Secrets of Dubai's expo plans revealed in bid dossier

[Al Bhatti]

Apr 28, 2013

Secrets of Dubai's expo plans revealed in bid dossier

Secret details of the UAE's plans to host Expo 2020 in Dubai can be revealed to the public for the first time.

The official Dubai Expo 2020 bid document was submitted to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which supervises world expos, in December. It had previously been seen only by those involved in the bid and BIE officials, but now The National has had an opportunity to examine it.

The 623-page plan covers subjects ranging from the budget, transport and safety to the proposed locations of the toilets at the 438-hectare expo site at Jebel Ali. It also includes details of a spectacular entertainment programme.

If the country's bid to stage Expo 2020 is successful, one of the highlights of the entertainment programme will be a dazzling pageant showcasing the first 50 years of the UAE.

The specially scripted show would trace the country's roots back to Bedouin civilisations and combine dance and music with media, puppetry and special effects.

It is just one of a vast range of entertainment attractions set out. Others include concerts, water spectaculars, theatrical extravaganzas, giant-size puppet shows and firework displays. The entertainment would continue into the night, long after the expo pavilions closed at 10pm.

The dossier was produced internally by the bid team and is divided into 20 chapters with titles such as Merits of the City and Region, Designing and Using the Expo Site, Approach to Sustainability and The Legacy of Dubai Expo 2020.

The document is illustrated with photos, diagrams and artist's impressions showing how some areas of the site would look.

The task of the BIE team, which carried out an enquiry mission in the UAE in February, was to assess whether the plans it contains were feasible.

The section on entertainment contains a sample schedule for a single day that includes no fewer than 63 events, the first starting at 10.30am and the last - a show called One Thousand and One Arabian Lights- at 11.30pm.

The expo will coincide with the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the UAE. The dossier says of the Emirati spectacular: "In celebration of the UAE's Golden Jubilee, this performance showcases the richness and diversity of the UAE's heritage."

The site would be the central location for the anniversary celebrations over the course of the expo.

"A calendar of continuously changing shows and events will enhance the visitor experience," the plan says. "The entertainment will cater for all types of visitors, including those with special needs.

"The packed programme of performances - from theatre and dance to exciting speakers and large-scale spectaculars - offers a variety of options for world-class entertainment."

Parades will make their way through the site, and roving musicians, mime artists, comics stilt-walkers, acrobats and even flash mobs will appear.

Reem Al Hashimy, minister of state and managing director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said at the handover of the plans in December: "We have prepared a distinctive dossier to convey an authentic portrait of our nation and its vision to deliver an unforgettable World Expo in the UAE.

"I am confident that the bid dossier is a thorough piece of work and a deep portrayal of our capability to host such a mega-event on the eve of our 50th anniversary."

Peter Vine, the project co-ordinator for the UAE pavilions at previous expos, said a Dubai expo would be a focus for the anniversary celebrations.

Mr Vine, one of the few people to have read the entire dossier, said on the eve of the enquiry mission: "Dubai knows how to put on a party and that is going to be the biggest party ever.

"So in terms of celebrations and entertainment and fun and enjoyment it's all going to be happening, and the expo will add to it in a huge way."

Dubai is one of five cities bidding to host the Expo 2020 - the others are Ayutthaya in Thailand, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Yekaterinburg, Russia, and Izmir, Turkey. The winner will be named in November.

If Dubai's bid is successful the expo will run from October 2020 to April 2021 and will be the first world fair to be held in the Middle East.

Secrets of Dubai's expo plans revealed in bid dossier - The National

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In pictures: Dubai's proposed masterplan for Expo 2020

Artist's impression of the proposed Al Wasl Plaza Dubai Expo 2020 site. Dubai is one of five cities bidding to host the 2020 world fair.

The UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020 reaches a crucial stage as a visiting inspection team begins its four-day tour and evaluation of the plans.

Artist's impression of the digital projections of light shows at the proposed Dubai Expo 2020 site.

The bid team estimates the event will attract 25 million visitors.

Dubai’s role as a leading tourist destination and a regional leader in events, business and trade will also be highlighted.

Night time shows will be a feature at the proposed Dubai Expo 2020 site.

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Meanwhile where is Pakistan heading. It is heading towards the right direction, this is what the politicians are thinking and and are happy of the great and grand achievement of completing five years of corruption and loot in a democratic way.

 

[Al Bhatti]

May 15, 2013

Expo 2020: Why Britain is backing Dubai

The emirate is not only a city of Arabia, but of the world, a global hub where cultures, ideas and people from around the planet meet

The story goes that when the Crystal Palace was unveiled in Hyde Park in 1851, at the start of the Great Exhibition, covered in glass and glittering in the sun, observers said it resembled something out of the Arabian Nights, much in vogue at the time. Nothing like it had ever been seen in London before.

For five months, the Crystal Palace displayed the wonders of contemporary industry and manufacturing to millions of visitors. Over 100,000 objects were displayed over more than ten miles by more than 15,000 exhibitors. As Queen Victoria wrote in her diary at the time, “every conceivable invention” of the day was on display. Britain was going through a manufacturing revolution and the time was ripe to show the world her achievements and to invite other countries to do the same.

