Vibrant design industry key to Dubai's World Expo bid

A leading figure at TECOM Investments - the organisation behind the Dubai Design District (d3) - has outlined what the city needs to do to secure the rights to host the World Expo in 2020.

Group chief executive officer at the firm Dr Amina Al Rustamani said the emirate's thriving design industry will be key to a successful bid.

Dubai has earned a reputation for being a hub for innovation and it is also a burgeoning force in the fashion world. Indeed, top designers from all over the world are opening stores in this part of the Middle East, as the demand for high-end products is sky-high.

According to Mr Al Rustamani, the d3 development will make the city even more attractive to multinational organisations.

'As the home of the regional and international design community, d3 will provide a centre of gravity for international designers and design enthusiasts leading up to Expo 2020 and a platform of support throughout the event itself,' he commented.

Mr Al Rustamani confirmed there has been a great deal of interest from boutique hotel companies that want to set up new resorts in the d3 area. It is fair to assume that even more businesses will be desperate to increase their presence in the region if Dubai does indeed land the Expo 2020.

The emirate entered the competition alongside Izmir in Turkey, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Ayutthaya in Thailand, although the latter has already been eliminated from the process.

Dubai's bid has been scrutinised by the Bureau International des Expositions and an overall winner should be announced towards the end of 2013.

Previous hosts of the global exhibition have reported a significant boost to their economy and Oxford Economics believes more than a quarter of a million jobs could be created if the event is staged in the UAE.

Mr Al Rustamani explained why Expo 2020 is so important: '[It] is a significant opportunity for Dubai to share its unique design talent, exchange ideas with sister nations and explore new avenues of collaboration.'