The countdown has begun.  Hopes are high in the UAE and in two days the world will know whether Dubai will host the World Expo 2020.

It will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East if Dubai wins the bid.

Predicted to rake in billions of dollars from investors, the Expo will usher in economic prosperity for the UAE which will have lasting effects, according to local and international businesses.

They remain positive that Dubai deserves to win the bid to host the Expo 2020. Dubai competes against three cities - Ekaterinburg, Russia; Izmir, Turkey; Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Expo will represent a first no matter which city wins. The winning city will be announced on November 27.

“If successful, the win will signify huge opportunities for Dubai, marking a defining moment for the Emirate,” said Tareq Husseini, SanDisk’s regional sales director, Middle East & Africa.

“The economy is expected to see a significant boost, if Dubai is successful. There will be fresh investments with new ideas not to mention a list of creative inventions from all over the globe,” said Husseini.

“SanDisk is a big supporter of the Expo 2020 bid,” he said.

 “Dubai is unlike any other place on the planet which is why it has the strongest chance of winning the bid,” said Brent Thurrell, vice president, EMEAI and APAC at BeyondTrust, a leading security solutions vendor. “The economic benefits that the UAE could reap will have lasting effects on the region. There’s no question, the region would benefit significantly from this win marking its transformation into a top global centre for tourism, trade and finance.”

If successful, Dubai will host the Expo in the 140 sq km Dubai World Central.

The Expo will also increase the number of visitors to the UAE with a predicted 24 million tourists entering the country, not to mention exhibitors from more than 180 nations.

“Dubai’s position as the hub for international business and trade makes it a worthy candidate,” said Hisham Surakhi, managing director, Gemalto Middle East. “The UAE has gone through significant investment in IT infrastructures in the last few years, mainly driven by the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammad for transforming Dubai into a digital smart city, it has no doubt proven itself well to create new sustainable projects.” – TradeArabia News Service