Since then, the world has changed beyond recognition and the nature of innovation has changed too. Today we can “gather” online in real time or experience an art gallery or music concert anywhere in the world from our own homes. We live in a world of unprecedented technological development and we can share in the benefits of innovation wherever we are. However, while the digital world has brought us closer together, it cannot replace the need for meeting face to face. International expos remain as valuable today as they were in the mid-19th century.

The institution of the world exposition is now more than 150 years old and yet it has never been held in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia.

There is an extremely strong field of contenders to host the 2020 Expo, the successor to the Great Exhibition. Sao Paulo, Izmir, Ekaterinburg, Ayutthaya and Dubai are all extraordinary cities which offer something unique to the world. But to my mind, one bid stands out. Today, I announced in our parliament that the United Kingdom will be backing Dubai as the host of the 2020 Expo.

This is for three principal reasons:

The first is that just as it was London’s moment to host the Great Exhibition in 1851, so it is Dubai’s moment today to show its achievements to the world. In the last 50 years, Dubai has undergone a remarkable transformation from a small trading, fishing and pearling town to one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities and a global centre for transport, tourism and trade. The inspired step to dredge the creek has reaped tremendous benefits and now hosts the spectacular terminals of Jebel Ali and Dubai Airport.

Dubai is not only a city of Arabia, but of the world, a global hub where cultures, ideas and people from around the planet meet and where more than 200 nationalities live and work. Because London has been a global city for hundreds of years, in Britain we can recognise a kindred spirit.

Drive through Dubai and you see stunning architecture and infrastructure serving Emirati, Indian, African, European and Asian residents and visitors, who use a stylish metro, designed by one British company and operated by another.

Visit Dubai, along with almost one million other Britons a year, and speak to its residents and you will hear Arabic, Urdu, Malayalam, Somali, Tagalog, Russian and of course the international language of English.

Under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate has blazed a trail of ideas and embarked on a vision which influenced the wider region and beyond. Dubai does not rest on its laurels, but continues to set itself bold targets to be the best and to achieve this in collaboration with its diverse community. Dubai thinks big. The 100,000 or so Britons who call Dubai home are proud contributors to Dubai’s extraordinary development and have bought into the Dubai vision and to a “can-do” culture.

Second, holding the 2020 Expo in Dubai will remind the world that the Middle East is a region of dynamism, innovation and human potential, not the conflict and insecurity for which it is often known. What better place to illuminate the creativity, energy and potential of the region than in Dubai. It can also inspire people to believe they can change their own countries for the he better with vision, conviction and hard work.

Third, if Dubai were to host such an event, it would not be only about the Middle East, but the dynamic societies and economies in Africa and Asia as well — just a short flight away.

So the United Kingdom will be backing Dubai to host the 2020 Expo because it deserves the opportunity to share its achievements with the world and because it would be a fantastic demonstration of the dynamism and potential of the region. I wish its people every success in the bid and beyond.

By William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary, Special to Gulf News

Expo 2020: Why Britain is backing Dubai | GulfNews.com

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

I'm definitely counting on Dubai too bro

Dubai is not only a city of Arabia, but of the world, a global hub where cultures, ideas and people from around the planet meet and where more than 200 nationalities live and work. Because London has been a global city for hundreds of years, in Britain we can recognise a kindred spirit.

Of course Dubai isn't Arabia! It's a Muslim land @Al Bhatti I'm just kidding

 

[Al Bhatti]

February 28, 2013

Expo 2020: The other contenders

Winner will be announced in November

Dubai is competing against four other cities including Ayutthaya in Thailand, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Izmir in Turkey. The winning city will be announced in November this year following a vote by the 163 member nations of the Bureau International des Exposition

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Date: May 15 – November 15, 2020

Theme: Power of Diversity, Harmony for Growth

The Expo will be hosted at the Pirituba Convention and Exhibition Center, located in the northwest of Sao Paulo, the world’s ninth most populous and tenth wealthiest city. The exhibition site will cover an area of 502 hectares, the equivalent of four times of the size of Anhembi, currently the city’s largest exhibition centre. Expo Sao Paulo site will include a conference centre, an exhibition area, a shopping mall, hotels, facilities and services. Access to the site will be facilitated by its proximity to major transport connections, such as main roads and the city ring road. In addition, a new subway line will be constructed and new stations will be added.

Izmir, Turkey

Date: April 30 – October 31, 2020

Theme: New Routes to a Better World, Health for All

Izmir, at Turkey’s uniqe geographic location which connects Asia and Europe, the Black Sea and Mediterranean, is the eastern point of West, and the western point of East. The site enables a smooth transportation plan for the Expo. The key potentials of the site include integration to the urban context and rich city fabric with a high legacy and post-use potential. The site’s waterfront location has a long-term potential as a basis for new urban development serving the entire Izmir. The goal of Izmir in bidding the Expo 2020 is to help to establish the basis for a better world.

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Date: January 15 – June 15, 2020

Theme: Redefine Globalisation, Balanced Life, Sustainable living

Ayutthaya, the capital of Siam (old name of Thailand) from 1351 to 1767, is easily accessible for Thailand and its neighboring countries. The Thai government has approved the plans to extend its mass transit network, specially the rapid trains system which links directly to the future World Expo site. The place of Thailand’s first connection with foreigners, Ayuttaya was once a diplomatic crossroad and a bustling centre of trade of the region, making it a perfect location from which Thailand can once again open its doors to the world. Forty-five minutes drive away from Bangkok, Ayutthaya is a city of perfect balance – a place where industry and agriculture coexist, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand.

