Millhouse

That's the point - It's a white elephant.

Boomhauer

I am not sure if you're being sarcastic

From a purely utilitarian standpoint, how could a World Expo compete with a specialized expo/trade fair , for eg:

BAUMA (Construction and Mining Equipment expo/trade fair held in Munich every 3 years) .

or

IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) for focusing on Machine Tools and other Manufacturing technologies.

Industry pros who mean to attended the above 2 trade fairs/expos aren't going to go to Dubai instead and call it a day.

mikewot

New record for Dubai, world's biggest White Elephant Stall!

NorthernLad

I Googled it a few weeks ago, and after some time gave up...it's still not clear to me what it is and the benefits it brings.

Has anyone on here been (or know of someone who has) to past Expos?

Kix

Me? Sarcastic? Never!

As I mentioned, it's a way and a reason for Dubai to push themselves in the headlines again, build a new "City" near the new airport, bring loads of slaves in to build it, get there name shoved in the face of anyone and everyone, increase the traffic at the airport, the footfall, the duty free sales.

That's the idea anyway.

You must have all seen the Dubai marketing machine in progress - from world's busiest airport to 7 star hotels.

Whether I think it's a good thing is immaterial, Dubai does, as such it'll win it, add it to the "Things that Dubai has won" list, show the world they can organise a piss up in a (non-alcoholic) brewery and win other major bids going forward.

Long term it's brilliant for Dubai PLC (or Llc).

Ethos83

Comments in bold below.

Maxima

A lot of words used but not much mention of the actual benefits the Expo is bringing. Right now it is a case of "If the Expo is held, x roads and y hotels will be built" which is all well and good, but how will the actual event benefit Dubai apart from bringing in extra tourists during the few months it is held ?

And it is arguable whether even further rises in the property and stock markets can be counted as a benefit

http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion...2020-1.1258646

Once Dubai wins the World Expo 2020 bid, this will reflect positively on the country’s overall economy, the most significant reflected in infrastructure, tourism, transport, technology, financial and property sectors.

A win is expected to lead to implementation of many infrastructure projects in preparation to provide the best to visitors, in addition to those offered by airlines and the airport expansions.

The Dubai government is planning to implement several projects, such as the Dubai Expo headquarters, expected to be one of the largest ever used for a World Expo.

It will also construct a Dubai World Trade Centre in Jebel Ali, a national museum and a project to link Dubai World Central to the Al Maktoum Airport metro line.

Furthermore, many road projects, metro stations, hotels, leisure facilities and malls will be set up, thus constituting another qualitative leap for Dubai. Projects worth Dh25 billion are expected to be implemented in Dubai over the next six years.

Tourism and travel sectors would see significant developments in the second half of the current decade, and transform the UAE into a global tourist destination. For the first time in the history of the Expo, visitors from abroad during the Expo 2020 will constitute 70-75 per cent.

Also benefiting will be allied sectors such as public transport services, restaurants, retail trade, transport and telecommunications.


The projects will also help strengthen the UAE’s position as an important regional hub, and support investors’ needs for high-class facilities and services.

New technological innovations will be showcased during the exhibition, and some of these will help support the education and economic sectors as part of the knowledge-based economy, sought after by all countries through integration of telecom and information into the education.

This will offer a chance for Emirati and expatriate youth to gain new insights that can be utilised to boost the future economic and technological growth.

Expectations that Dubai will win the bid has led to a noticeable increase in the valuations in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi financial markets, where many stocks have doubled.
There has been a remarkable increase in property prices, up by 5 per cent and more last month compared with September. In case of a win, the two sectors will achieve more.

mikewot

I only know about the airport bit (obviously) and the plan to have 5 runways (only 1 currently built) will mean that 2 will be built immediately the announcement is made. The Metro will be connected to DWC/AMI from Jebel Ali within 3 years of the announcement. None of these plans are new, the blueprints are already done, maps drawn etc. Just a case of persuading a builder to do the work "the money is available habiti, honestly".

Maxima

http://gulfnews.com/business/economy...term-1.1258905

Far less self-doubt among the comments than in this forum...

Meow

Ah, the gullible Gulf News readers. Most of them also seem to think that Dubai is fair, has a balanced legal system, that property here is a great bet and it's a decent newspaper...


One comment: "I don't know why the word "LOSE" is used here.This may create some negative waves." How do these people manage to type with their heads in the sand?

mikewot

"“As for the short term, the market [DFM in this case] would react either positively or negatively to the announcement,” said Tariq Qaqish, head of asset management and fund manager at AlMal Capital, Dubai."
Wise words indeed!

Maxima

The comments do sound quite similar, I won't be surprised if it is just a schoolkid behind half of them

scrubbedexpat141

I'm amused that you didn't manage to either....

I've got no ****ing idea what the deal is, there appears to be many unsanctioned / regional expos etc as well as the main ones....but the main ones seem to be for...well....who knows?

Kix

To attract more MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions). Dubai is ideally situated between Europe and Asia so for Global Major Exhibitions they can showcase what they can do.

Maybe it won't show at first but it will in years afterwards. They're really pissed off with Doha for getting the World Petroleum Congress in 2012 and the UN Climate Change too.

Meow

So the expo is another one of those things that Dubai makes a big fuss about but most of the rest of the world couldn't care less? A bit like all their world records in flag making and biryani cooking.