DUBAI // If Dubai wins Wednesday's vote for the right to host Expo 2020, spontaneous celebrations are expected across the UAE.
Among those celebrating will be Abdulrahman Al Blooshi, a 27-year-old Emirati from Al Barsha.
The petroleum engineer said the celebrations would probably last beyond National Day, on December 2.
“Everyone will celebrate, the whole country will suddenly celebrate if Dubai wins,” Mr Al Blooshi said. “The Government will organise something. There will probably be public holidays and parties, especially in the malls.”
He said it would make National Day celebrations even more special.
“It would probably be the biggest National Day celebrations we’ve ever had,” he said. “It will be two things to celebrate at one time. It will be completely amazing.”
Mr Al Blooshi said the UAE was ready to host a large-scale international event such as Expo 2020.
“It will be in seven years’ time,” he said. “By that time, there will be a lot of changes in Dubai.
“Look at how much the country has changed in 42 years. In another seven years there will be a lot of big changes again.
“This country was a desert before and now you can see it is a very modern place. We have a very fast rate of development.
“If we have a date, like 2020, it gives us a goal, something to aim towards.
“We have the plan for this, we have the ideas, and we have the budget. We have all of these things, and we can make a difference.”
mcroucher@thenational.ae
