Dubai marches ahead

Inayat-Ur-Rahman, Business Editor
The much-anticipated Expo 2020 opened its doors to the world on Friday. The business community across the UAE is jubilant and upbeat about the mega event. The Gulf Today shares the candid views of the leading businessmen and entrepreneurs of the country.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World - UAE Region & Jafza:  Expo 2020 Dubai has been a much-awaited event not only for the business community in the UAE, but also globally. It is a moment of pride to see the event, which is a result of thorough planning by our wise leadership, finally opening doors to citizens of the world. With this mega-event, the UAE will yet again set another milestone for itself by becoming the first country in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia to host a trade event of this magnitude and scale.  

The core values of Expo 2020 Dubai “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’’ illustrate our organisational values perfectly. In line with the event’s aim of uniting the world and giving visitors a glimpse of innovation and technology in several sectors, we connect 64 countries across six continents as a global smart trade enabler.  

Through the event, our goal is to introduce our vision of creating a new global economy based on the principles of ‘sustainability first’ and ‘fair trade’ to the world. The DP World pavilion, built with this intent, will help us achieve this goal. Based on the concept of enhancing global trade, the integrated pavilion is a tech-savvy architectural marvel that will fascinate visitors.

Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of Danube Group: “Dubai has a culture of grandiosity in mega events - practiced and perfected over the years through various events, such as Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises. Expo opening will be an out of the world experience for all and it will create a new benchmark in the history of mega events.

“Expo 2020 has already strengthened investor confidence and started to change the economic situation in the UAE. It has accelerated the pace of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic growth. Very soon, COVID-19 will look like a distant thing of the past – the way the country is moving ahead. Expo 2020 comes as a blessing for all of us in the UAE.”

Anis Sajan, Vice-Chairman of Danube Group: The hotels in Dubai are not only full, but the room rates have also gone up – due to Expo 2020. Most of the hotels who had laid off employees in 2020 – right after COVID-19 lockdown, are now hiring people back and I know a number of hotels have re-opened and some new hotels are opening. Room rates are returning to the pre-pandemic stage and we expect the industry to recover losses in the last 18 months – within the next six months of Expo 2020.

“We expect most businesses to start making profits – and start hiring people. In the tourism and hospitality sectors, recruitment has already started. Emirates is hiring 3,500 people while hotels are bringing back their laid-off people. Other sectors will start hiring in the next 2-3 months. So, we are looking forward to an exciting time ahead – thanks to Expo 2020.”

Imran Farooq, CEO, Samana Group: Expo 2020 is no doubt a landmark event in region’s history.  The entire credit goes to the UAE, to the futuristic vision of its Rulers and the strong unity of UAE’s seven states.

The event will play a key role not only for the economic recovery, but will also prove to be a catalyst for the way we live after the pandemic. The event It will have an everlasting impact on the life, the business and governance system.

The world’s largest event will connect the people of the world right here in Dubai, regardless of their origin, creed and color.

We have observed that the private and public sectors have started receiving positive vibes. And we are ready to welcome the world, celebrate innovation across art, innovation, technology, business and science. It is simply thinking outside the box. Once we experience while being at the event, we will start incorporating what do and say on daily basis.  Samana Group of Companies wish the event and the UAE rulers an extraordinary success. We will come out stronger, grow together as global citizens.