BUSINESS LEADERS ON DUBAI EXPO 2020
Dubai Expo 2020: What it Means to Us
What is common among Empire State building, Burj Khalifa, Big Ben and Eiffel Tower? They are all iconic buildings that have become synonymous with their cities. However, Eiffel Tower in Paris stands out purely for business reasons as it was built in 1889 for World Expo.
The icon creator Expo, launched in London as Great Exhibition in 1851, might be coming to Dubai. And, why not! The UAE has been campaigning tactfully and aggressively to win the bid, which will be announced in November.
The emirate made the last minute entry as the candidate city to hold the six-month business exhibition in 2020.
In the past 150 years, the Expo has evolved in terms of its size and duration. Five cities were shortlisted for the 2020 fair – Dubai in UAE, Izmir in Turkey, Yekaterinburg in Russia, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
The Paris-based expo manager, Bureau of International Expositions, dropped Thailand from its list in June 2013 due to the absence of endorsement from the Thai government.
But the UAE’s federal government and Dubai’s state machinery has been working overtime to emerge victorious among the four remaining bidders for the Expo in 2020.
TRENDS asked premier partners of Dubai’s Expo 2020 about the economic opportunities the fair would offer and their efforts in bringing the expo to Dubai. Emirates airlines, one of the key partners, did not respond to our queries.
Importance of Expo 2020
Rick Pudner, Group CEO of Emirates NBD:
A World Expo is one of the best opportunities for a host country and its surrounding areas to demonstrate their social, economic and cultural achievements and prospects to the world.
If Dubai were to win the bid to be the host city for World Expo 2020, it would create an influx of investors and business opportunities not only in Dubai and the UAE, but also across the Arabian Gulf.
Ahmed Alhashimi, Senior Vice President at etisalat: This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Dubai, the UAE and the wider GCC region. Expo 2020 is a shop window for the UAE to show the world all it has to offer, not just in terms of technology and infrastructure but also in fields as diverse as business and culture, too. This will be the platform on which the world will see the UAE 2021 vision writ large.
Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO of DP World: World expos impact economic development, global reputation, infrastructure, employment and act as a cultural and educational transformation for the public.
The expo presents a tremendous opportunity for Dubai, the UAE and the region to showcase its infrastructure, geographic positioning and access to the world’s fastest growing markets and contribute to substantial GDP growth, create jobs and boost tourism, among others.
Yet Dubai Expo 2020 is not just about the UAE – it is an opportunity for everyone to get involved, from people, the business community and other nations. This would be the first World Expo to be held in the region also giving access to two billion people, who have not had access to expos before. It also gives unprecedented global exposure and reach for the visitors, the participants and the BIE as 70 per cent of visitors would come from outside the host nation – the most international Expo in the history of the event.
Gerald Lawless, President and Group CEO of Jumeirah Group: Our group is very proud to be part of the UAE bid to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. The hospitality business is all about opening doors to the world, making people feel welcome and creating memorable experiences. Our luxury hotels in the UAE are places where people from all different cultures connect. In that same spirit, we believe the bid to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai is the most exciting opportunity to showcase the dynamism, the vision and the depth of the UAE to the world. If Dubai wins, the whole region will get employment, investment and other commercial opportunities.
Is Dubai an ideal destination?
Pudner: Dubai holds many distinct advantages as a host city for World Expo. An expo in the UAE would truly be an expo for the world, with people from more than 200 nationalities already living and working in the UAE. Dubai is within a four-hour flight range of nearly one-third of the world’s population – and for the first time in the history of the Expo, a majority of visitors would come from outside the host country.
Alhashimi: Dubai is a truly 21st city, a metropolis of innovation and talent – values the city shares with Expo 2020. The vision and support of our leadership has paved the way to a lot of UAE companies gaining international success.
Sharaf: Dubai has emerged as a leading regional commercial hub, and it has become the logical place to do business in the Middle East, providing investors with a unique and comprehensive value added platform. No other place in the region has achieved so much in such a short period of time.
