With the launch of the Dubai 2020 initiative, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday appointed a working group of government and private sector representatives to determine the possibility of hosting the World Expo in 2020.
Shaikh Mohammad said: "The Dubai 2020 initiative will look at how we can shape our environment and society for future generations. Dubai is already home to people of different nationalities and cultures who live in friendship and peace."
The World Expo is the third largest global, non-commercial event in terms of economic and cultural impact, after the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.
World Expo aims to promote several aspects of society including art and design, education, culture, science, international trade, technology and tourism.
In 2003, Dubai hosted the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It has the region's largest expo facilities.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief and member of the working group, told Gulf News: "There is no doubt that Dubai is a mega city which is able to host such a large Expo. Far from the strategic location of Dubai between East and West, the international standard of security, infrastructure and services in Dubai ensures the potential of hosting the World Expo in 2020."
Dubai Municipality's Acting Director, Hussain Nasser Lootah, said: "Although a big team was appointed to look at the possibility of hosting the World Expo, I do believe that Dubai is up to it and will be successful in hosting the World Expo in 2020. Dubai has the essential bases of success and we are not worried about hosting such a huge expo."
