UAE: Proud Emiratis in Dubai celebrate their winning bid to host the World Expo 2020
Record ID:
860657
UAE: Proud Emiratis in Dubai celebrate their winning bid to host the World Expo 2020
- Title: UAE: Proud Emiratis in Dubai celebrate their winning bid to host the World Expo 2020
- Date: 28th November 2013
- Summary: DUBAI, UAE (NOVEMBER 27, 2013) (REUTERS) VIDEO SCREEN BROADCASTING ANNOUNCEMENT REACTION IN PARIS
- Embargoed: 13th December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- City:
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4V1XA851WVI258CAYKEGHBCKI
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- Story Text: Dubai's emblematic Burj Khalifa tower was set ablaze with fireworks on Wednesday night (November 27) to celebrate the United Arab Emirates winning bid to host the 2020 World Expo.
The UAE beat off competition from the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Izmir in Turkey in a vote by members of the world fair body, announced in Paris.
The Gulf commercial hub won the support of 116 out of 164 voting members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions in a final-round run-off against Yekaterinburg.
It becomes the first Middle Eastern city to host an event that the United Arab Emirates hopes will pull in billions of dollars of investment.
Dubai lobbied hard to host the 2020 fair as a catalyst to transform the emirate of 2.2 million people into a top global centre for tourism, trade and finance.
Among the celebrants was the managing director of Dubai Ports World, which operates the emirate's port hub.
"I don't know how to express it. Proud to be Emirati. It is basically the world telling you Dubai is 'yes'. It is an historical moment. It is a moment which brings joy to all of us and this all comes from our leadership, from our people in the Emirates and everybody who is living here in the UAE and especially in Dubai they have told the world Dubai is the place for Expo2020," Mohammed el Moallem said, under barrage of fireworks.
Crowds of hundreds of people had been waiting for the result in front of big screens outside the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
Among the dignitaries celebrating was Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum al Maktoum.
"We were expecting this result, seeing as Dubai made such a big effort with its infrastructure and development and has become an example for all cities in the world," the sheikh said.
"Really Dubai is a part of all Arab countries and this [win] is something for all Arabs to be proud of because whatever Dubai achieves is something for all Arabs to proud of because we are all family and all one house," he added.
World Expos, which participating countries use to showcase technological prowess, culture and architecture, are held every five years for six months. Milan will host the next one in 2015.
The fairs hold huge stakes for would-be hosts, which are prepared to spend billions on infrastructure, hotels, buildings and other preparations to attract millions of tourists. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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