Standing at the crossroads of world trade over the centuries, we are blessed with the wisdom of our ancestors who have steered Dubai on a voyage of development. That wisdom and guidance continues under the leadership of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Anita Mehra, Vice-president of Marketing and Communications, Dubai Airports: The leadership and vision of Sheikh Mohammed has made Dubai what it is today – a world leader in commerce, trade, tourism and aviation. Dubai Airports is in step with this inspired vision and approach. Our expansion plans for Dubai International and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central ensure we will have the state-of-the art infrastructure and capacity in place to create a lasting first impression as we welcome even more of the world to Dubai.
Lawless: Dubai already has a robust infrastructure, a strong service culture and a world class portfolio of hotels, resorts, restaurants and shopping destinations. On top of that it offers a very secure environment for visitors and a business-friendly environment for investors. What sets it apart is the vision for the future of tourism, which gives all the key players the energy and the motivation to help the emirate achieve its ambitious goals. Maintaining that ‘can do’ attitude is the greatest key to success. And that is why we are confident that Dubai is the right choice for Expo 2020.
Opportunities in victory
Pudner: If Dubai emerges as a winner, it would mean a sudden and considerable boost in construction, infrastructural planning and development activity. Secondary and support sectors like trade, tourism, entertainment and hospitality would also receive significant benefits from the organization of such a large scale event in the UAE.
Since expos are planned more than five years ahead of the actual event, the inflow of business opportunities and investment will be expected to begin well ahead. Closely related to these is also the growth of other sectors including residential property development, family support systems, educational opportunities etc. As a result of extensive growth across all sectors, banking will also benefit considerably.
As regional countries and organizations look to maximize the benefit of a huge event taking place on their doorstep, the doors would literally be thrown open to greater inward investment, setting up of various support industries and businesses to support the hosting of the expo, not only in Dubai but also in the neighboring emirates, surrounding GCC states and the greater Middle East.
Sharaf: We see a range of long term benefits including:
An Economic Legacy: Dubai Expo 2020 has conducted an independent economic impact assessment on the value of hosting the event resulting in gross value added to Dubai’s economy of $23.6 billion. Every dollar spent by the host of Dubai Expo 2020 drives six times value in the Dubai economy. The Economic Impact Assessment concludes that Dubai Expo 2020 will support 277,149 jobs in Dubai over the period from 2013 to 2021. Additionally, for every Expo employee, roughly 50 additional jobs will be sustained in other parts of the MENA economy as a result of the value generated.
A Physical Legacy: After the six-month duration of Dubai Expo 2020, the site will gradually transform into Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali (DTC-JA). Integral to the DTC-JA development will be an Institute Zone that encompasses research centers and a university focused on fostering collaborative thought leadership between academia, corporations and entrepreneurs.
Another permanent and cultural legacy of Dubai Expo 2020 will be a National Museum commemorating the evolution of the UAE and celebrating the first World Expo for the Arab world.
A Social Legacy: With a young population, Dubai Expo 2020 would leave a powerful social legacy, informing and inspiring a generation and a wealth of new knowledge will be generated by the theme.
Mehra: An event of this size and scope would be a tremendous boost to all sectors of the economy, particularly transport and hospitality. Aviation already supports 28 per cent of Dubai’s GDP and Oxford Economics projects that will rise to 32 per cent by 2020. This event could boost those numbers further.
Lawless: Dubai’s success will boost further development of the emirate, resulting in accelerated economic growth rate. For travel and tourism it will mean new projects coming online, such as hotels, theme parks and recreational facilities. Dubai will have broader international trade relations and cultural exchanges.
Sectors benefit
Pudner: Infrastructure development/ construction, tourism, trade, hospitality, transportation and logistics sectors will benefit the most.
Alhashimi: Almost all sectors in the UAE economy stand to benefit, but one area we are particularly excited by is the arena of managed M2M solutions. M2M is all about connecting devices – everything from cars to light switches – to the Internet.
