Dubai, Nov 28: Following a heated international competition over the course of two years, the United Arab Emirates was announced winner of the World Expo 2020 hosting bid. Accordingly, Dubai will be the host city of the world’s biggest and most prestigious fair as the world welcomes a new decade.
The voting took place in Paris, France at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference centre where representatives of the 165 member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) cast their votes to select the winning city. Three BIE member countries, namely South Sudan, Chad and Costa Rica were excluded by the BIE from the vote due to technical reasons. Dubai’s bid was announced winner after receiving 116 votes in a secret ballot, thus outdoing bids by the candidate cities of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Ekaterinburg (Russia) and Izmir (Turkey).
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection, and organisation of World and International Expos.
Dubai got 77 votes out of 162, as three countries have abstained in the first round, while Dubai increased the votes to 87 in the second round, before the BIE announcing UAE’s bid winner in the third round with total number of 116 votes.
Holding the Expo 2020 in Dubai will coincide with celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the United Arab Emirates. This will reflect positively on the event as the country celebrates a truly remarkable developmental march.
Khalifa congratulates Mohammed
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a telephone conversation, has congratulated Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Dubai's winning the bid to host EXPO 2020.
In the telephone conversation with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa affirmed that "our joy in the UAE was doubled by the win as it coincides with the celebrations of the 42nd National Day."
He noted that this success was the culmination of a series of successes and great achievements the UAE has been incessantly making since its establishment 42 years ago to remain in the lead in all fields.
His Highness President Khalifa said, "From day one when we submitted our bid to host Expo 2020, we were fully confident that Dubai deserves to win the bid, and that our country possesses all it takes to successfully organise a unique event that will add a new and outstanding imprint on the Expo series of events."
On this occasion, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum dedicated the achievement to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates and to the people of the UAE.
Win will breathe new life into region: Mohammed
Sheikh Mohammed said: “We congratulate the nation, our president and all people in the UAE on Dubai’s winning bid to host the greatest exhibition in the world. I extend my thanks to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa for his great support, and to every country that voted for Dubai to host Expo2020. I am proud of our teams who earned this victory for Dubai with two years of hard work, dedication and commitment.
“We renew our promise to astonish the world in 2020. Dubai will bring to life our vision: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. Our goal is to build a better future for the region’s youth. The UAE will achieve it through collaboration and inspiration at the event. Dubai Expo2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity.”H.H. added.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed also said: “Today, we have two reasons to celebrate. The UAE’s epic win to host the world’s most prestigious fair adds to our joy of celebrating the 42nd National Day of our beloved country,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “It is by the unwavering efforts of the leadership and the people of the UAE that this aspiration became reality.”
Furthermore, Sheikh Mohammed asserted that Dubai Expo 2020 will undoubtedly stand out as the best edition in the history of the event in terms of preparation and presentation.
Sheikh Mohammed went on to praise the role and efforts exerted by the Foreign Ministry, led by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in gathering international support for Dubai’s bid. His Highness noted that fine UAE diplomacy was essential in ensuring a victory in the voting process.
He also highlighted efforts of the National Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020 headed by Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum which worked on preparing Dubai’s bid in record time with tact, professionalism and high spirits to realise this milestone.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed praised the positive stance by all Arab and foreign countries who have supported the UAE in this regard. He also expressed appreciation to establishments and individuals from within and outside the UAE for their enthusiastic support, and greeted all departments, institutions and government bodies as well as private sector entities and the UAE community in general for their direct support stressing that they are all partners in success.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed best wishes for Sao Paulo, Ekaterinburg and Izmir, and said: “The competition was challenging and the competitors were strong. We wish them all the success in all their future initiatives. We are all partners in making a better future for humanity without differentiation or discrimination.”
Moreover, Sheikh Mohammed asserted that UAE’s achievement is a gain for the whole region and the world as it brings a global event of this magnitude to the doorsteps of a vast geographical area inhabited by approximately two billion people. It also opens opportunities and channels for the exchange of ideas and visions as well as innovative solutions for the benefit of humanity in general.
The UAE has received broad international support ahead of the voting process in Paris, where many brotherly and friendly Arab and foreign countries in the East and the West declared their full support for UAE’s bid to host the World Expo in 2020. The six-month event celebrates human innovation and creativity as the best means of finding solutions that help mankind overcome challenges and explore new horizons.
To this end, the UAE has chosen a unique theme that reflects future ambitions in harmony with the exhibition’s objectives. "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," would provide a unique platform for the global community to come together and explore creative and pioneering solutions to the three subthemes which have been identified as key drivers of global development: “Sustainability,” “Mobility” and “Opportunity”.
Expo 2020 is expected to have significant and positive direct and indirect economic impact on the United Arab Emirates and the region. Initial research and studies indicate that hosting Expo 2020 will generate approximately 277,000 new job opportunities between 2013 and 2020; each of these new job opportunities will sustain around 50 jobs in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region. Over a period of six month, Expo 2020 is expected to attract over 25 million visitors, 70% of them will be from outside the UAE.
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