the endorsements of several countries, including Britain, France and Canada.

“Canada believes it is time for the Middle East to host the world at a time of such hope and challenge in the region, and Dubai is best placed to bring together the most diverse group of peoples from around the world, to share ideas, aspirations, and concrete solutions for the future,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement earlier this month.

“Canada’s support for Dubai reflects our commitment to the dynamism, hope and future of emerging economies in the region and beyond.”

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, a frequent visitor to Dubai, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also have endorsed Dubai’s bid.

“Dubai’s model of shared prosperity is more important today than ever and an inspiration to many countries in the Middle East,” Clinton told students of the American University of Dubai in April.

Dubai under its charismatic Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has made dramatic progress in the past few years.

The emirate has delivered everything it ever promised. Expo 2020 will be no different. It would be another jewel in Dubai’s crown.

But win or lose, Dubai has made its case.

“The UAE will be successful whether it wins the bid or not, as we are working and moving forward with various development plans,” Sheikh Mohammed was quoted as saying this month.

All photos are courtesy of Dubai Expo 2020 and Dubai Government. The video, “Then and Now,” is from YouTube. 

Dubai leads the race to host Expo 2020

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Cities, Politics, Tourism, Trade, Travel, World Expo

With just over a month to go before a winner is named, Dubai is leading the race to host the 2020 World Expo.

A screengrab of Dubai’s official Expo 2020 website.

Already a tourist hub, the city is competing with Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey to host the biggest fair on earth. The Expo, which lasts six months, has never been held in any of the regions – Middle East, Russia and Latin America – bidding for it.The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions will name the winning city Nov. 27.

This week, Dubai is presenting its theme to a delegation of more than 250 officials from the BIE’s 167 member countries.

“After Ekaterinburg, Sao Paulo and Izmir, Dubai is the last candidate city to uphold its project and present its theme… Delegates of the BIE, local authorities and experts will gather for the occasion,” the BEI says in a post on its website.

In the lead-up to the appraisal event, Dubai said the Expo will generate some 277,000 new jobs in the city.

Dubai has been hosting mega events for years, and the 2013 Dubai Airshow is set to open next month. As of Monday night, its official website had nearly 650,000 “Likes” and 42,000 followers.

The website also features an endorsement from a high-profile personality — Bill Gates.

“Dubai… has modernized itself and taken on tough projects, brought people together in a number of amazing ways,” he said.

“I think they would be a great location for World Expo.”

The Expo has been held in 11 cities, including in Montreal in 1967, in the past 80 years. The Italian city of Milan will host the next event in 2015.