Sharaf: We believe the economy of Dubai and the UAE as a whole will benefit. There is a trickle-down effect from the number of visitors, increased volumes of business and trade.
Lawless: Without doubt, almost every sector of business will benefit from the multiplier effect of the World Expo, from construction and retail to travel and tourism. Dubai already has an excellent track record in hosting major world events.
Impact on the UAE’s economy
Pudner: The UAE’s success, innovation and growth story will be showcased on the global stage, attracting new opportunities and endless potential for everyone who lives and works here. The UAE is set to see further economic development, enhanced infrastructure and a host of new employment opportunities.
Sharaf: The economy of Dubai and the UAE is not just dependent on the expo bid but ranges across various sectors with trade being one of the pillars of its prosperity. Growth levels are dependent on many factors, and DP World is playing its part. The world-class services offered at Jebel Ali Port make it the port of choice for many shipping lines and a pioneer gateway to the region’s market. The port continues to deliver growth in throughput and capacity, expanding its capacity to reach 19 million TEU by 2014.
Jebel Ali Port continues to meet our customers’ needs, especially their requirement for ports capable of handling ultra large vessels. Similarly, our cruise terminal facility at Mina Rashid is another success story.
Together, we will continue to make history as a local company that expanded across six continents, realizing the vision of our leadership and the aspirations of our people.
Lawless: The strategic location of the expo site will allow easy access from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Active engagement of all seven emirates will be instrumental to the success of the expo – and all of them will benefit from more tourists visiting the country and taking the time to travel around it and discover its rich traditions, culture and business opportunities. I am confident that the entire region would enjoy enhanced economic returns.
Your contribution for the bid
Pudner: As one of the premier partners of the UAE’s bid to host World Expo 2020 in Dubai, Emirates NBD has constantly supported every aspect of the bid including promoting the UAE’s bid theme across all its stakeholder audiences. The World Expo 2020 bid logo has been incorporated into all marketing collaterals at the bank and displayed at all events that are either organized by Emirates NBD or sponsored and supported by the bank.
The key themes and messages of UAE’s bid have been incorporated into the main communication messages at Emirates NBD, and senior spokespersons at the bank constantly make the effort to reiterate the Expo 2020 bid messages and themes at public events and among target stakeholder groups.
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, 50 staff members from Emirates NBD took on the challenge to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and they carried a flag incorporated with the logos of Emirates NBD, UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020 and the UAE colors.
Alhashimi: Etisalat has been proactive in providing for all the telecom infrastructure that will support the needs of the event, as well as raising the world’s awareness of the UAEs technology sector. Etisalat’s has a 4G network that covers more than 80 per cent of the UAE’s populated area, and Etisalat’s fibre optic penetration is rated as the highest in the world. We are one of the national pillars that support the government in the UAE.
Sharaf: Along with the visible branding efforts and our contribution to the many presentations and speaking engagements that form part of the bid, our support also includes bringing industry together with host delegations of the organizing committee to share both the capabilities of the supply chain in the UAE and thought leadership around the theme of the bid “Connecting Minds, Connecting the Future” as it relates to our industry.
Our entire global team of 28,000 is backing the bid. At a local level, our teams have taken every opportunity to promote the bid at a senior government level within their home countries.
Mehra: Dubai Airports has been an active and ardent supporter of the bid. We have promoted it broadly to the millions of people who fly into our airport each month. We have hosted tours and presentations and we have taken every opportunity to voice its benefits to our industry and our emirate in our airport and in our interactions with media, stakeholders and the travelling public.
Lawless: We are supporting the bid by displaying the Dubai Expo 2020 bid logo on our internal and external communications, by sharing updates with our employees and encouraging them to follow the World Expo 2020 campaign on social media and by speaking in support of the bid at international events. We have also been actively engaged in terms of looking forward and planning our development activities for 2014-2020 in case the bid is successful.
