YEARS
SPECIAL REPORT | AUGUST 29, 2013
Contents K Hale e J t iMe s
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sP e cial r ePOrt
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ConneCting minds, ConneCting the future
Dubai Expo 2020 expects to attract 25 million visitors during the six months between October 2020 and April 2021
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neW tourism Vision for 2020
Twenty million visitors per year, trebling sector’s contribution to Dubai’s economy
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Crossroads of business
UAE’s bid for Expo 2020 is history in the making
World is our oyster
Key stakeholders in the tourism industry lend their support to Dubai’s ambitious bid for Expo 2020
ready for a neW future
Imdaad is ready for a future prepared by UAE leaders
Commitment to prosperity
Mediclinic Middle East backs Dubai government for Expo 2020
l Executive Editor: Patrick Michael l Supplements Editor: Suchitra Steven Samuel l Sub-editor: Sadiq Shaban l Reporters: Farhana Chowdhury, Suneeti Ahuja-Kohli l Design & Layout: Mohammad Ejaz Khan, Sidharthan l Imaging: Venugopal Prabhu l Director Advertising: Haroon Qureshi l Senior Advertisement Manager (Supplements): Philip Smith l Dubai HeaD Office P.O. Box 11243, Tel: +971 4 3383535, Fax: +971 4 3383345/46, E-mail: supplements@khaleejtimes.com l abu DHabi P.O. Box 3082, Tel: +971 2 6337666, Fax: +971 2 6351122, E-mail: ktimesad@eim.ae a PublicatiOn Of GalaDari PrintinG & PublisHinG llc
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ConneCting minds, connecting the future dubai expo 2020 expeCts to attraCt 25 million visitors during the six months between oCtober 2020 and april 2021 bY suneeti ahuja-Kohli
A
s the final countdown for deciding who gets to host World expo 2020 begins, representatives from 167 member nations of the Bureau International des expositions (BIe) will decide which city will host the World expo 2020. In less than 100 days we will know if Dubai will bag the honours. Although a last minute entrant as a bidder for the expo 2020, Dubai is undoubtedly the front-runner in the game to grab the rights to host the six-month long event in the year 2020. held once in every five years, World expos attract millions of visitors who explore and discover pavilions, exhibitions and cultural events staged by hundreds of participants including nations, international organisations and businesses — acting as a catalyst for the economic, cultural and social transformation. shanghai, for instance, reaped enormous benefits of hosting the World expo in 2010. the event, showcasing "Better City, Better Life" attracted 73 million people from all over the world and helped the city transform from a heavily industrial city-centre area into a thriving cultural and commercial district. Likewise, Dubai, too, is expected to benefit heavily from the investments being made for the event. As per reports, the event is likely to create 277,149 jobs
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His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai
World Expos today are a key meeting point for the global community to share innovations and make progress on issues of international importance such as the global economy, sustainable development and improved quality of life for the world’s population
between 2013 and 2021, of which 40 per cent would be within the travel and tourism sector. Moreover, almost 90 per cent of the job opportunities would be created from 2018 to 2021 with the ramp up to expo 2020 and the demand generated by the 25 million expected visitors. More importantly, the report demonstrates the positive impact for the wider region showing that for every expo employee approximately 60 additional jobs will be sustained across other parts of the MeNA economy. helal saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of tourism and Commerce Marketing and CeO of the Dubai World trade Centre said: “tourism is a vital pillar of Dubai’s economy and has contributed to the city’s economic growth, success and diversification. With the strength of Dubai’s infrastructure, geographic location and global connectivity, Dubai expo 2020 can expect to attract 25 million visitors during the six months between October 2020 and April 2021, 71 per cent of which would originate from outside the host nation for the first time in expo history. this is important because the additional demand created by World expo would provide real and exciting opportunities in employment, new attractions and incentives for the travel and tourism sector, not just for the UAe but for neighbouring countries in the region and beyond.”
