Throughout history the role of world fair (better known today as World Expo) has been recognised for its importance in developing and growing the reputation of the cities that hosted it. The first World Expo was held in London in 1851. Since then only 42 World Expos have been hosted by 16 countries to showcase cultural, industrial and technological innovation. There is always a motivation for any city to host such an event as it raises the city’s profile in the international arena and encourages cultural exchanges while promoting economical progress.
The regulatory body responsible for the organisation of World Expo is the Bureau of International Exhibition (BIE) established in 1928 to oversee the implementation of the Convention of Paris that was held the same year. The BIE comprises 167 member countries and the expo is considered the longest and largest running world event. The expo is hosted every five years focusing on a theme concerning the world. The six-month-long expo invites different nations, international organisations, private entities, civil societies, and individuals from different cultures to integrate, collaborate, share, exchange thoughts and ideas, network and connect.
The selection criteria for a host city are vast but mainly include that the bid is submitted by a city of the BIE member country; the city bidding has to be supported by the local government; the proposed expo site has to be identified; a thorough and detailed feasibility study with realistic delivery time lines should be prepared; a dossier of information about the host city must be delivered and concluded by site visit by the official BIE inquiry team. At this point the BIE team prepares a recommendation letter to the General Assembly during the annual meeting in Paris.
Other factors that could influence the decision include the sustainable processes that the hosting city practices. The sustainability plans can be extended to the expo site by reusing it after the event ends. Other factors that have historically influenced a positive decision was the active presence on the World Wide Web whether through an active and engaging expo website or through the social media.
With less than 30 days to go till the BIE meets on November 27 to count their votes, the four candidate cities: Yekaterinburg, Russia; Izmir, Turkey, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Dubai, UAE, are anxiously awaiting the decision.
The international media, renowned figures and celebrities have focused on Dubai recently, and each has voiced an opinion on their prediction on how they believe the BIE votes. Majority have vouched for Dubai based on facts that make it an ideal choice with an advantage over other cities.
Dubai has submitted its bid with the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, realising the importance of committing minds and collaborating efforts to overcome the challenges facing the world today. The issues will not be solved in isolation. It requires great minds to be connected, to share a common cause, and to work together in creating a sustainable future.
The UAE is a cosmopolitan country with more than 200 nationalities living here happily. Dubai, although comparatively very young, has achieved plenty, and has overcome many challenges proving that it is capable of picking itself up. The UAE is led by great visionaries, who have placed the right plans and executed them to ensure the economy remains sustainable and continues to be flourishing.
Having strategic potential, Dubai is a destination for investment, known for ease of conducting business; it continues to develop major infrastructure projects in key sectors across multiple industries of the economy. The massive infrastructure projects that are estimated in billions of dollars in the city are a testament of the economical stability and political security that it enjoys. In 2011, the region witnessed a decline in the Foreign Direct Investment. But, Dubai acquired 30 per cent of it, proving that investors trusted Dubai and its potential for returns on investment.
The strategic location allows Dubai’s official carrier Emirates Airlines to potentially cover almost 90 per cent of the world’s population with non-stop flights. In 2012, Dubai International Airport handled almost 57 million passengers and is projected to soon become the world’s busiest airport overtaking Heathrow International. Moreover, with the recent inauguration of Al Maktoum International, it will undeniably enhance the connectivity and increase competitiveness with plans for it to handle 160 million passengers and with five runways by 2030.
The UAE utilises the highest cutting edge technological platforms in the world. The plans have been set to transform Dubai into a Smart City where governmental services will be provided via mobile devices proving Dubai is a catalyst for innovation.
However, the biggest advantage the UAE has over any other country is its people. They have, over the past month, supported the bid in their own creative ways. The bid has brought the whole community together. Online or offline, we are all supporters.
Dubai has built a reputation of creating ideas that raise brows and projects that drop jaws. In a city that is constantly on the move, if it has reached this far by 2013, imagine where it can reach by 2020.
We are ready. Our path is paved towards glory and success, because we built it. We will do the same for Expo 2020; we will pave the way to succeed. We are after all Dubai — no one can compete with it!
Shaikha Al Maskari is an Emirati writer from Abu Dhabi. You can follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uaeyah