Earlier this summer, Dubai became one of four cities to put in its formal bid to host the World Expo 2020, when Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain presented to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris. Her eloquent speech outlined the reasons why Dubai is the perfect place to host the prestigious event.
Hristoforos Nicos Amanatidis has been following the bid’s progress with interest. As a lover of both Dubai and London, between which he and wife Boryana Shehtova spilt their time, Hristoforos is very much hoping that Dubai will be the winning city for the World Expo, beating the three other contenders: Brazil’s São Paulo, Turkey’s Izmir and Russia’s Ekaterinburg.
“The World Expo is such an exciting event,” Hristoforos commented. “It would be such a marvellous thing for Dubai if we could host it here. Dubai, with its first-class facilities and stunning architecture, already enjoys an excellent international reputation for the holding of events and it would be wonderful to add the World Expo as another string to the city’s bow.”
In terms of cultural and economic impact, the World Expo is one of the largest non-commercial events in the world. The theme that Dubai has put forward for the 2020 event is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, with three sub-themes of opportunity, sustainability and mobility. The focus of the theme is on collaboration, partnership and unity, encouraging the world to unite in order to address the challenges of the future.
The cost to Dubai of hosting the World Expo 2020 is estimated to be in the region of €6.46 billion (about Dh31.7 billion). It is clearing no small undertaking. Approximately 182 guest nations are expected to participate, with visitors topping 25 million. As well as cementing Dubai’s reputation as a world-leading place to hold events, the World Expo would also give rise to income from ticket sales, food and drink sales, merchandising, sponsorship and a range of other sources.
Incredibly, the Dubai government has estimated that 90% of employment opportunities between 2018 and 2020 would arise from the lead-up to the event, should it win the bid. Hristoforos commented further:
“Although the World Expo is an expensive event to run, the economic impact would be incredible, particularly in terms of employment opportunities. The government report released on this subject made fascinating reading.”
The winner of the World Expo 2020 bid will not be known until November, when the BIE will once more convene in Paris to announce the winner. The winning city needs to gain at least 50% of the votes, with the lowest scoring city removed and the vote re-held if no city gets 50% first time round.
November will clearly be a tense time for all those – including Hristoforos – rooting for Dubai to win. If it does, Dubai will be the first city in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region to host this prestigious global event. For now though, all the city can do is wait and hope that November brings a favourable outcome.
Hristoforos Nicos Amanatidis has been following the bid’s progress with interest. As a lover of both Dubai and London, between which he and wife Boryana Shehtova spilt their time, Hristoforos is very much hoping that Dubai will be the winning city for the World Expo, beating the three other contenders: Brazil’s São Paulo, Turkey’s Izmir and Russia’s Ekaterinburg.
“The World Expo is such an exciting event,” Hristoforos commented. “It would be such a marvellous thing for Dubai if we could host it here. Dubai, with its first-class facilities and stunning architecture, already enjoys an excellent international reputation for the holding of events and it would be wonderful to add the World Expo as another string to the city’s bow.”
In terms of cultural and economic impact, the World Expo is one of the largest non-commercial events in the world. The theme that Dubai has put forward for the 2020 event is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, with three sub-themes of opportunity, sustainability and mobility. The focus of the theme is on collaboration, partnership and unity, encouraging the world to unite in order to address the challenges of the future.
The cost to Dubai of hosting the World Expo 2020 is estimated to be in the region of €6.46 billion (about Dh31.7 billion). It is clearing no small undertaking. Approximately 182 guest nations are expected to participate, with visitors topping 25 million. As well as cementing Dubai’s reputation as a world-leading place to hold events, the World Expo would also give rise to income from ticket sales, food and drink sales, merchandising, sponsorship and a range of other sources.
Incredibly, the Dubai government has estimated that 90% of employment opportunities between 2018 and 2020 would arise from the lead-up to the event, should it win the bid. Hristoforos commented further:
“Although the World Expo is an expensive event to run, the economic impact would be incredible, particularly in terms of employment opportunities. The government report released on this subject made fascinating reading.”
The winner of the World Expo 2020 bid will not be known until November, when the BIE will once more convene in Paris to announce the winner. The winning city needs to gain at least 50% of the votes, with the lowest scoring city removed and the vote re-held if no city gets 50% first time round.
November will clearly be a tense time for all those – including Hristoforos – rooting for Dubai to win. If it does, Dubai will be the first city in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region to host this prestigious global event. For now though, all the city can do is wait and hope that November brings a favourable outcome.