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With great pride we look forward to the Mission’s discovery of our capabilities to not only host the event but to make it the best Expo in the event’s 150-year history
Dubai is a front contender for Expo 2020
SHaikH aHmED biN SaEED al makTOUm
PRESiDENT Of DUbai Civil aviaTiON aUTHORiTy aND CHaiRmaN aND CHiEf ExECUTivE Of EmiRaTES aiRliNE & GROUP, CHaiRmaN Of THE HiGHER COmmiTTEE fOR HOSTiNG THE 2020 WORlD ExPO iN DUbai
Dubai is competing against three other candidate cities bidding to host the Expo 2020: Izmir (Turkey), Yekaterinburg (Russia) and Sao Paulo (Brazil). The winner will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 163 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation responsible for selecting World Expo host cities. The international event, which was first held in 1851 as the Great Exhibition in London, inaugurated World Expos as the hallmark events of the world. Since then different cities in the world have been hosting such events to strengthen its economic and cultural connections and celebrate its diversity. World Expos today are a key meeting point for the global community to share innovations and make progress on issues of
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TRUE NORTH Sailing is embedded in Dubai’s heritage, where its early days of livelihood were solely based off the shores. Now, the modern cosmopolitan city has embarked on a venture across the high seas via a sailing boat named True North to venture across ports and discover community voices in line with Expo 2020 themes.
international importance such as the global economy, sustainable development and improved quality of life for the world’s population. In a bid to grab the rights for the Expo, the government is leaving no stone unturned. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled one of Dubai Expo 2020’s flagship initiatives, Expo Live, in a presentation to the 166-member nations of the BIE in Paris, highlighting the overarching theme of the event, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. In accordance with BIE regulations, every country must submit an aid package as part of their file. The UAE presented a development assistance package of 150 million euros ensuring strong representation for all developing nations. The final presentation will be held in November this year at the next BIE General Assembly and the winner will be announced following a vote by the member nations. — suneeti@khaleejtimes.com
An artist impression of Dubai Trade Centre — Jebel Ali
New Tourism
Vision for 2020
TweNTy millioN visiTors per year, TrebliNg secTor’s coNTribuTioN To Dubai’s ecoNomy His HigHness shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAe and Ruler of Dubai, approved in May Dubai’s Vision for Tourism. By 2020, Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors per year, and the annual contribution made by tourism to the city’s economy will triple. shaikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAe has succeeded in placing itself amongst popular tourist destinations on the global map of tourism, walking confidently into the future through launching ambitious developmental initiatives and high quality projects. He noted that building a robust infrastructure with high capacity and providing quality high-end services to all the visitors of the UAe is an ongoing process that also necessitates keeping up the pace of development to meet the requirements of the global markets, bearing in mind changes that may occur in such requirements so as to preserve the countr y ’s gains and earn more achievements in the tourism sector that is full of opportunities. He also highlighted the economic importance of the tourism sector, the hopes the country is pinning on it and the potentials mobilised so as to put the UAe at the forefront of regional and global tourism; essential elements to tourism that have earned Dubai a reputation as a global tourism destination. in fact, the increased number of visitors is strong evidence to this, as Dubai was able to double the number of tourists from only five million yearly to 10 million tourists
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Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been instrumental in leading Dubai to glory. — wam
We are aware that such goals are ambitious, but more important than ambition is realising these goals in reality. We are confident that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is capable of achieving what it aims for, given the previous accomplishments and the positive results attained shaikh mohammeD biN rashiD al makToum
a year during the past eight years. shaikh Mohammed also said that he firmly believes in Dubai’s ability to reach even a substantial tourist influx in light of the fact that Dubai will shortly witness the implementation of a wide new range of projects that will represent new elements of attraction and will open the door to welcoming larger numbers of visitors into the country. He said: “We are aware that such goals are ambitious, but more important than ambition is realising these goals in reality. We are confident that the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is capable of achieving what it aims for, given the previous accomplishments and the positive results attained.” However, he added, “We need to bear in mind that tourism is a broad service sector that one entity cannot solely be held responsible for its development; therefore, it is important that other government departments and institutions share this responsibility and join in developing this sector in order to strengthen our macroeconomic capabilities. Moreover, we expect the private sector to play a similar role in supporting this goal within the framework of the partnership that we have established decades ago. This partnership between the government and private sectors is a source of our pride and we will do all what it takes to make it a success.” Developed by DTCM under guidance from shaikh Mohammed, the Vision sets out how the city will both double its annual visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million
