Seoul: The venue for EXPO 2020 will cost Dubai a total of Dh14.7 billion, and is expected to draw more than 25 million visitors throughout six months.
According to Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020, said that she expects the vote for hosting the World EXPO 2020, which will take place in November 2013, will be to the advantage of the UAE, and that the venue will be set up on a total area of 400 hectares.
She said that the UAE enjoys high credibility among the international community for previously hosting various sport and economic events and activities on the global level.
Al Hashemi told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an exclusive interview at the UAE’s pavilion that the UAE delegation, which includes over 100 persons in addition to the work team of National Media Council (NMC), had so far managed to promote the state’s bid to host World Expo 2020 in Dubai.
In preparations to rally the support for voting in favour of the UAE to host Expo 2020 in Dubai City, the UAE minister said, “I’m very optimistic and expect voting in favour of the UAE”, indicating that His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has “planted in us hope to host World Expo 2020 based on our huge potentials and capacity enjoyed by the UAE to qualify it to host the biggest world event in Dubai.”
She added that the international voting boosts the international status of the UAE, and this matches the UAE Vision 2012, pointing out that hosting of World Expo 2020 in Dubai for six months, will woo over 25 million tourists and prompt development of the areas adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport. Al Hashimi noted that this area, which covers land area of 400 hectares, is slated to host World Expo. Meanwhile, the cost of Expo venue is expected to be between $2 billion - $4 billion.
Al Hashemisaid the project will avail a host of business opportunities such as setting up of small and medium enterprises to serve the Expo. More metro lines, ports, infrastructure services, tourism and entertainment facilities will crop up.
She said the theme of Expo Dubai 2020 “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, is the motto of the world event. “We believe the way to reach a bright future depends on our ability to interact positively and establish constructive partnerships”.
About the economic development, Al Hashemi said the UAE has extensive international ties that enables it to access unprecedented opportunities to strike strong partnerships between the private and public sectors. “Expo events are the exemplary launch-pads for the cultural communications among the generations and concepts”.
On the capacity of Dubai to meet demands of participants regarding transport and logistics services, she said the UAE is a pioneer and strategic centre for the catering, international logistics centre, citing Jebel Ali as one of the man-made biggest ports in the world.
Al Hashemi added that about 200 people from 160 member states of World Expo will visit the UAE next year to see the facilities and services available in the UAE in general and Emirate of Dubai in particular before the final vote in favour of Dubai.
About the results of her visit to Paris with the delegation of the Higher Committee for Expo Dubai 2020, the UAE minister said that “the results were positive, encouraging and making us all to be optimistic to host the event”.
Al Hashemi said she had reviewed before the General Assembly of the International Bureau of International Exhibitions, headquartered in Paris, the reasons that make Dubai the ideal city to host Expo 2020.
