Dubai: A year to this day the UAE won the right to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Some of the top bidding nations — Turkey, Russia and Brazil — were overwhelmed by Dubai’s impeccable presentation and credentials and the decision by the members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to grant the right to host the World Fair in 2020 was unanimous.
A year since the high powered delegation from the UAE convinced the rest of the global fraternity that they would deliver on their promise of fulfilling the Expo 2020 theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Dubai has made an impressive start to its preparatory stage which was presented for an annual review to the BIE officials in Paris yesterday.
Well begun is half done. In keeping with this maxim Dubai has pulled out all the stops to host 25 million visitors – 70 per cent of which will be from overseas – amidst a groundswell of support and commitment from government and private stakeholders including its most prized asset, the diverse cultural melting pot of humanity who live in the emirate and call it home.
Projections are on target, blueprints drawn up to boost the city’s infrastructure across all platforms have been activated through construction and it is all systems go, climaxing in a historic event which will run from October 20, 2020 till April 10, 2021.
The Dubai Expo 2020 will also launch the nation’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and offer the government and people a platform to realise a progressive and sustainable vision for the decades to come.
Confidence and ambition
Dubai’s strength lies in its confidence and ambition. It has constantly shown an aptitude to realise its goals, however daunting they have been. Clarity in vision, communication and planning are the key ingredients of its certified traits. The emirate is blessed with one more key asset: the people, part of its hard working and diverse workforce, mirror the sentiments of the leaders. This attribute typifies a narrative in the entire country.
The economy is looking up, development has been fast-tracked, with the ready availability and injection of finance and the spirit of competitiveness in working towards a common goal is palpable across all layers of business and society.
It all culminates in the perfect climax in 2020, but till then every year will be a documented milestone in the rich history of the country and lives of its people.