Centre point of ContaCt Dubai Cruise Tourism offers ConvenienT faCiliTies aT eaCh Terminal
Dubai remains on the forefront of trends
in 2020, and increase the economic contribution of the tourism sector. Early estimates from a study currently being conducted indicate that the current economic contribution is in the range of Dh100 billion. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DTCM, said: “The strategy behind the Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020 will further leverage a sector which has been a central pillar in the city’s economic growth, success and diversification. It is based upon two central tenets: the first being to widen our range of tourism offerings across events, attractions, infrastructure, services and packages and to enhance the overall visitor experience from arrival to departure. The second tenet is to adapt our marketing approach in order to showcase Dubai to a wider audience and grow the conversion rate of awareness to bookings. There are a range of initiatives we will put in place in both of these areas which will work together to attract more visitors to the city and encourage them to stay longer and spend more money during their time with us. “Our role at DTCM is to act as a facilitator of growth, harnessing the collective power of stakeholders in the city and deepening engagement with parties outside of Dubai, so that we deliver the vision.” The target of 20 million visitors will be achieved through meeting a number of objectives. First, maintaining existing market share of the outbound tourism of all source markets: Economic and demographic factors will increase the amount of outbound tourists in each market, therefore maintaining Dubai’s existing percentage market share will deliver an uplift in visitor numbers. Second, increasing awareness and consideration to visit in a number of source markets which DTCM has identified
Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT) is a department within DTCm charged with the responsibility to promote cruise tourism for Dubai globally as well as to facilitate, manage and operate the cruise terminals in mina rashid, Dubai. DTCm has built and commissioned purposebuilt, state-of-the-art cruise terminals, established to ensure that international tourists arriving in Dubai through the seaport are well catered for. DCT is the centre point of contact for all concerned parties within the Cruise Tourism business namely ship agents, tour operators, cruise liners as well as other government bodies like Customs, immigration, Police, CiD, DP World, etc., to ensure smooth, swift and safe port calls. Dubai pioneered and continues to remain a homeport for four major cruise liners in the world. Passenger numbers are commensurate with Dubai’s industry recognition. in 2011, the city hosted 396,554 cruise tourists, a number that increased to 407,825 in 2012. further expansion of port facilities is anticipated by 2014 and projections place the number of cruise ships expected to call on Dubai at 120 annually by 2015, carrying 450,000 passengers.
The city boasts state-of-the-art cruise terminals as having significant potential for growth, such as Latin America, China and the emerging economies of Africa. Third, increasing the number of repeat visits, already a significant driver for tourism in the city. Meeting these objectives in addition to driving up the average length of stay (currently at 3.76 days) and increasing the amount of money spent by tourists during their visits will lead to the trebling of the economic contribution that tourism makes to the emirate’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Almarri said: “The Vision of His Highness has created a destination with experiences that no other city can offer. We have a number of attractions that are famous throughout the world including the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab, and The Palm Jumeirah; the world’s largest shopping malls; and an incredible infrastructure which acts as a magnet for global travellers. The city has a portfolio of world-class hotels, the second busiest airport on the planet and a world leading — and in my opinion, the best — airline and these are also very well known. But in addition we have a substantial, wide-ranging and ever evolving destination offer that compliments the more renowned attractions and we will ensure that every potential visitor knows the depth and range of experiences they can enjoy on holiday in Dubai. “As a city we have done a very good job in building awareness of Dubai. Part of our new strategy is to adapt our marketing approach to showcase Dubai to an even wider audience but also to grow the conversion rate of awareness to bookings, making sure that a potential visitor doesn’t just know about Dubai —he views it as his next holiday or business destination.”