Ekaterinburg, Russia

Dates: May 1 – October 31, 2020

Theme: The Global Mind

Ekaterinburg is planning to develop a 400-plus hectare Expo venue, which would be the second largest site in Expo history behind Shanghai Expo 2010. Having hosted a number of domestic and international events in recent years, Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth largest city, a major Eurasian transport hub, and an industrial and business centre. Situated on the border of Europe and Asia, 1,677 km east of Moscow, Ekaterinburg is also the administrative centre of the Sverdlovsk region and the main city of the Urals Federal District of the Russian Federation. Russia’s objective of the bid is to engage the world in an open dialogue about its shared future and help enhance the transformation of the country towards a more open and expressive society.

Expo 2020: The other contenders | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 10, 2013

Connecting minds — creating the future

When we proposed to host Expo 2020, we promised to astonish the world. Today, we pledge to breathe life into our slogan: We will bring minds together for a better future

More than 1,200 years ago, while Europe was in its Dark Ages, the Muslim world was ruled by a dynasty of Islamic leaders who embraced free thought and creativity from all corners of the globe.

Never before had history witnessed such cultural openness and symbiosis as during the reign of the Abbasid Caliphs. They built the world’s first university, named it Bayt Al Hikma (House of Wisdom) and filled its library with the finest cultural, scientific and literary creations known to mankind.

As early as the 9th Century, under the Caliph Al Mamoun, Baghdad had become the world’s capital of science and culture. The city was renowned for embracing all races and religions.

It became a magnet for intellectuals, free thinkers and innovators from East and West. Its people developed a passion for gathering together all of the fruits of mankind’s quest for happiness. This celebration of human creativity flourished for more than five centuries and set the stage for the European Renaissance.

Looking at the Middle East and its challenges today, it is tempting to think back to that golden age of Islamic culture with wistful nostalgia for a faraway time. But Al Mamoun’s vision is more than ancient history. It is also a solution for the present and the future — a model that we are actively rebuilding, right now.

My own country — the United Arab Emirates — stands where it stands today because since our inception, we have given the utmost priority to the human mind. Our land has always been a safe harbour for great thinkers. We have welcomed innovative minds and given them the freedom to create.

Advanced research facilities

By working together, thousands of experts and specialists from the UAE and around the world have built in Dubai the world’s tallest skyscraper, the largest man-made islands, the largest automated Metro network and the third largest airline in the world.

In our capital Abu Dhabi, they have built the world’s largest carbon-free city, complete with advanced research facilities for renewable energy. Great artistic and cultural minds are collaborating to build a vast cultural and artistic city complete with the greatest international museums.

We have been building on an idea that is more than 1,000 years old. Today, we want to extend this vision to an international level. We want to host Expo 2020 — a global event in which the cultures, innovations and creations of the world will meet in Dubai.

We want to welcome more than 25 million people during six months, so they can see the best of what the human mind can achieve across cultures and races. We want to host the greatest minds in the world to share innovative solutions for global challenges that cannot be dealt with in isolation.

Expo 2020 will bring together expert thinkers to share inventive ways to deal with pressing issues such as energy and water. Great minds will also come together to share smart solutions for transportation, sustainability and global economic stability.

When we proposed to host the world’s biggest cultural event, we promised to astonish the world. Today, we pledge to breathe life into our slogan: We will bring minds together for a better future. We proposed to host this international event in 2020 to deliver three important messages:

Our first message is to tell the world that the Middle East is not a region of conflict, war and tension. Its history and geography prove that this is a region where cultures, civilisations and innovation can meet and flourish. Initiatives such as Expo 2020 are an opportunity to restore this role by playing host to the world, communicating positively and openly with its diverse cultures, accepting and embracing ideas and interacting with all people.

We are at the heart of the world. Two thirds of the world’s population lives less than eight hours away. We are destined to be a meeting point for mankind and a melting pot for cultures and civilisations that will provide humanity with amazing innovations and creations.

Uniting minds and borders

Our second message is to the people of our region who are tired of conflict and tension. We tell them that we have a culture, a religion and a language in common: If communication among different cultures can bring about a better future, imagine what it could do for us with all our commonalities.

We have been trying for more than six decades to communicate and interact positively within our region. We endeavour to unite minds and then borders; to touch together our hearts before touching on economic interests and to unify our collective will before unifying our currencies.

We have always wanted to establish connections, real connections, to build a better future for the people of our region and its youth in particular. It is time for our region to restore its role in history and civilisation. Our history and our culture have destined us for greatness and our future should showcase this destiny.

Our last message is to the governments representing the 166 countries that will vote on November 2013 to choose the winning host country for Expo 2020. We tell them that our region deserves the chance to organise this great world exhibition, that our country is ready to host it and that we are committed to staging the best Expo in history.

We are thankful to the countries that announced their support to us; and to the people of the world our message is that of love and peace. Our slogan will always be that connecting minds creates a better future.

It is a slogan of which Caliph Al Mamoun would have been proud.

Written by: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid 
Al Maktoum is Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Connecting minds

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 10, 2013

Five official bidders make a final push to win Expo 2020 bid

Cities in UAE, Turkey, Brazil, Thailand and Russia are in the race to win the coveted prize

Five official cities bidding for World Expo 2020 are making their best presentations on Wednesday at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) or International Exhibitions Bureau, to win the right to host the world’s largest such event.

