Only 6 Days To Go Until Dubai Expo Announcement

Will we? Won’t we? That’s the question that’s been on the lips of Dubai-ans in the last few weeks.

In the bid for the greatest trade show on earth, the issue of whether Dubai will win the Expo 2020 has dominated newspapers, water coolers, TV reports – and, of course, Gulf Business.

In the last 18 months, the emirate has hauled itself out of the economic crisis, looking to brighter times ahead.

Apartment prices have jumped over 20 per cent in the past 12 months and the stock market has grown 79 per cent this year.

So holding the world’s fair would be Dubai’s defining moment, marking the transformation of the emirate into a top global centre for tourism, trade and finance.

The emirate has already done a great job of souping up its collosal airports, building slick hotels and welcoming millions of visitors to its trade centre, but Dubai’s ever-shrewd government knows that the Expo would be the fillip that elevates the emirate to the big time.

With its enviable position at the heart of the world, Dubai is also blessed with the necessary infrastructure, creativity and drive to put on a spectacular show.

But will Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed and his team be given a chance? Well, an unequivocal 90 per cent of our readers think so, according to the gulfbusiness.com home page poll. Though asking regional readers that is a bit like asking whether they have been stuck in traffic in Dubai Marina on a Thursday.

This time next week, I will have two letters prepared for two different outcomes; the one I want to print, and an alternative back up.

As editor of the region’s longest-running business magazine and someone with a fondness for the city, it goes without saying which camp I’m in. And if I don’t get to print the first letter, I’ll eat my beach hat.

Alicia Buller is the editor of Gulf Business.