Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum selects eight Expo Ambassadors

Dubai, Nov 21, 2012 (WAM) The Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has selected eight individuals to serve as "Expo Ambassadors" to support the country's bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai. These Expo Ambassadors, who were selected based on the quality of their submission to the recently concluded "Be part of it" competition, will represent the UAE at a high-level reception in Paris, France, on November 21. The reception will take place on the eve of the country's forthcoming presentation to the General Assembly of the 161 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation responsible for overseeing the bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also selected three youth winners, who will receive special recognition for their submissions, along with opportunities to represent the UAE's Expo 2020 bid, such as participating in Expo-themed outreach programmes at educational institutions across the country. These winners, who symbolise the diversity and inclusiveness of the UAE, represent the very best essays, poems, photographs, artworks and short films from among all of the entries submitted over the past four months in response to the question: Why should the UAE be chosen to host the world in 2020? The eight Expo Ambassadors include: Sara Al Boom, UAE - short film Khawla Darwish, UAE - art Marwan Al-Haj, UAE - essay Adel Ibrahim, Comoros - art Muhammad Al Janabi, Iraq - photography Jasim M, India - art Eenas El Sheakh, Egypt - poetry Ben Ouattara, Germany - film The three youth winners include: Maathangi Anirudh, India - art Ayesha Khan, India - poetry George Zacharia, India - art Each of these winning entries - along with all other submissions entered throughout the "Be part of it" competition - can be viewed on the Expo 2020 website (www.expo2020dubai.ae). Dubai, UAE is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 2020 World Expo, including Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil). The winning city will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 161 member nations of the BIE. The Higher Committee for Hosting the World Expo 2020 was formed by decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, serves as Chairman of the Committee. - Emirates News Agency, WAM