Dubai 2003 takes leading role in UAE National Day celebrations held in Washington DC

The General Coordinator of Dubai 2003, Mr. Ibrahim Belselah, represented the organization at the celebrations hosted by His Excellency Mr. Al Asri Saeed Ahmad Al Thahiri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America.

Over 1200 VIP guests attended the event including US Senators and Congressmen, leading US and International decision makers and industrialists, Washington-based diplomats, media personalities, key World Bank Group and IMF officials and others from the worlds of film, music, literature and fashion. Invitations to the high profile event featured the distinctive Dubai 2003 logo.

Dubai 2003 General Coordinator, Mr. Ibrahim Belselah said: "As Washington is the home to both the World Bank Group and IMF we decided it was wholly appropriate for Dubai 2003 to support this year's UAE National Day celebrations in the US capital.

"The highly successful reception at the UAE Embassy gave us another opportunity to promote the UAE and Dubai to a distinguished and influential audience and to update them on the advanced state of readiness we have achieved to host next year's Annual Meetings.

"This event also allowed Dubai 2003 to build on the tremendous success of our delegation to the 57th Annual Meetings that were held in Washington in September of this year where we were able to significantly raise the profile of the UAE and Dubai as a major regional economic and financial hub."

The support from Dubai 2003 to the National Day Celebration included providing a VIP Diary to every guest that included a 4-page insert on the development of the UAE, branding of the Embassy reception hall with Dubai 2003 and setting up a Dubai 2003 Information Stand to supply guests with additional information about the UAE and next year's event.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. Dubai and the UAE were selected because of its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.

ENDS