Dubai (UAE), Izmir (Turkey), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Ayutthaya (Thailand) and Yekaterinburg (Russia) are in the race to win the coveted prize.

Dubai is one of the front-runners to secure the bid, which will be announced in November following a vote by BIE’s 163 members. The emirate is bidding under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ — reflecting the unique selling point of Dubai and the UAE.

“Dubai Expo 2020 will leave a lasting legacy not only in the UAE but also beyond its borders. As our theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ suggests, Dubai Expo 2020 aims to welcome the world to collaborate and build partnerships for sustainable development,” Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the UAE’s Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said in a recent statement. “In that, Dubai Expo 2020 will spur significant employment, trade and investment opportunities for the entire MENASA region, leaving lasting economic impact.”

Among the five, Dubai — with a population of more than 2 million people — is the most ‘connected’ city in the world. More than 60 million people travel through the city of which more than 10 million live in its roughly 600 hotels and serviced apartments a year.

“In today’s increasingly connected world, humanity’s challenges cannot be solved alone. In the UAE, we believe in the convening power of the Word Expo. Together, we have the ability to identify global concerns, stimulate new ideas and generate solutions for a better, brighter future,” Al Hashemi said.

In fact, Dubai is one of the few global hubs that provide non-stop connection to major cities across six continents. The emirate is connected to more than 220 cities. Dubai’s own airline — Emirates — serves 133 destinations through Dubai. It brings African traders to Dubai to meet Chinese businessmen — and vice-versa, thus enabling global trade and investment.

“If Expo is hosted in an area with good logistics, such as Dubai, the inefficiencies and deadweight loss of development seen is host cities of major sports events, for instance, are minimised,” Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics and Deputy Dean at London Business School, said. “Given Dubai’s infrastructure and the current state of the property market, hosting Expo should give both a short-term boost to the economy and with relatively small long run adverse effects.”

For West Africa’s neglected businesses, Emirates provides the best facilities in the form of connectivity to the rest of the world. Similarly, those who want to explore opportunities in the virgin markets or developing economies, Emirates provide the best options — via Dubai, whose unique selling points also include trade, retail and tourism.

“Tourism is a vital pillar of Dubai’s economy and has contributed to the city’s economic growth, success and diversification,” Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, said in a statement.

Dubai expects to attract 25 million visitors — something others might have difficulty in pulling — to the World Expo 2020, if held in the emirate. With Dubai’s and Emirates Airline’s great strengths and synergies, it’s more than a possibility. For most other cities — there aren’t even enough direct flights from major hub airports, to be able to secure that type of visitor numbers.

“With the strength of Dubai’s infrastructure, geographic location and global connectivity, Dubai Expo 2020 can expect to attract 25 million visitors during the six months between October 2020 and April 2021, 71 per cent of which would originate from outside the host nation for the first time in Expo history,” Al Marri said.

“This is important because the additional demand created by World Expo would provide real and exciting opportunities in employment, new attractions and incentives for the travel and tourism sector, not just for the UAE but for neighbouring countries in the region and beyond.”

Analysts feel that it’s high time that the World Expo, which has never been held in the Middle East or the Arab World, in its 162-year history, takes place in the Arab World. Dubai, which does things in style — could perhaps be the best host of the global event.

“Dubai has consistently proved its credentials as a global showcase of splendour, perfection, elegance, right cultural fit and value for money,” Tariq Chauhan, Group Managing Director of EFS Facilities Services LLC, told Gulf News.

“It has a world class infrastructure that is crucial for such an event — by far making it the most deserving destination to host such an event,” he said.

Chauhan says ancillary services are bound to get a direct impact as small shopping and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) usually flourishes with any upsurge of tourists in the catchment areas.

“Above all, the domestic industries of the UAE will be able to showcase their products and it boasts of large SMEs in this segment,” he says. “Besides, business tourists are usually large leisure spenders in context to dining out, entertainment and often brings families.

The Expo is being planned as a flagship event by the governmental leaders so will surely host attractive events and provide a lifetime shopping opportunity. We are very excited with the event and eagerly awaiting the opportunity.”

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Mohammad Bin Rashid to start French visit tomorrow:

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will tomorrow leave on a visit to Paris.

During the three day-visit, he will meet with the French President, Francois Hollande, and a number of key French officials.

Shaikh Mohammad will lead a high-profile UAE delegation, which includes a number of ministers and senior officials.

World Expo

Expositions and trade fairs have been in existence for a long time in different parts of the world — both formally and informally. However, World Expos started with the Great Exhibition, held in London in 1851.

World Expos are the hallmark events of a world aspiring to strengthen its connections, celebrate its cultural diversity and marvel at its technological wonders.

“Today, World Expos remain a key meeting point for the global community to share innovations and make progress on issues of international importance such as the global economy, sustainable development and improved quality of life for the world’s population,” said a spokesperson.

“Every five years, World Expos attract millions of visitors who explore and discover pavilions, exhibitions and cultural events staged by hundreds of participants including nations, international organisations and businesses.”

Each World Expo is a catalyst for economic, cultural and social transformation and generates important legacies for the host city and nation. For instance, Shanghai 2010 World Expo helped transform a heavily industrial city-centre area into a thriving cultural and commercial district while also bringing its theme “Better City, Better Life” to the attention of 73 million people.

The next World Expo takes place in Milan, Italy, in 2015. The focus: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”.

