UAE State Minister Reem Al Hashimy

By Lee Hyo-sik

The United Arab Emirates is seeking to become the first country in the Arab world to host the World Expo in 2020 as part of its efforts to promote peace and prosperity in the region, its top campaigner said Wednesday.

In an interview with The Korea Times, United Arab Emirates State Minister Reem Al Hashimy said the nation has become the benchmark for social stability in the face of enormous socio-economic change in its 40 years history, stressing it wants to share its success story with the rest of the world through the expo.

``We would like to invite visitors from all over the world by organizing the global trade fair in 2020. To do so, we are promoting Dubai as a host city for Expo 2020 under the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. I will do my best to achieve such goal while in Korea,’’ Al Hashimy said.

She said the World Expo has never been held in the Middle East, Africa or Southeast Asia, adding if Dubai succeeds in hosting the expo, it would be the first in the region to do so.

``Dubai is the Arab world’s first global city of the 21st century. The United Arab Emirates is a strong, vibrant and modern nation open to the world. One-third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight of the United Arab Emirates, two-thirds within an eight-hour flight,’’ she said.

``Our strategic location, advanced world-class infrastructure and mature service sector has made Dubai the gateway to Europe, Asia and Africa.’’

The city has developed a robust network of economic and urban infrastructure, the minister said.

``Our logistical reach by both sea and air is unparalleled. DP World, the world’s fourth largest seaport operator, manages more than 60 terminals across six continents. Dubai’s powerful air transport capabilities are embodied in its two airports ― Dubai World Central and Dubai International Airport ― making them the fourth busiest in the world,’’ according to Al Hashimy.

She said as one of the safest countries, the United Arab Emirates is home to over 200 different nationalities that live and work together harmoniously. ``Given its growing prominence in regional and global affairs, the United Arab Emirates is the most suitable host for the expo. We want to bring the expo to the world and the world to Dubai.’’

Al Hashimy then said the United Arab Emirates has a long history with the World Expo stretching back four decades to the 1970 expo held in Osaka, Japan.

``We are currently taking part in the Yeosu Expo. Its theme, ``The Living Ocean and Coast,’’ resonates deeply with the United Arab Emirates, which has a proud seafaring history. The United Arab Emirates Pavilion in Yeosu reflects our commitment to the responsible development and protection of our coastline and marine habitat,’’ she said.

For more information on the United Arab Emirates’ bid for the expo, visit expo2020dubai.ae/en/world_expos/the_uae_in_world_expos.