Dubai fully deserved to win: Khalifa; We will astonish the world: Mohammed

November 28, 2013

khalifa

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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Agencies
April 27,2020

Riyadh, Apr 27: A Saudi Arabia-led coalition said on Monday that all parties need to return to the status that existed before the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen declared an emergency in Aden, according to a statement published by Spa.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, stresses the need to restore conditions to their previous state following the announcement of a state of emergency by the Southern Transitional Council and the consequential development of affairs in the interim capital (Aden) and some Southern governorates in the Republic of Yemen.

The Coalition urges for an immediate end to any steps contrary to the Riyadh Agreement, and work rapidly toward its implementation, citing the wide support for the agreement by the international community and the United Nations.

The Coalition has and will continue to undertake practical and systematic steps to implement the Riyadh Agreement between the parties to unite Yemeni ranks, restore state institutions and combat the scourge of terrorism. The responsibility rests with the signatories to the Agreement to undertake national steps toward implementing its provisions, which were signed and agreed upon with a time matrix for implementation. The Coalition demands an end to any escalation and calls for return to the Agreement by the participating parties, stressing the immediate need for implementation without delay, and the need to prioritise the Yemeni peoples' interests above all else, as well as working to achieve the stated goals of restoring the state, ending the coup and combatting terrorist organizations.

The Coalition reaffirms its ongoing support to the legitimate Yemeni government, and its support for implementing the Riyadh Agreement, which entails forming a competent government that operate from the interim capital Aden to tackle economic and developmental challenges, in light of natural disasters such as floods, fears of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic outbreak, and work to provide services to the brotherly people of Yemen.

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Agencies
May 25,2020

Abu Dhabi, May 25: Dusty weather to persist in the UAE on Monday as well with a chance of rainfall in parts of the country, the national Met department reported.

According to the NCM, the weather today will be fair to partly cloudy, with a chance of some convective clouds formation by afternoon - eastward and northward - extending to some internal areas that may be associated with some rainfall.

The weather will get humid by night and Tuesday morning over some coastal areas.

NCM predicts a wet Eid break.

Sharjah Police issued a weather warning as heavy rain flooded roads in Sharjah's Kalba among other areas.

Moderate to fresh winds will gain strength during the day causing blowing dust and sand.

The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, a weather alert was issued by authorities as moderate to heavy rain - accompanied with hail - lashed parts of the UAE. A rainbow in Dubai skies cheered up residents, celebrating a unique Eid this year amid the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic - by mostly staying home.

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News Network
January 3,2020

Hong Kong, Jan 3: Oil prices soared more than four per cent Friday following claims that the US had killed a top Iranian general, ratcheting up tensions between the foes and fuelling fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region.

The head of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad international airport early Friday, according to Hased, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.

Brent surged 4.4 per cent to USD 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 per cent to 63.84.

“Oil prices still have room for further upside as many analysts are still having to upgrade their demand forecasts to include a rather calm period on the trade front,” Moya said, referring to the warming trade relation between China and the United States.

“President Trump is likely to take a break on being ‘tariff man’ until we get beyond the presidential election in November.”

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