WAM Dubai, 11 June 2012 (WAM) - A high level delegation from the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai held a series of meetings in Paris today at the beginning of a visit to France as part of the UAE's bid to host the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

The delegation, led by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chief Executive of the Emirates Group and Head of committee, will meet with the representatives of the General Assembly of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organisation responsible for overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.

The delegation members include Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Dubai Ruler's Court, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State and the Committee's Managing Director, Ahmed Abdullah Al Shaikh, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre amd Mohammed Mir, UAE Ambassador to France.

The meetings, held at the UAE embassy in Paris, focused on the country's bid to host the international event and the credentials which make Dubai the ideal host of EXPO 2020.

The meetings precede a presentation to be given tomorrow by the delegation members to BIE's General Assembly of the 160 member nations that will shed light on the advantages that boost Dubai's chances of hosting EXPO 2020, including , among many others, the unique strategic location between the east and the west, the world class infrastructure and transport network and the highly reliable logistical facilities that made it a world leader in the organisation of international exhibitions and conferences.

Dubai 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).

WAM/MAB