Our miraculous neighbor, geographically small, gigantic in personality and ambitions, Dubai, has just secured a permanent position in history after winning the bid to host the World Expo 2020.
Any unbiased observer would be thrilled by the fact that Dubai has won the bid. An unknown country in the recent past has transformed into a rising star in the world of business and tourism and a tiny dot of luxury and novelty in the Middle East. As Saudis, we share with the world the same sense of joy and excitement, if not more, and along with it, a healthy dose of jealousy. And a question pops up in our minds ... when can WE do it?
It is about the country’s image, the brand name, the historical chance, and above all, proving to yourself and the whole world that you have what it takes to climb the ladder of civilization.
There is a long history behind World Expos, and to win the chance to host it, you need to show and prove that you have the best of what a city could offer at the time of selection. Despite the fact that the first known event to be called the World Expo was held in London in 1851, the tradition of international expositions goes back to France in the middle of the nineteenth century. The first generation of expos was meant to bring countries of the world together so they can share, show, and maybe brag about their industrial products. The telephone was presented in Philadelphia Expo, 1876, and the Eiffel Tower was the center of attention at the Paris expo, 1889.
The themes of the expos have changed since then; from cultural exchange to countries’ branding, and nowadays, it is a mix of many things; social, cultural, economical, technological, and even political. Saudi Arabia took part in Shanghai Expo 2010. We built the second largest pavilion at that expo costing us around $164 million as the highest figure spent by a visiting country. According to the organizers, the Saudi pavilion received around four million visitors.
So what does it take for a city to host the expo? World-class hospitality services, the best in the world airlines services, modern communication infrastructure, elegant towers, organized roads, unlimited ambition and daring dreams; all this is needed, but not enough. The secret ingredient lays at the soul of the city, its ability to accept, to live with, and to respect differences. Dubai has the heart that is big enough to embrace the whole world with all its traditions and contradictions. Apparently, the world believes in Dubai, and Dubai believes in it.
Now if we want to answer the question; when can we do it? The answer is, harshly as it could get, we are not ready yet.
Building a state-of-the-art infrastructure is not an entirely impossible dream whenever a true will is made available. Maybe we have the economy, but our long term planning was beaten by the desire to score the near and fast wins. Nevertheless, building an infrastructure is still possible.
However, the real challenge would be the soul of our cities. Let’s admit it; our tolerance to change, our acceptance to differences is, at best, still questionable. For us, the sudden is guilty till proven otherwise, the new is suspicious till time normalizes it.
Interestingly, this is something that cannot be built or bought over night even if you have the will; it is something that needs a gradual change over time. How did Dubai do it then? One may ask, and I believe the answer would be: Investing in education, and stipulating clear and concise laws to govern their lives. So simple to talk about, yet so complicated to apply and adhere to.
For that, in case we wish to make history, to make our cities “expo friendly,” we should start today. We owe the next generation a better infrastructure, better cities and a better life. Maybe then, they can dream, and make their dreams a reality, and hold an expo in the Kingdom.
@ smaldosari