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Dubai impresses the world as an all-year round tourist hotspot. — Photo courtesy of dTCm wise, since it launched two years ago Dubai Calendar has proven a big success, growing from being an online portal at launch to becoming a catalyst for improving the city’s events offer 52 weeks of the year. By bringing these two entities into DTCM alongside Dubai Convention Bureau we can lead a coordinated approach to a year-round programme of events for residents, tourists and business visitors. Becoming the host city for the World Expo 2020 will of course further enhance Dubai’s status as an events capital, which is why we are putting the full weight of DTCM’s support behind the bid team.”
there are three key areas of focus to widen the range of tourism offerings: • In line with Shaikh Mohammed’s statement that the UAE should be the world’s leading family destination, DTCM will play a central role in coordinating the activities of industry and public sector partners to expand the existing attractions, events and experiences that cater to families. This will also include creating segmented packages and tailored offerings that make the most of the emirate’s assets, including the city, desert and coastline — for example, by effectively marketing the historic and cultural sites; world-class sporting facilities; and capabilities in the cruise industry. • Dubai as an event destination is a second area of principal focus, with the aim of moving from the regional events hub to a global events and entertainment destination. As part of this, both the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) — organiser of festivals such as Dubai Summer Surprises and Dubai Shopping Festival — and Dubai Calendar, were recently integrated into DTCM. DTCM will also continue to work closely with the Expo2020 team to support and promote the Dubai, UAE bid to bring the World Expo to the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region for the first time. Almarri commented: “DFRE has been incredibly successful in creating and developing seasonal festivals that have driven the growth of the events and retail sectors. We will now leverage that expertise to create new festivals. Like-
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DFRE has been incredibly successful in creating and developing seasonal festivals that have driven the growth of the events and retail sectors. We will now leverage that expertise to create new festivals
• The offer to business visitors is a third principal focus, with the strategy setting out plans for enhancing Dubai’s status as a business destination. Already the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the region, DTCM will work with the industry in improving the business tourism offer to make sure that Dubai is the easiest and most effective place to do business; and to adopt a more unified approach to business and leisure tourism. Almarri said: “We see no distinction between the business traveller and the leisure visitor. Today’s conference delegate is tomorrow’s holidaymaker and there are a number of steps we can take to encourage the business traveller to extend their stay or return for leisure trips with friends and family.”
Helal Saeed almarri
The city is home to multinational communities
CrossroAds of bUsinEss UAE’s bid for Expo 2020 is history in thE mAking Held every five years, for a period of six months, World expos attract millions of visitors. The UAe is currently bidding to host the World expo 2020 in dubai under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. If successful it would be the first time a World expo is held in the MeNASA (Middle east, North Africa and South Asia) region in the history of the event, and presents a significant opportunity. With the strength of the UAe’s robust infrastructure, geographical positioning and global connectivity, dubai expo 2020 can expect to attract 25 million visitors offering a diverse and exciting international profile for visitors and participants alike. And, for the first time in the history of World expo, more than 70 per cent of the visitors would stem from beyond the host nation offering opportunity to both the developed and the developing world. The winning city will be announced in Paris in November.
All eyes are on Dubai as a candidate city for Expo 2020
What is a World Expo? The Great exhibition, held in london in 1851, inaugurated World expos as the hallmark event of a world aspiring to strengthen its connections, celebrate its cultural diversity and marvel at its technological wonders. Today, World expos continue to bring nations together across all spheres and sectors of society — including governments, businesses and citizens — to discuss global concerns, spark new thinking and foster future progress. The most recent World expo was held in 2010 in Shanghai under the theme “Better City, Better life”. The next World expo takes place in Milan, Italy, in 2015 with the focus: “Feeding the Planet, energy for life”. Why is thE UaE bidding to host Expo 2020? The UAe believes in the unique convening power of the World expo to tackle and provide solutions to the world’s major
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thoUghts on Expo 2020 Colm mcloughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, dubai duty free: “dubai has quite rightly earned a reputation for staging first class global events over the years, and its infrastructure is second to none. it is an ideal candidate for Expo 2020 and those involved in the bid have done a great job in presenting all that the city has to offer. if dubai is successful it would provide fantastic opportunities for even further growth and development across a wide sector of the business community.”