By Atique Naqvi | Dubai, UAE | Uploaded on the blog recently**
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| Artist impression of Dubai Expo arena |
The icon creator Expo, launched in London as Great Exhibition in 1851, might be coming to Dubai. And, why not! The UAE has been campaigning tactfully and aggressively to win the bid, which will be announced in November.
The emirate made the last minute entry as the candidate city to hold the six-month business exhibition in 2020.
In the past 150 years, the Expo has evolved in terms of its size and duration. Five cities were shortlisted for the 2020 fair – Dubai in UAE, Izmir in Turkey, Yekaterinburg in Russia, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
The Paris-based expo manager, Bureau of International Expositions, dropped Thailand from its list in June 2013 due to the absence of endorsement from the Thai government.
But the UAE’s federal government and Dubai’s state machinery has been working overtime to emerge victorious among the four remaining bidders for the Expo in 2020.
TRENDS asked premier partners of Dubai’s Expo 2020 about the economic opportunities the fair would offer and their efforts in bringing the expo to Dubai. Emirates airlines, one of the key partners, did not respond to our queries.
Importance of Expo 2020
Rick Pudner, Group CEO of Emirates NBD:
A World Expo is one of the best opportunities for a host country and its surrounding areas to demonstrate their social, economic and cultural achievements and prospects to the world.
If Dubai were to win the bid to be the host city for World Expo 2020, it would create an influx of investors and business opportunities not only in Dubai and the UAE, but also across the Arabian Gulf.
Ahmed Alhashimi, Senior Vice President at etisalat: This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Dubai, the UAE and the wider GCC region. Expo 2020 is a shop window for the UAE to show the world all it has to offer, not just in terms of technology and infrastructure but also in fields as diverse as business and culture, too. This will be the platform on which the world will see the UAE 2021 vision writ large.
Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO of DP World: World expos impact economic development, global reputation, infrastructure, employment and act as a cultural and educational transformation for the public.
The expo presents a tremendous opportunity for Dubai, the UAE and the region to showcase its infrastructure, geographic positioning and access to the world’s fastest growing markets and contribute to substantial GDP growth, create jobs and boost tourism, among others.
Yet Dubai Expo 2020 is not just about the UAE – it is an opportunity for everyone to get involved, from people, the business community and other nations. This would be the first World Expo to be held in the region also giving access to two billion people, who have not had access to expos before. It also gives unprecedented global exposure and reach for the visitors, the participants and the BIE as 70 per cent of visitors would come from outside the host nation – the most international Expo in the history of the event.
Gerald Lawless, President and Group CEO of Jumeirah Group: Our group is very proud to be part of the UAE bid to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. The hospitality business is all about opening doors to the world, making people feel welcome and creating memorable experiences. Our luxury hotels in the UAE are places where people from all different cultures connect. In that same spirit, we believe the bid to host the World Expo 2020 in Dubai is the most exciting opportunity to showcase the dynamism, the vision and the depth of the UAE to the world. If Dubai wins, the whole region will get employment, investment and other commercial opportunities.
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| Dubai-based Emirates is global brand that connects the world. |
Is Dubai an ideal destination?
Pudner: Dubai holds many distinct advantages as a host city for World Expo. An expo in the UAE would truly be an expo for the world, with people from more than 200 nationalities already living and working in the UAE. Dubai is within a four-hour flight range of nearly one-third of the world’s population – and for the first time in the history of the Expo, a majority of visitors would come from outside the host country.
Alhashimi: Dubai is a truly 21st city, a metropolis of innovation and talent – values the city shares with Expo 2020. The vision and support of our leadership has paved the way to a lot of UAE companies gaining international success.
Sharaf: Dubai has emerged as a leading regional commercial hub, and it has become the logical place to do business in the Middle East, providing investors with a unique and comprehensive value added platform. No other place in the region has achieved so much in such a short period of time.