The biding cities

Dubai (UAE) and Izmir (Turkey) from the Middle East are joined by Sao Paulo (Brazil), Ayutthaya (Thailand) and Yekaterinburg (Russia) in the race to win the Expo 2020 bid.

A World Expo in Dubai in 2020 would be the first to be held in the Arab World and the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region. Gulf News takes a look at the bidders.

Dubai, UAE

Seemingly, the best funded of the five bids for 2020, Dubai has amibtious plans to transform a completely vacant desert area into an oasis. It has spent a great deal of money corralling talent from around the world planning for its bid, according to Expobids.com — an online expo bid tracker. Sources seem to indicate that Dubai has one of the best chances of the five bids. The proposed theme is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”

Izmir, Turkey

Izmir, Turkey previously bid to host Expo 2015 and narrowly lost to Milan. “A Turkish bid would seem to be a strong contender for 2020,” said Expobids.com. Izmir was selected over Ankara by Turkey’s federal government. The proposed theme is “New Routes to a Better World: Health for All.”

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brazil, which is hosting the World Cup football next year, would host it’s first BIE-sanctioned world’s fair in the city of Sao Paulo, four years after Rio de Janiero’s 2016 Summer Olympics. The proposed theme is “the Power of Diversity, Harmony for Growth.”

Ayutthaya, Thailand

It might be difficult for Thailand to successfully bid for a world’s fair at this time due to recent government instability, according to an analyst. It has also recently hosted an international flower exhibition, also sanctioned by the BIE. Ayutthaya was chosen over several competing regions by Thailand’s federal government. The proposed theme is “Redefine Globalisation: Balanced Life, Sustainable Living.”

Yekaterinburg, Russia

Russia would host it’s first world’s fair in the city of Yekaterinburg, the fourth largest city in Russia. The proposed theme is “the Global Mind.”

Five official bidders make a final push to win Expo 2020 bid | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

Jun 11, 2013

Vital stage in Dubai's bid for Expo 2020

Dubai’s’s bid to stage Expo 2020 reaches a crucial stage today when the organisation that oversees world fairs meets in Paris.

The Bureau International des Expositions will consider its inspectors’ reports on the viability of Dubai’s bid, along with those of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Yekaterinburg in Russia, Izmir in Turkey and Ayutthaya in Thailand. Any cities that fail to fulfil the BIE’s requirements will be eliminated.

Writing today in The National, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, expresses his support for the bid, which has the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

“We want to host the greatest minds in the world to share innovative solutions for global challenges that cannot be dealt with in isolation,” Sheikh Mohammed writes.

“When we proposed to host the world’s biggest cultural event, we promised to astonish the world. Today we pledge to breathe life into our slogan: we will bring minds together for a better future.”

Officials from the BIE carried out a four-day inquiry mission to assess the viability of Dubai’s bid in February.

Similar inspections took place in the other four candidate cities, and it is those inspection reports that will be considered today, along with the inspectors’ recommendations.

“For each country it’s either a yes or a no vote,” Steen Christensen, the BIE’s vice president, said in February. “If it’s a no, that particular country is then out of the race and if it’s a yes, it can continue its campaign.”

The bids have not been compared with one another – each was judged on its own merits. Today’s session will be closed, and the outcome of the deliberations is unlikely to be known until tomorrow. Any country that does not wish to proceed with its bid will be free to withdraw.

The candidates will face another vital test tomorrow, the second day of the two-day assembly, when they will each make presentations about their bids.

The winner will be announced after a vote by the BIE’s 166 member nations at its next general assembly in November.

The bid teams will have one final chance to state their case immediately before that vote, but it is felt that most delegates will have made up their minds by then – which makes tomorrow’s presentations particularly significant.

It will be the first opportunity the Dubai team has had to outline details of its plans to the BIE since it submitted its 623-page bid dossier last December, so it will be able to go into far greater detail than in previous submissions.

Sheikh Mohammed will be travelling to Paris today with a high-level UAE delegation, though his trip is not connected to the BIE assembly.

He will meet the French president, Francois Hollande, and key French officials during a three-day visit accompanied by ministers and senior officials.

While Sheikh Mohammed will not attend the BIE assembly, delegates from the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai will.

The committee’s chairman is Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Emirates, and its managing director is Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State.

A 438-hectare site at Jebel Ali has been earmarked for the event, which would play a major role in the run-up to the 50th anniversary in 2021 of the formation of the UAE.

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Timeline for Dubai's bid to host Expo 2020

Nov 2011: Dubai submits bid to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE); other candidates are Ayutthaya (Thailand), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Yekaterinburg (Russia) and Izmir (Turkey).

Feb 2012: Higher Committee on Hosting the World Expo 2020 is formed in February by decree of Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Mar 2012: Dubai’s bid is backed by other Arab countries at a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Egypt

Dec 2012: bid team unveils the master plan for the proposed Expo site, Dubai Trade Centre – Jebel Ali; 600-page bid dossier submitted to BIE

Jan 2013: bid showcased at annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

Feb 2013: BIE delegation visits Dubai to conduct enquiry mission to assess feasibility of the city playing host

Jun 2013: committee will present enquiry mission reports to the BIE’s general assembly

Nov 2013: winning city will be announced after a vote by BIE’s 163 member nations


Vital stage in Dubai's bid for Expo 2020 - The National

 

[Al Bhatti]

Jun 12, 2013

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the wife of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, delivers a stirring speech to the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

Dubai's Princess Haya delivers stirring Expo 2020 speech in Paris

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein stole the show yesterday when she stepped on stage as the surprise presenter of a key speech supporting Dubai’s bid to host Expo 2020.

The wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, set out a vision of a World Expo built on the power of partnerships.

Speaking fluently in French and English, she charmed and impressed the large audience in Paris and delivered an eloquent case for Dubai’s plans.

Princess Haya was speaking at the general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, which oversees world fairs.

Dubai and the other three remaining candidate cities had only 30 minutes each to outline their plans.

Watching from the front row was Sheikh Mohammed, who is on a three-day official visit to the French capital.

“The World Expo organisation was born from the desire for partnership,” Princess Haya said. “And it is from this spirit of partnership that Expo draws its greatest strength.

“The true legacy of an Expo is not in its physical buildings or monuments but in the connections it makes and the people it inspires and the future it builds.

“World Expos have a remarkable ability to bring people together to discuss, engage and innovate. The theme of Dubai Expo 2020, ‘Connecting minds, creating the future’, is just such a pledge of partnership.

“It draws on the UAE’s past, our heritage and our successes. It highlights the fact that we are all united in destiny and outcome.”

Since the earliest days of the UAE, Princess Haya said, the country had invited the world to help to create its future.

“Together we have delivered some amazing and ground-breaking achievements, achievements that have brought opportunities and benefits for all who have joined us.

“In Dubai we have built a city that has become an incubator for new models and new ideas.”

A video gave the Dubai International Financial Centre as an example of an initiative that thrived on collaboration and partnerships. Delegates were told that the centre attracted businesses from around the world to interact with one another and added more than US$3 billion to Dubai’s economic value.

The day’s presentations were seen as vital because many of the delegates who will eventually choose the winner are likely to make up their minds based on what they heard yesterday.

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by a high-powered delegation including Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Also present was the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, led by its chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Emirates.

Sheikh Ahmed said he was grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for attending. “This reflects the support there is for Expo,” he said.
Princess Haya was introduced by Minister of State Reem Al Hashimy, the committee’s managing director, who also emphasised the importance of partnerships.

She told delegates: “If you take this path with us these partnerships will be both the foundations and the legacy of Dubai Expo 2020.”

Princess Haya’s participation was a closely guarded secret until the moment she stood up. Afterwards, Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary general of the BIE, said he had been impressed.

“Princess Haya’s performance was outstanding,” he said. “We were first surprised and then delighted and very honoured to have her with us here.

“She has expressed very well the values and the culture of Dubai. She’s magnificent, she did a wonderful presentation.”

Bridget Gee, a delegate from New Zealand, said: “Princess Haya is very elegant and spoke very well, and it was impressive to see that she spoke both French and English. I thought her performance was very advantageous for the UAE.”


Dubai's Princess Haya delivers stirring Expo 2020 speech in Paris - The National

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She is the sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan

 

[Al Bhatti]

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai was in France with his wife Princess Haya bint Al Hussein in support of Dubai’s bid to host Expo 2020.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid (right) and Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein attend the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visits the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein delivers a stirring speech at the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid viewing an exhibit at the Islamic art pavilion at the Louvre in Paris, France.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visits the Louvre in Paris, France.


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Jun 13, 2013

Dubai Expo 2020 team launches €100 million initiative

The Dubai Expo 2020 team yesterday launched a €100 million initiative to spur innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Expo Partnership Fund will support projects of any size and is open to ideas from any country.

"The fund will support projects of varying size, scale and stage of development but all with the same objectives of fostering a lasting positive impact for all of our communities," Princess Haya said.

"Dubai Expo 2020 will create a new, unique and meaningful legacy, an expo that will be an engine of innovation."

Projects, which can be at any stage of development, should be linked to the expo bid's subthemes - mobility, sustainability and opportunity.

This will allow for a wide range of initiatives, including ones involving energy, water, logistics, transport and education.

Details about the fund, its criteria, eligibility, its international selection committee and the application process are scheduled to become available on the Dubai Expo 2020 website next month.

Delegates at the general assembly were given details of a second initiative linked to the sub-themes.

But while the fund is concerned with innovation and entrepreneurship, Expo Live will seek to address some of the most pressing challenges facing mankind.

This project is intended to set Dubai's bid apart from those of the other candidate cities, with 21 critical global challenges for the 21st century identified across the sub-themes.

Countries, organisations and people around the world would then work in partnership to find solutions.

These efforts would start next year and continue for decades after the Expo ended.

Students, universities, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies and non-government organisations would be invited to become involved.

Princess Haya said Dubai continued to seek new partnerships.

"I'm proud to announce that we have joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which brings together public and private entities to deliver solutions to known challenges with new ways to collaborate," she said.

"The partnership with Dubai Expo 2020 will further expand opportunities to work with communities across the world."

All expo candidate cities are obliged to provide aid to enable poorer countries to take part, and details of Dubai's plans were revealed yesterday.

"Each country deserves the right and the means to showcase its very best," said Princess Haya. "We will make that happen with an assistance package of €150m [Dh732.8m] that will give every country an opportunity to communicate in its own voice in its own individual pavilion."

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said there was a long tradition of the UAE helping poorer countries.

"The Government has made lots of efforts to help needy countries and is still doing so," Sheikh Ahmed said. "This is nothing new, it has always been there.