challenges of today and tomorrow and, as such, views the World expo as an incredible opportunity. dubai expo 2020 would be the most international World expo in history with 70 per cent of the 25 million visitors, visiting from outside the host nation, providing participants and visitors alike with unprecedented global exposure and opportunities to develop global partnerships and meet potential investors. This is important because dubai expo 2020 would offer opportunity for both the developed and the developing world. If the country’s bid is successful, dubai’s World expo will be held from October 2020 till April 2021. expo 2020 is particularly significant for the UAe as the nation celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021 — it will launch the celebration of this milestone and serve as a springboard from which to inaugurate a progressive and sustainable vision for the next 50 years beyond 2021. What is thE proposEd thEmE for dUbai Expo 2020? The UAe has a long history of facilitating connections and pioneering news ideas, and the “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” theme celebrates the power of partnerships to drive innovation and find solutions. The World expo is a perfect platform for connections to take place, and with onethird of the world’s population within a four-hour flight and two-thirds within an eight-hour flight of the UAe, dubai is the ideal city in which to identify shared solutions to the world’s challenges. What arE thE bEnEfits of World Expo for thE rEgion? Should the UAe’s bid be successful, it would be the first World expo held within the MeNASA region, which has one of the world’s youngest populations. Significantly, the event would generate employment in a growing region with a dynamic
population, creating more than 275,000 jobs in Dubai over the next eight years, with approximately 50 additional jobs sustained in other parts of the MENA economy for every Expo employee. What is the Uae’s link/history to expos? The UAE has a long history with World Expo stretching back four decades to Abu Dhabi’s participation in the 1970 Expo in Osaka, Japan, where its pavilion reflected the impending birth of a new nation. The UAE pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai attracted almost two million visitors. Praised for its sustainable design, the Foster + Partners-designed pavilion won awards from the Illinois Society of Structural Engineers and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations.
Key milestones in February 2013, the Higher Committee welcomed key Bie officials for a four-day enquiry mission, a four-day assessment of the UAe’s ability to host the World expo 2020. The Higher Committee will head to Paris in June 2013 for its penultimate presentation to the Bie General Assembly before the final decision is made at the Bie General Assembly in november.
stAy ConneCted
Dubai Trade Centre — Jebel Ali proposed interior
Website www.expo2020dubai.ae Facebook www.facebook.com/ dubaiexpo2020 twitter @dubaiexpo2020 newsletter hello 2020 is available every month in print and online
ifthebidissUccessfUl,WhereWillthe event be held? Dubai Trade Centre — Jebel Ali is the proposed site to host the 2020 World Expo. The 438-hectare site reflects the UAE’s focus on connectivity and sustainability, while contributing to the country’s longterm appeal as a premier destination for global events. Equidistant between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, directly adjacent to the new Al Maktoum Airport and 10 minutes from Jebel Ali Port, the site has been chosen to provide optimal operational and logistical efficiency for participants. What else Will dUbai’s World expo 2020 featUre? Much of the entertainment over the course of the Expo will be educational, based around the theme and sub-themes and will cater to all types of visitors, with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021 providing the backdrop to the entertainment programme. The calendar will also include worldclass events happening every year in Dubai, making attendance at the Expo an even more attractive proposition for international visitors. Large-scale evening performances will be held in venues across the site with spectacular visual effects and sounds.
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World Expo Footprint Expos have been organised for the past 160 years and provide a unique setting to promote international cooperation between the host nation and all participants. The BIE (International Exhibitions Bureau) based in Paris was created in 1928 to oversee the organisation of World and International Expos. The BIE consists 167 member nations, and each nation represents one vote.
