ITB Berlin 2014 is proving the idea forum for Dubai to highlight its grand plans for hosting World Expo 2020.

The fast-growing emirate plans to boost its number of hotel rooms by 80,000 following the emirate winning hosting rights to World Expo 2020.

An estimated 25 million visitors are expected to attend the six-month spectacle, which will be held in the MENA region for the first time in the history of the event.

Due to its geographic positioning, an estimated 70 per cent of visitors would originate from outside the host nation, making it the most international event in the history of Expo and offering unprecedented reach and exposure to participants and visitors alike.

The world fair is the world’s largest non-sporting event, and the third-largest event behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. It aims not only to open up opportunities for trade and tourism, but also to put the UAE in the world’s spotlight.

Dubai Expo 2020 Site

Dubai Expo 2020 will be hosted at Dubai Trade Centre – Jebel Ali, a single 438-hectare site, among one of the largest in Expo history. Situated between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, directly adjacent to the new Dubai World Central Airport, the site will provide optimal ease of access for visitors.

Dubai Expo 2020 would serve as a platform for ideas and solutions across nations and organisation, inspiring a generation and driving lasting social change. The theme for Expo 2020 is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” which offers a vision of progress and development based on shared purpose and commitment in today’s highly interconnected world.

The event will also generate employment for a growing region with a young and dynamic population, creating more than 275,000 jobs in Dubai over the next seven years. Meanwhile, the Dubai economy could expect to benefit from an estimated US$23bn as a direct result of Expo 2020.

Dubai Expo would take place immediately before the UAE marks its 50th anniversary in 2021, offering a unique opportunity to connect Expo to the national celebrations as the country enjoys a moment of collective reflection.

The nation has outlined plans to invest $8 billion on infrastructure projects ahead of the event. Works include plans to extend Dubai Metro’s Red Line to Dubai World Central. The expansion also includes the construction of a new stretch of line from the existing terminus at Jebel Ali to Al Maktoum International Airport, which is next to the proposed Expo site at Dubai World Central.

Tourism
Voted “World’s Leading Destination” at World Travel Awards 2013, Dubai hosted more than 10 million visitors last year. Tourism is one of the key contributors to the city’s economy, generating US$4.4bn in revenues for Dubai in 2011. Among the city’s many attractions, The Dubai Mall, located at the foot of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, recorded a total footfall of over 65 million last year – more than the number of annual tourists to New York City.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah continue to witness strong growth in tourism. More than 2.3 million guests stayed in Abu Dhabi hotels last year, while some 1.7 million international tourists visited Sharjah during the same period.

More Information
For further information visit expo2020dubai.ae or head over to visit Hall 22.A/103 here at ITB Berlin.