In Theory: Dubai rises to the occasion - in style

As part of his almost daily tours of the Convention Centre, where the IMF and World Bank meetings were successfully completed last week, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, said: "We are seeking to realise an achievement that is unprecedented for anyone" with respect to all preparations for the two international meetings held there.

Indeed, it was a major challenge given that all the previous meetings held during the last 50 years took place in developed countries in Europe and North America. Through my meetings with foreign delegations during the two meetings, I can confidently say that this achievement was realised in an unprecedented manner.

An African official said that the UAE succeeded in organising both meetings in a magnificent way. He added, "You were able to excel over all the developed countries that organised such meetings before you."

A member of a South American country's Board of Governors said that he had been attending these meetings since 1980 but had not seen such wonderful preparations before. He added that although he was scheduled to leave Dubai soon after the meetings, he postponed his departure for four more days because he fell in love with the place.

Success

In his ex officio capacity, he went on to say that the meetings would be held outside Washington DC after three years and they would be convened in Singapore in 2006. "Owing to the tremendous success made by the UAE, we look forward to holding these meetings in the near future in the Gulf if this is possible." The official I am talking about represents one of the biggest South American countries.

I will be satisfied with these two impressions since the praise was showered in a big way. Equally significant were the many enquiries about President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and other leaders, especially from members of delegations who came from remote countries.

As for the professional aspects of the meetings, the achievements were not less important. They have focused in a powerful way on the issues of concern to developing countries, their position in the new delineation of international economic relations. They have also focused on issues related to development and investment of the oil revenues.

The UAE youth have been able to gain international expertise in organising and managing international meetings of great importance which would constitute a significant addition to their outstanding expertise in trade and management of public utilities such as airports, seaports and infrastructure facilities. Such expertise is being made available for the benefit of certain countries of the world.

Such meetings have already enhanced the UAE's position on the world's economic and political map and have attracted attention to the country as a successful experience, given that the country has been able within a short period of time to make vast strides on the road to development and progress.

It will not be easy for countries hosting the IMF and World Bank meetings in the future to repeat the UAE's success in the same way. Indeed, Dubai has been able to provide a difficult test for other cities planning to host these meetings as they will find it difficult to match the resources and efforts made to host them.

The mere saying that we will make an achievement that is unprecedented for everyone has been a major challenge. However, the determination of the country's leaders has been stronger and so the achievement has been made possible as testified by all who have seen it for themselves.

The writer is a UAE economic expert