UAE steps up bid to host Expo 2020

The UAE delegation attended the General Assembly meeting of the Bureau International des Expositions along with the delegations from the other four countries bidding to host 2020 World Expo on Thursday. Delegations from 161 member countries are participating in the meeting. The World Expo, one of the oldest and largest international events established before a century and a half, takes place every five years in different cities around the globe and lasts for six months. It has never been hosted so far by an Arab country in its history of over 150 years. Dubai is one of five cities competing to host the World Expo in 2020. The other candidate cities include: Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil). The chairman of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai made a final inspection of the UAE pavilion running concurrently with the General Assembly meetings. The pavilions at the exhibition showcase the infrastructure of each bidding city to substantiate its claim of the ability to host the global event. The exhibition is part of the effort to win the votes of the 161 member states in the amalgamation. The Higher Committee was formed by a decree last May by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, serves as Chairman of the Committee. A key meeting point for the global community to share innovations and make progress on issues of international importance; each World Expo is also a catalyst for economic, cultural and social transformation that generates important legacies for the host city and nation. During his inspection of the pavilion Shaikh Ahmad met with the heads of various delegations from member states and held talks with them. In a presentation made at the meeting, Minister of State Reem Al Hashimi welcomed the world community to UAE and explained its capability and strong infrastructure to host the World Expo in the city of Dubai in 2020. She also shed light on the colossal facilities Dubai can offer once its wins the bid.