Dubai: Hosting Expo 2020 in Dubai is another great achievement to be added to the UAE’s and enhance its capability, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed, Chairman of Expo Higher Committee, told Gulf News.
While he was very optimistic about Dubai to win the bid for hosting Expo 2020 from day one, he said: “The attitude of UAE people and residents of supporting the positing of Dubai to win the bid for expo has embraced me with optimism from the beginning.”
“Everyone lives in this country contributed to this success and will play a part to make it successful.”
The encouragement, cooperation and responsibility offered by both Emirati and non-Emirati to support Dubai bid for hosting this international event was amazing and very positive remark, Shaikh Ahmad said.
“From young, individual or companies all have harmonized their effort in a very active and create very comfortable environment for this competition.”
While voting was completely secret and confidential and there is no gurantee until the moment of announcement, I was very optimistic that Dubai will win the hosting of Expo 2020, he added.
“We did care to host this event in the UAE and hosting this event by 2020 will come at the 50th anniversary of the union of the emirates.”
“2020 will be a distinguish year for everyone living in the UAE.”
The year 2020 will reflect the entire country mood of celebration, happiness and success, he added.
Having no doubt about UAE and Dubai capabilities, Shaikh Ahmad remarked that there is no doubt the decision of voting to host Expo 2020 was hundred per cent a political matter.
UAE and Dubai have a good relation with world countries and got a lot of support and encouragement through the voting process, he added.
The Emaratis have build this country and worked hand-in-hand with the expatriates for the development and prosperity of the UAE and will go on together, he said.
When we talk about Dubai capability it is something else, according to Shaikh Ahmad UAE and Dubai has great potential for hosting such a mega events.
“It is not a matter of capability and Dubai capability is their and will not change.”
But when it comes to voting it is purely politics and depends on the relations among countries.
Dubai’s wining the bid for Expo 2020 is the first time the expo has been held in the Middle East and the first time in the history of World Expo that more than 70 percent of the visitors are expected to be international.
Dubai has forecast it could attract 25m visitors if it hosted the expo,
Shaikh Ahmad also added that the three other bidding countries are well qualified and capable to host this event as well.
As he is know by Expo’s engineer, Shaikh Ahmad is very gratitude to everyone and every country that supported Dubai to host Expo 2020 and greatly praised Dubai Expo team for the hard work and efforts they invested to make this bid successful.
“Expo team had worked so hard and on all levels worked. Each one of us in the team was complete the other. I am very proud to be part of this team work.”
The effort of Expo team work on the local and international relation and convincing other country to vote for Dubai took place in comfortable mood despite the strong competition with the other bidding countries, he said.
Added Value
“I believe that any new achievement is an added value and hosting such an international event in Dubai is certainly an added value to the UAE and the entire region,” he said.
Skaikh Ahmad remarked that hosting Expo 2020 will of course reflected a remarkable economic growth as government is looking to invest almost $8 billion in its expansion plans.
“He confirmed that the expansion plans will included transport, logistics and other infrastructure and services projects across the country at a value of $8 billion.”
Maktoum International Airport is part of this expansion plan as most of the 25 million expected visitors will be using the six airports in the country, he said.
“The benefit will be across the UAE, especial this fair will be run along six months not in few days or weeks.”
UAE and particularly Dubai is living an ongoing progress. However, hosting Expo 2020 will speed up these developments and will certainly create a lot in business infrastructure.
Highlighting the economic impact, a study done by Oxford Economics into Dubai Expo 2020 concluded that the total economic output across the Dubai economy would amount to 28.8 billion euros, as well as creating more than 277,000 jobs between 2013 and 2021.
“Importantly, for every Expo employee, approximately 50 additional jobs will be sustained across the Middle East and north African economy,” said Shaikh Ahmad.
He added that if Dubai succeeds in its bid, it will attract opportunities across the region as well as globally.
We don’t have problem with human resources
The national and expat and program rehab
The world wants to work in the UAe which is positive
It is a vital prove that a lot of people have been in this country fro over 20 years and raised up their children on this ground and they are still prefer to be in the UAE
2020
Talking about growth potential to serve Expo successfully, Skaikh Ahmad remarked that the number of Emirates aircraft will be increased from 210 to 400 together with the number of flights and destination in the coming seven years to be able to serve all expo visitors.
The number of hotels will be doubled by 2020 according to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid initiative to increase the number of Dubai tourists up to 20 million.
“World Expo in Dubai will attract new opportunities across the region and around the world, establishing new partnerships and creating a lasting experience for everyone who visits and participates.”
Dubai is going ahead with its development plan with or without expo; however, this event will be adding a vibrant energetic environment among the living and business community in the region, Shaikh Ahmad added.
