Dubai (AFP)
The fireworks lit up Dubai's skies on Sunday evening, signaling the launch of the countdown to the 2020 World Expo, which will be held in Dubai in a year, and which the United Arab Emirates is hoping for strong economic spin-offs.
The countdown has begun from Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower at 828 meters, which illuminated at 20:20. "More than a year" before "the greatest show in the world", could read on the tower, in English and Arabic.
The evening will be crowned in Dubai with a concert by American singer Mariah Carey. The seven members of the UAE federation organized a celebration.
Minister of State for International Cooperation, Rim al-Hashemi, stressed that "these national celebrations would mark the last stage of a historic journey (...) for all Emirates".
"We will be working for the next twelve months to finalize what will be an exceptional Expo," said Hachémi also general director of the event.
Dubai, known for its giant shopping malls and luxury hotels, has invested tens of billions of dollars in projects related to Expo 2020, including a new subway line.
The theme of the Expo is "connecting minds and creating the future" and as sub-themes sustainability, mobility and opportunity.
The organizers insist that the Expo - which will take place from 20 October 2019 to 10 April 2021 and host 192 countries - is more than a trade fair: 60 events or events will be offered every day.
- Stimulate the economy -
Raed Safadi, chief adviser at the Dubai Economic Department, said the Expo would bring $ 34.6 billion to the local economy between 2013, the year of the announcement of the city-state's choice for the event, and 2030.
"This will be a gross, direct, indirect and induced value added," Safadi told AFP, adding that it would be mainly generated by visitor spending. The emirate hopes to attract 15 million.
Previous exhibitions in Milan in 2015 and Shanghai in 2010 drew respectively 21.5 million and 73 million visitors.
More globally in 2020, Dubai expects 20 million visitors, about 20% more than the estimates for 2019. Their number has stagnated in recent years to around 16 million.
In early October, the research center Capital Economics estimated that the Expo would give a temporary boost to the economy. "With the end of preparations, activity in the construction sector is likely to weaken," according to the center, and the momentum given by the Expo in 2020 will be followed by a slowdown in 2021.
The Standard and Poor's agency said in September to expect growth of 2.4% in 2019 against 1.9% in 2018, mainly due to the completion of projects related to the Expo. Growth will drop to 2.0% in 2022, the agency added.
The 4.4 km2 site of Expo 2020 will then be redeveloped into a full-fledged city under the name District 2020 and 80% of Expo buildings will be recycled.
© 2019 AFP