Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the setting up of a board for organising events and festivals in Dubai.
The board of directors will be chaired by Mohammad Ali Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar, and will report directly to Shaikh Mohammad.
Shaikh Mohammad instructed Al Abbar to form the board of directors from the public and private sectors. The board shall consist of highly experienced and qualified people in the field of tourism promotion and event organisation.
Shaikh Mohammad also ordered that Dubai Events and Commerce Promotion Establishment (DEPE) be exempted from 10 per cent fees for events and activities carried out in Dubai.
The 10 per cent waiver will contribute to activating the establishment’s role to fulfil its obligations and carry out its responsibilities without financial and logistical obstacles.
Shaikh Mohammad also ordered restoring the annual budget of events to the previous budget and urged officials and government bodies concerned to intensify their efforts and launch creative initiatives to consolidate Dubai’s status as a global city for shopping, art, entertaining and festivals.
Addressing heads and directors of local government departments, Shaikh Mohammad said, “I want you to be transparent and work as one team so that Dubai will restore its reputation and leading role in hosting and organising exhibitions and tourist festivals as well as art and music events dedicated to children and families.”
“There will no longer be any obstacles and you will carry out your duties with flexibility and my personal support … I do not accept any excuses in the future because all facilities have been offered to you, and hence you must commit to implementing your responsibilities with faithfulness and hard work so as to achieve our required goals for our country, people and national institutions.”
Shaikh Mohammad reaffirmed the need to consider organising events and festivals in Dubai in synchronisation official holidays in the UAE and neighbouring countries so as to draw a large number of tourists of various age groups.
Shaikh Mohammad, accompanied by Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and other officials, listened to a presentation given by Laila Suhail, CEO of DEPE, on the establishment’s vision to develop the events sector so as to enhance the national economy and draw more visitors to the UAE, by increasing and diversifying events and activities.
