“Throughout history, the human race’s innate drive towards shared endeavour has delivered astonishing results…” reads the opening line of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, a collection of essays initiated and supported by the UAE’s bid to host the World Expo in Dubai in 2020 inspiring dialogue and action on many of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Along with scientists, Nobel Prize winners, entrepreneurs, chief executives and youth leaders, the thought-provoking new book published by UAE-based company Touchline features contributions from former US president Jimmy Carter, international environmental journalist John Vidal, and Ndaba Mandela, grandson of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Commenting on Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State, Managing Director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, and author of the publication’s foreword, said: “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future brings together some of the world’s most original thinkers. Many of these stimulating essays and interviews reflect the Dubai Expo 2020’s themes of Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity – issues that resonate with communities across the globe and require our focus and commitment.”

“In today’s increasingly connected world, humanity’s challenges cannot be solved alone. In the UAE, we believe in the convening power of the Word Expo. Together, we have the ability to identify global concerns, stimulate new ideas and generate solutions for a better, brighter future.”

Audio versions of the bespoke hard-back publication, which reflects the vision and themes of the UAE’s 2020 World Expo bid, will be a main feature on the Emirates airline in-flight entertainment system ‘ice’, available to the growing yearly figure of over 40 million passengers from more than 120 destinations around the world, in addition to being available on the Dubai Expo 2020 website.

Altogether 38 international personalities from walks of life as diverse as politics and the arts have written essays in the book or have been interviewed.
Contributors from the Middle East include His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and CEO of Masdar; His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World; Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Chairman of the Emirates Foundation; and clinical psychologist and prize-winning children’s author Naif Al-Mutawa.

Dubai, UAE, is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the Expo 2020. The winner will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 166 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions, the international organisation responsible for selecting World Expo host cities.