Standing at the crossroads of world trade over the centuries, we are blessed with the wisdom of our ancestors who have steered Dubai on a voyage of development. That wisdom and guidance continues under the leadership of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Anita Mehra, Vice-president of Marketing and Communications, Dubai Airports: The leadership and vision of Sheikh Mohammed has made Dubai what it is today – a world leader in commerce, trade, tourism and aviation. Dubai Airports is in step with this inspired vision and approach. Our expansion plans for Dubai International and Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central ensure we will have the state-of-the art infrastructure and capacity in place to create a lasting first impression as we welcome even more of the world to Dubai.
Lawless: Dubai already has a robust infrastructure, a strong service culture and a world class portfolio of hotels, resorts, restaurants and shopping destinations. On top of that it offers a very secure environment for visitors and a business-friendly environment for investors. What sets it apart is the vision for the future of tourism, which gives all the key players the energy and the motivation to help the emirate achieve its ambitious goals. Maintaining that ‘can do’ attitude is the greatest key to success. And that is why we are confident that Dubai is the right choice for Expo 2020.
Opportunities in victory
Pudner: If Dubai emerges as a winner, it would mean a sudden and considerable boost in construction, infrastructural planning and development activity. Secondary and support sectors like trade, tourism, entertainment and hospitality would also receive significant benefits from the organization of such a large scale event in the UAE.
Since expos are planned more than five years ahead of the actual event, the inflow of business opportunities and investment will be expected to begin well ahead. Closely related to these is also the growth of other sectors including residential property development, family support systems, educational opportunities etc. As a result of extensive growth across all sectors, banking will also benefit considerably.
As regional countries and organizations look to maximize the benefit of a huge event taking place on their doorstep, the doors would literally be thrown open to greater inward investment, setting up of various support industries and businesses to support the hosting of the expo, not only in Dubai but also in the neighboring emirates, surrounding GCC states and the greater Middle East.
Sharaf: We see a range of long term benefits including:
An Economic Legacy: Dubai Expo 2020 has conducted an independent economic impact assessment on the value of hosting the event resulting in gross value added to Dubai’s economy of $23.6 billion. Every dollar spent by the host of Dubai Expo 2020 drives six times value in the Dubai economy. The Economic Impact Assessment concludes that Dubai Expo 2020 will support 277,149 jobs in Dubai over the period from 2013 to 2021. Additionally, for every Expo employee, roughly 50 additional jobs will be sustained in other parts of the MENA economy as a result of the value generated.
A Physical Legacy: After the six-month duration of Dubai Expo 2020, the site will gradually transform into Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali (DTC-JA). Integral to the DTC-JA development will be an Institute Zone that encompasses research centers and a university focused on fostering collaborative thought leadership between academia, corporations and entrepreneurs.
Another permanent and cultural legacy of Dubai Expo 2020 will be a National Museum commemorating the evolution of the UAE and celebrating the first World Expo for the Arab world.
A Social Legacy: With a young population, Dubai Expo 2020 would leave a powerful social legacy, informing and inspiring a generation and a wealth of new knowledge will be generated by the theme.
Mehra: An event of this size and scope would be a tremendous boost to all sectors of the economy, particularly transport and hospitality. Aviation already supports 28 per cent of Dubai’s GDP and Oxford Economics projects that will rise to 32 per cent by 2020. This event could boost those numbers further.
Lawless: Dubai’s success will boost further development of the emirate, resulting in accelerated economic growth rate. For travel and tourism it will mean new projects coming online, such as hotels, theme parks and recreational facilities. Dubai will have broader international trade relations and cultural exchanges.
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| Arab culture, including group dances, is unique in its own way. |
Sectors benefit
Pudner: Infrastructure development/ construction, tourism, trade, hospitality, transportation and logistics sectors will benefit the most.
Alhashimi: Almost all sectors in the UAE economy stand to benefit, but one area we are particularly excited by is the arena of managed M2M solutions. M2M is all about connecting devices – everything from cars to light switches – to the Internet.