"Partnerships create better lives around the world through projects and aid. They've done a lot to improve poor people's lives."

Dubai Expo 2020 team launches €100 million initiative - The National

 

[Al Bhatti]

Jun 13, 2013

Bid for Expo 2020 hots up for UAE after Thailand drops out of race

The elimination of Thailand from the race to host Expo 2020 is likely to make the competition between the remaining four candidate cities even more intense, the head of the BIE said yesterday.

General assembly delegates decided on Tuesday that the bid by the city of Ayutthaya did not meet the requirements for staging a World Expo. That left Dubai plus Sao Paulo in Brazil, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Izmir in Turkey.

Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary general of the BIE, confirmed the Thai bid had been dropped because it failed to meet the requirements set out in the BIE's rules.

"It's going to get tougher because there are four strong candidates and every one of them will want to get the votes that in principle were going to go to Thailand," he said.

Mr Loscertales said all four presentations had been well executed.

"In some cases they stressed their economic capacity and inner values, in other cases it was more cultural, in other cases they put the stress on diversity.

"But in all of them there was a sort of line of cooperation, of innovation and openness."

Princess Haya's speech, the second of the day, came after a rather difficult presentation by the bid team from Izmir. The city has been affected by the wave of unrest in Turkey, and the delegation had to present a positive face just as their government was cracking down on the protesters.

However, Mr Loscertales felt the violence would not affect Turkey's chances in the Expo race.

"This is just a juncture, it's now, and it's a temporary thing," he added. "Turkey's a democratic country, it will have elections and I don't see any problems."

The UAE was not the only country that had top-level supporters at the assembly - the Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich was there to bang the drum for Yekaterinburg, while Brazil sent its vice president Michel Temer.

"We had delegations from the highest level of every country and the presentations were very intelligently done," Mr Loscertales said.

Turkey went down a different route - instead of a top leader, the star of the Izmir stand at the assembly venue was the bid's Expoman mascot. There were rumours that beneath Expoman's costume was a woman.

Russia pulled off a coup at the end of its presentation, the last one of the day, by showing a video of a cosmonaut extolling the qualities of Yekaterinburg while orbiting Earth in the International Space Station.

The two-day assembly ended yesterday, but delegates are to gather again in Paris in November, when the final vote will be taken to determine which of the four cities will have the honour of staging Expo 2020.

Bid for Expo 2020 hots up for UAE after Thailand drops out of race - The National


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Video: Dubai Expo 2020 - UAE testimonials

Sheikha Lubna, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and Tim Clark, President of Emirate Airlines, discusses why Dubai would be the ideal venue to host the Expo 2020.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/tourism/video-dubai-expo-2020-uae-testimonials

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 12, 2013

Shaikh Mohammad, Shaikh Hamdan, Shaikh Abdullah, Princess Haya and other officials arrive for the presentation of the bid to host Expo 2020 at the International Bureau of Exhibitions General Assembly meeting in Paris on June 12, 2013.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The Vice-President and other dignitaries toured the various galleries and halls of the world's most famous and most visited museum.

The UAE's proposed World Expo 2020 location



World Expo 2020 bid and new market status buoy UAE economy

UAE presentation in Paris wins appreciation; Nation is awarded emerging market status

Wednesday was a red letter day for the UAE, marking a milestone in the nation’s march to economic progress and prosperity on the international stage.

In Paris, the UAE ramped up its bid for World Expo 2020 with an impressive presentation. Dubai is competing against Turkey’s Izmir, Brazil’s Sao Paulo and Russia’s Yekaterinburg following the disqualification of Thailand’s Ayutthaya.

The UAE also announced a €150 million (Dh726 million) aid package to support the developing countries’ participation at the Expo 2020 on Wednesday, in addition to the €100 million Partnership Fund to support innovative ideas for creating opportunities, mobility and sustainability as part of Dubai’s bid.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was present at the presentation at the General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE).

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the UAE Higher Committee for Expo 2020, Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Expo 2020 bid, and senior officials were present.

In the presentation by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid, the UAE announced a key initiative, Expo Live, which includes funds to ensure greater participation and aid innovation.

BIE officials were full of praise for Dubai’s presentation.
“It’s impressive and Dubai is a very strong contender,” Ferdinand Nagy, President of BIE, told Gulf News.

Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of the BIE, is keen to see that the Arab world gets its fair share of exposure in the international exposition. “The UAE’s bid is excellent,” he told Gulf News.

Final decision

The final decision will be made at the next general assembly in Paris in November.

In New York, the UAE was awarded the coveted emerging market status and inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Both the UAE and Qatar were upgraded in a move that could see in infusion of $800 million in local markets, according to estimates from HSBC in London.

UAE shares rose on Wednesday as the Abu Dhabi Securities General Index advanced the most since 2009. Dubai also ended in positive territory and Qatar’s benchmark QE Index surged to its highest level in almost five years.

World Expo 2020 bid and new market status buoy UAE economy | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 13, 2013

UAE’s final presentation for Dubai’s World Expo 2020 bid

Mohammad in Paris to support presentation team including Princess Haya

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Princess Haya, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the UAE Higher Committee for Expo 2020.

Shaikh Mohammad with Shaikh Hamdan, Princess Haya, Shaikh Abdullah and Shaikh Ahmad at the presentation on Wednesday.

Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Expo 2020 bid, makes her presentation.

Shaikh Mohammad is shown around some of the sights of Paris after the presentation.

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 12, 2013

World Expo 2020: Dubai faces stiff competition from Izmir

Turkish city has been endorsed by the WHO; UAE bid backed by the UK

Hectic diplomatic parleys are going on behind the scenes as all the four bidding countries are doing their best to garner support, in the form of votes. All participants remain tight-lipped on the support they have secured.

“We are talking to partners and I am optimistic of winning the rights to host Expo 2020. However, it’s too early to say,” Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, told Gulf News, when asked to comment on Dubai’s chances of winning the bid.

“All other candidates are also strong and their governments are also supporting the bids very strongly. We will wait till the end to see the results,” he said.

Dubai faces competition from Sao Paulo of Brazil, Izmir of Turkey and the Russian city of Yekaterinburg following the disqualification of Ayutthaya of Thailand.

Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for the Expo 2020 bid, said the country would create a lasting impression after hosting the global event. She stressed on the safety and stability of the UAE.

“The story of the UAE is that of partnerships that has created a country and a city. Now we want to take this partnership to a new level,” she said.

Princess Haya Bint Hussain, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stressed on unity and diversity. “Although our faiths might be different, we are all united in our destiny. This is what distinguishes Dubai and the UAE from the rest.

“We must seek new ways in success and achieve it with partnerships. We must find ways to create opportunities for sustainable development. That’s why we have joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Network to help create partnerships, opportunities and seek to ensure sustainable development.”

The UAE has already secured official support from the British Government, while Turkey has secured support from South Africa, reportedly in exchange of the earlier Turkish support for South Africa’s bid to host World Cup football in 2010.

Izmir

The Turkish city of Izmir is a strong contender for the Expo 2020. It had also bid for Expo 2015 and narrowly lost to Milan, Italy.

“I do not have the official numbers on how many countries are supporting us, but we are confident of winning this one,” Egemen Bagis, Turkish Mnister for the European Union, told Gulf News.

Although Izmir has put up an impressive bid around ‘Health for all’ theme, recent political turmoil could become a nightmare if it continues. It has pledged to build a waterfront site for the Expo, 97 per cent of which will be dedicated to an eco-park once the Expo is over.

Designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, Izmir’s expo site is as appealing as its bid proposal. It wants health to be recognised as a human right.

It has also developed a mascot, Expoman, as part of the bid process, and has endorsement from the World Health Organisation (WHO). “Health is a unifying theme with a universal appeal that touches all of us,” Dr Margaret Chen, Director-General of WHO, said in a televised speech.

Bagis promised an “unforgettable Expo like no other”, coining the phrase from a TV commercial of Sony VAIO laptop.

Yekaterinburg

The Russian city of Yekaterinburg, which is located on the border between Asia and Europe, is also optimistic of winning the bid.

Although there is no clearly demarcated border between Europe and Asia, officials of Yekaterinburg claim that part of the city lies in Asia, with the other part being in Europe. This gives the city a wider appeal of cultural diversity.

The Russian presentation had an astronaut speaking to the audience, showing the city of Yekaterinburg on the global map — at the crossroads between the East and the West.

Sao Paulo

Brazil’s Sao Paulo is hoping to secure the bid based on its economic strength. Its officials talked of how the World Expo has never been held in Latin America — which strengthens its appeal.

Although there wasn’t much of a spark in the Brazilian presentation, the country of the Samba dance has its own appeal. Brazil is one of the world’s top 10 economies.

Among the four cities, two belong to the Bric group — Brazil and Russia. However, the battle could narrow down to the remaining two countries — Turkey and the UAE — both in the Middle East.

Although Turkey is riding high on strong economic growth, Izmir is perhaps no match to Dubai when it comes to connectivity. One has to fly via Istanbul to reach Izmir, while Dubai is directly connected to 220 cities in the world across six continents.

By 2020, Dubai will serve 20 million tourists annually, double of Izmir’s target, which prompted Temel Kotil, Turkish Airline’s CEO, to promise increased flights to Izmir if it wins the bid. By 2020, Turkish Airlines will have a fleet of 277 aircraft, mostly serving its hubs Istanbul and Ankara, while Emirates will have more than 350 aircraft — all serving Dubai.

It will be interesting to see how competition shapes up in the next few months ahead of the vote. Till then, all four contestants will be on their toes.

World Expo 2020: Dubai faces stiff competition from Izmir | GulfNews.com

 

[al-Hasani]

Just a little innocent comment. I have to say that my fellow Hashemite Princess Haya bint Al Hussein is quite good looking for her age. Looks like a very typical Hejazi and Hashemite.

Anyway I was at the Expo in 2010 when it was held in Shanghai and it is a wonderful international fairs exhibition. Great way to learn about new cultures. The Chinese did a great job and I suspect that Shanghai looks even more incredible (infrastructure wise) now 3 years later than back in 2010.

Let us hope that Dubai gets awarded with the Expo 2020. Would be quite a feat considering that Qatar will held the World Cup in 2022.

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 13, 2013

UAE history of partnership - World Expo 2020 UAE Bid

A look at how the United Arab Emirates was founded in partnerships and how this has contributed to creating the city of Dubai. Part one of a video presentation for the UAE’s bid for World Expo 2020

Video: UAE history of partnership - World Expo 2020 UAE Bid | GulfNews.com