1851 GrEAT ExhibiTion London, UK
1889 ExpoSiTion UniVErSELLE pAriS, FrAncE
1970 WorLd Expo oSAKA, JApAn
Six million people visited the inaugural World Expo and proceeds funded the Victoria and Albert Museum
The Eiffel Tower designed to be the entrance of the World Expo, today is one of the world’s best loved landmarks
Abu dhabi pavilion displayed the large Moon rock brought back to earth by the 1969 Apollo12 astronauts
2010 WorLd Expo ShAnGhAi, chinA
The last Expo was held in Shanghai in 2010 with the theme “better city better Life". Shanghai Expo attracted a record of 73 million visitors
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Award winning UAE pavilion, designed by Foster + partners, is now a permanent fixture at Saadiyat island
WorlD is our oyster
Key staKeholDers in the tourism inDustry lenD their suPPort to Dubai’s ambitious biD for exPo 2020 sheikh Majid al Mualla senior viCe PresiDent of CommerCial oPerations GCC, miDDle east anD iran, emirates airline “EMiRaTEs airline has played a pivotal role in achieving the vision of His HighnessshaikhMohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the uaE and Ruler of Dubai, to continue growing the number of visitors and further develop the tourism sector which enabled the city to cross the 10 million visitors mark for the first time. With the announcement of the vision 2020, we are confident that Dubai has what it takes to achieve it and we would like to express our commitment at Emirates airline to continue supporting the vision to achieve this ambitious goal under the leadership of shaikh ahmed bin saeed al Maktoum, CEO and president of The Emirates Group. We will continue to invest in growing our fleet and network to line Dubai with the capitals and major cities around the world. “Emirates airline operates a fleet of 200 airplanes and orders of another 200 planes will be delivered in the next five years. Our flights link Dubai with 130 cities in 77 countries across the six continents of the world. We have welcomed on board our flights more than 34 million passengers in 2012, with the continued growth in our fleet and our network we will achieve an annual growth of 10-15 per cent in the number of passengers in this decade. “Dubai today is a leading financial, commercial, sporting and aviation hub on a regional and global level. This has contributed to make Dubai a prime tourism destination that attracts visitors from across the world. The city continues to invest in its tourist attractions for leisure, shopping, sports and of course business, which means welcoming more and more visitors and we are confident that we will be able to cater to that demand in association with the more than 150 global airlines who operate from Dubai international airport. We at Emirates are ideally positioned to carry the majority of global visitors to Dubai.”
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MohaMed alabbar Chairman of the Dubai events CounCil “Dubai’s impressive growth as a global tourism and business hub is the result of the concerted approach by the government and private sector to offer our guests the complete destination experience. “Tourism is a key contributor to our economy, both benefiting from as well as contributing to a host of sectors including trade, aviation, hospitality and retail. The Dubai Tourism Vision 2020 is a natural fit to the ambitious development that the city witnesses today and will further drive the growth of the economy. “Today, the events hosted by Dubai are on par with that of global cities. Our flagship campaigns such as Dubai shopping Festival, summer is Dubai and Eid in Dubai as well as year-round exhibitions, cultural, sports and business events and global spectacles such as the New Year’s Eve Gala, catalyse the tourism and retail sector, attracting business and leisure guests from all over the world. “We are taking the events sector to the next level, in line with the Vision 2020, with year-round, multi-day activities, not only based in the heart of the city, but across the Emirate, offering novel experiences to our visitors to drive both volume and repeat tourism arrivals.”
Gerald lawless PresiDent anD GrouP Chief exeCutive offiCer of Jumeirah GrouP "iN 2012 Dubai welcomed 10 million tourists. under the visionary leadership of His Highness shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the uaE and Ruler of Dubai the Emirate has successfully built a world-class tourism infrastructure that will allow us to double the number of visitors by 2020. Jumeirah will continue working closely with its strategic partners, including Emirates airlines and Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, to support the continued growth of Dubai as a destination. it will further contribute to the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector in the region realising long-term economic benefits for the people of the uaE.”
Ghaith al Ghaith cHief executiVe officer, flydubai THE Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020 demonstrates further the commitment and clarity of the vision of our leaders who have created the right environment for this city to become one of the world’s leading aviation hubs. flydubai strives to remove barriers to travel enhancing connectivity between different cultures. To support Dubai’s economic development we’ve created free flows of trade and tourism by continuing to open up previously underserved destinations, tapping into new emerging markets and offering passengers choice on more established routes.”
