PARIS // Dubai’s winning margin is one of the steepest in the recent history of the World Expo, according to a senior official of the event’s governing body
“It is something I expected, what I didn’t expect was the number difference,” said Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions.
“There was such a big difference that it overwhelmed the other countries. The Emirates’ win is the biggest win I have seen in my 20 years here.”
In the first round, Dubai secured 47 per cent of the 163 votes cast, knocking Sao Paulo, Brazil, out of the competition.
The emirate clinched 53 per cent of 165 votes cast in the second round, removing Izmir, Turkey, from the competition.
In the final round, Dubai swept aside Yekaterinburg, Russia, with 70 per cent of the 164 votes cast.
Mr Loscertales said Dubai had always been a strong candidate thanks to its commitment and determination.
Several diplomats backed the UAE’s approach of reaching out to countries with a clear and well-formulated project.
“It exhibited the commitment to developmental practices and ideals and you were really able to see it [the Expo project] could happen,” said Nimisha Madhvani, the ambassador for the Uganda embassy in Paris. She declined to say how she voted.
“The others had great models but in the new world, the UAE projected itself as the centre of the world and people have believed that,” she said. “They are a power in themselves and no, this is not a small nation because with the UAE oil speaks volumes.
“The UAE is globally well-regarded. They have shown with hard work and a commitment to making something from nothing, you can create a global oasis in the desert.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
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Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
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