Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday attended a gathering hosted by Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee at the site of the international promising expo in Jebel Ali.

Nearly 300 businessmen and CEOs of Arab and foreign companies were present at the meeting held at a mega tent, especially build to host the event.

Held under the theme, 'Expanding Prospects of Opportunities,' the meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and member of the Committee, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of Dubai Ruler's Court and member of the Committee, Lt. General Misbah Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai's Protocol Department, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of Meydan and other members of the Committee.

Sheikh Mohammed watched a presentation on the evolution of Dubai city under his reign as a cosmopolitan city. The documentary also depicted the moment of great joy that swept across the diverse UAE community when the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), in November 2013, announced the UAE as winner of the bid to host World Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State and Managing Director of Expo 2020 Higher Committee, outlined the vision of Sheikh Mohammed for the future of the UAE as the host of Expo 2020 and H.H's close follow up of meetings of the executive bureau and general assembly of the BIE in Paris and his personal attendance of these meetings to provide support that enabled the UAE to win the bid to host the world's largest exhibition, which will be a landmark exhibition and event not only for the UAE and its people, but also for more than two billion people in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Al Hashimy has urged leaders of the business and finance community as well as national and international companies operating in the UAE to engage in shaping the future and sharing ideas and thoughts that could contribute to the success of the international gathering, which is projected to welcome 25 million visitors from across the world.

'Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee will consider all opinions, ideas and proposals it received from experts and businessmen seriously and subject these to thorough discussions and close follow up until all these ideas are crystallised and galvanised into reality so as to make Dubai Expo the most successful, significant and vibrant event ever held in the history of the World Expo, which is held every five years, the Minister emphasised.

'We will connect minds and ideas from all over the world in order to launch new projects and go beyond debate on the future by creating a real future before the onset of Expo 2020,' she said, adding, 'I'm speaking about a legacy that enhances major scientific achievements and an expansion of knowledge that we depend on to make innovations that help the region generate financial support through broadening the base of knowledge-driven economy.' In this context, Al Hashimy stressed the need for encouraging and developing capacities of the youth and for striving to help 'our generous State maintain its leading position.' She noted that Expo 2020 and its associated development projects are projected to generate 2 million job opportunities to UAE and Arab youth.

She said that construction work on the venue's infrastructure and other facilities had already commenced on a total land area of more than 280,000 hectares.

On his part, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid expressed delight at the meeting, which aimed at briefing an elite of CEOs of national and international companies and leaders of the business and finance community about the objectives of the UAE hosting the Dubai Expo 2020. During this gathering, H.H. said, participants shared constructive ideas and proposals which could produce a common vision that portrays the civilised and human image of 'our State and beloved people' and achieve the event's goals: to stimulate local and global economies and create job opportunities through the mega projects that will be undertaken in Dubai and the UAE for Expo 2020.

His Highness wished success to the chairman and members of the Expo Higher Committee in shouldering their heavy responsibilities, affirming his absolute support for the Committee's work and sincere efforts to draw lessons from previous Expos and come out with the best Expo in Dubai by all standards so that 'our State remains among the leading and best countries in the world.'
Source: WAM