Sharaf: We believe the economy of Dubai and the UAE as a whole will benefit. There is a trickle-down effect from the number of visitors, increased volumes of business and trade.
Lawless: Without doubt, almost every sector of business will benefit from the multiplier effect of the World Expo, from construction and retail to travel and tourism. Dubai already has an excellent track record in hosting major world events.
Impact on the UAE’s economy
Pudner: The UAE’s success, innovation and growth story will be showcased on the global stage, attracting new opportunities and endless potential for everyone who lives and works here. The UAE is set to see further economic development, enhanced infrastructure and a host of new employment opportunities.
Sharaf: The economy of Dubai and the UAE is not just dependent on the expo bid but ranges across various sectors with trade being one of the pillars of its prosperity. Growth levels are dependent on many factors, and DP World is playing its part. The world-class services offered at Jebel Ali Port make it the port of choice for many shipping lines and a pioneer gateway to the region’s market. The port continues to deliver growth in throughput and capacity, expanding its capacity to reach 19 million TEU by 2014.
Jebel Ali Port continues to meet our customers’ needs, especially their requirement for ports capable of handling ultra large vessels. Similarly, our cruise terminal facility at Mina Rashid is another success story.
Together, we will continue to make history as a local company that expanded across six continents, realizing the vision of our leadership and the aspirations of our people.
Lawless: The strategic location of the expo site will allow easy access from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Active engagement of all seven emirates will be instrumental to the success of the expo – and all of them will benefit from more tourists visiting the country and taking the time to travel around it and discover its rich traditions, culture and business opportunities. I am confident that the entire region would enjoy enhanced economic returns.
Your contribution for the bid
Pudner: As one of the premier partners of the UAE’s bid to host World Expo 2020 in Dubai, Emirates NBD has constantly supported every aspect of the bid including promoting the UAE’s bid theme across all its stakeholder audiences. The World Expo 2020 bid logo has been incorporated into all marketing collaterals at the bank and displayed at all events that are either organized by Emirates NBD or sponsored and supported by the bank.
The key themes and messages of UAE’s bid have been incorporated into the main communication messages at Emirates NBD, and senior spokespersons at the bank constantly make the effort to reiterate the Expo 2020 bid messages and themes at public events and among target stakeholder groups.
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, 50 staff members from Emirates NBD took on the challenge to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and they carried a flag incorporated with the logos of Emirates NBD, UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020 and the UAE colors.
Alhashimi: Etisalat has been proactive in providing for all the telecom infrastructure that will support the needs of the event, as well as raising the world’s awareness of the UAEs technology sector. Etisalat’s has a 4G network that covers more than 80 per cent of the UAE’s populated area, and Etisalat’s fibre optic penetration is rated as the highest in the world. We are one of the national pillars that support the government in the UAE.
Sharaf: Along with the visible branding efforts and our contribution to the many presentations and speaking engagements that form part of the bid, our support also includes bringing industry together with host delegations of the organizing committee to share both the capabilities of the supply chain in the UAE and thought leadership around the theme of the bid “Connecting Minds, Connecting the Future” as it relates to our industry.
Our entire global team of 28,000 is backing the bid. At a local level, our teams have taken every opportunity to promote the bid at a senior government level within their home countries.
Mehra: Dubai Airports has been an active and ardent supporter of the bid. We have promoted it broadly to the millions of people who fly into our airport each month. We have hosted tours and presentations and we have taken every opportunity to voice its benefits to our industry and our emirate in our airport and in our interactions with media, stakeholders and the travelling public.
Lawless: We are supporting the bid by displaying the Dubai Expo 2020 bid logo on our internal and external communications, by sharing updates with our employees and encouraging them to follow the World Expo 2020 campaign on social media and by speaking in support of the bid at international events. We have also been actively engaged in terms of looking forward and planning our development activities for 2014-2020 in case the bid is successful.
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