Big B announces Dubai as host

The hottest celebrities of the Indian film industry will be working, relaxing and partying together in Dubai next month.

"We never get to do this in Mumbai," said Amitabh Bachchan, brand ambassador of the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA).

"For we, the individuals from the film industry, the IIFA Awards is an occasion to get together on foreign soil for three or four days, to work, eat, live, interact and laugh together," Big B said in a press conference on Wednesday in Mumbai, as he announced Dubai would host the IIFA weekend and awards from June 14 to 17.

Glad it's Dubai

He said he was glad IIFA chose Dubai and recalled his first visit to the city about 25 years ago.

"I will never forget the welcome I was given and found the people's generosity, humility and affection overwhelming," he said.

"At that time there was only one five-star hotel. Over the years, I've been visiting Dubai and I now find the entire country is on a seven-star level. Each year, each month and each day, the progress there is sensational," said Bachchan.
 
Impressed

He spoke of how impressed he was by the great growth and even greater efforts to make Dubai and the UAE achieve the highest standards, not just in entertainment but also in business, infrastructure, finance and real estate.

It's also a city that has played host to some of the most famous names in the world. Bachchan said he sincerely admired the UAE's resolve to do better than others.

"The Indian film industry has a large clientele there. This speaks volumes of the cultural and economic closeness between the two countries."

IIFA would be reinforcing these traditional ties as it would open up several avenues of boosting business and tourism, many of them unexplored until now.

All in the family

When Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft International Entertainment Ltd referred to Dubai as a home away from home, Saeed Al Nabouda, CEO, Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises, replied he was like a family member and that everyone would celebrate the age-old ties.

He presented a silver khanjar (dagger) to Bachchan as a symbol of that link.