Guido de Wilde Senior Vice PreSident, regional director, Starwood HotelS and reSortS Middle eaSt “Dubai epitomises the changing face of travel. The city is situated within eight hours from two-thirds of the world’s population and lies at global crossroads, at the centre of new travel patterns from China to africa, from Southeast asia to Europe. it is a dynamic gateway that links the developed and rapidly growing economies, making it an extremely attractive destination for travellers. “Today, Dubai has evolved as an international business and leisure hub under the vision of its leaders, the efforts of DTCM and growth of Emirates airline. Host to some of the world’s biggest events, the city has a great dynamic that will only solidify its position as a leading travel destination. “Starwood is committed to the growth of Dubai, where our company has more hotels than in any other city in the world outside New York. With 14 hotels in Dubai and six under development, we are well positioned to meet the demand for increased travel into the city.”
readY for a new future imdaad is readY for a future prepared BY uae Leaders
Jamal Abdulla Lootah
BY Latha Krishnan Imdaad, the multi-awarded integrated facility management (Fm) company, broadly recognised for its quality-driven solutions and strong commitment to environmental sustainability, is ready to support the UaE Government and dubai in getting ready to host EXPO 2020. “Who in the arab World but dubai can host such a huge event like the EXPO 2020? It will take us to a higher level than what we are now. With it, we will complete what we have been preparing for in the past two or three decades with our infrastructure, buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, schools, modern transportation solutions and so much more — all of it rising from the vision of His Highness Shaikh mohammed bin Rashid al maktoum, Vice-President and Prime minister of the UaE and Ruler of dubai. We are ready for a future he has prepared
for us,” states Jamal abdulla Lootah, Chief Executive Officer of Imdaad. Establishing quality benchmarks in the regional Fm industry, Imdaad has been empowering customers to be more profitable and efficient in the maintenance and care of their facilities. The company now wants to take them all along in the run to the EXPO providing the city of dubai with the best services in environment-friendly waste management and all other Fm solutions when the world visits. “Visitors will see a clean dubai sustainably developed with dedicated personnel working in all fields and all the systems working perfectly. They will understand how this small city and the country itself in the middle of the desert dared and transformed itself to become this hospitable, safe and impressive one to compete against established cities of the world and become the host of
EXPO 2020,” affirms Lootah. all the personnel in Imdaad have dedicated themselves to make dubai a clean city where hotels, streets, roads, parks and all common areas are clean and inviting. adapting sustainable development practices and technology from the US and Europe, it adds great value to its services. The team continues to work to make the dream of “zero waste” come true and will be enthusiastically involved in the infrastructure growth of the New dubai area being developed for the EXPO near dubai World Central. “I am sure many visitors to the EXPO will want to be part of this city and buy property to settle down in dubai. additionally, the EXPO will be an opportunity for us also to learn from companies coming here while demonstrating our capabilities to them. We will be able to improve and increase the quality of our services too,” says Lootah.
Commitment to prosperitY mediCLiniC middLe east BaCKs duBai government for expo 2020
David Hadley
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KT Special RepoRT AUGUST 29, 2013
WITH 10 medical facilities in dubai including mediclinic City Hospital and mediclinic Welcare Hospital, mediclinic middle East is dubai’s leading private healthcare operator. It is wholly owned by mediclinic International, the fifth largest listed private hospital group in the world with over 70 hospitals and clinics in Southern africa, Switzerland and the UaE. Since entering the UaE healthcare market in 2006, mediclinic has continuously invested in dubai’s healthcare sector by opening new hospitals and clinics, and by adding additional clinical services, equipment and staff. It currently employs over 2000 people within dubai and this is expected to grow. Ground has been broken on an extension to mediclinic City Hospital which will house a stateof-the-art Oncology department developed in association with mediclinic middle East’s Swiss sister company, Hirslanden, which runs many of the most highly-regarded cancer centres in Europe. Other significant projects are also at the planning stage.
mediclinic’s commitment to the economic prosperity of the UaE in general and its healthcare sector in particular, is clear from the investments it has made over the past seven years. It is mediclinic’s firm belief that a successful bid by dubai to host the World Expo in 2020 can only benefit the country’s healthcare sector with its focus on innovation and improved quality of life for the world’s population, both of which are values mediclinic and dubai as a whole hold dear. david Hadley, CEO of mediclinic middle East, is enthusiastic about dubai’s bid, “mediclinic middle East will support the dubai government in any way it can to win and develop the potential of Expo 2020. Connecting minds and creating the future is dubai’s bid motto and describes how mediclinic itself operates, as it brings together medical expertise from around the world to build a modern, forward-thinking, efficient healthcare system for the future of dubai. We wish the bid team all the best in their efforts and we look forward to a successful result in November.”