Belselah
Organisers of Dubai 2003, the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF to be held next month, have made all arrangements for the accommodation of its delegates and guests, said a senior official of the organising committee.

Dubai's schools and other educational institutions are expected to be closed for a few days during the event, to help reduce congestion on the roads.

The traffic and security sub-committee is also mulling the possibility of closing down some roads, including part of Sheikh Zayed Road up to Garhoud Bridge.

It has booked over 4,000 hotel rooms for the delegates and participants in 50 Dubai hotels from September 19 to 22. Of these, 24 are specially booked for VIP delegates.

Some of the hotels where high-profile VIPs will stay, are expected to become part of the security zones where only security cardholders will be allowed to enter.

Ibrahim Belselah, general coordinator of Dubai 2003, said: "We have standardised the room rates for the delegates so that all the hotels offer the same rates for standard rooms. This has been done to avoid discrepancies. However, rates for other luxury rooms have been left to the hotels to decide."

All the standard hotel rooms at the 50 five-star and four-star hotels have been brought under seven price packages.

These are $231, $177, $163, $150, $109, $82 and $68 per room per night. The first four belong to the five-star hotels, while the rest are for the four-star hotels.

Belselah said the event's direct impact on the local economy will be about $45 million, most of which will go to the hotel sector.

Of the 273 hotels in Dubai, these 50 will benefit the most. Others are also expected to get their slice of business from the 16,000 visitors.

Ahmed Al Banna, Dubai 2003 assistant general coordinator and Head of the Accommodation Committee, said: "Besides these 4,000, we have made provisions for 3,000 rooms for the media and other delegates. There will be requirements for accommodation for an additional 4,500 support staff as well.

"All in all, the number of participants will cross 16,000 and might reach 18,000, most of whom will stay in Dubai during the peak time – between September 21 and 24. However, a number of guests will begin to arrive in Dubai during the second week of September.

"The reason we have set a uniform rate is to help the delegates so there is no discrepancy in accommodation and pricing. We have selected 50 hotels – all five-star and four star brands - to offer the best accommodation facilities to them," he added.