Dubai 2003 organising committee visits Dubai International Convention Centre

The Convention Centre, which has been built on schedule and budget, will provide a truly world-class venue to host the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in September 2003.

At the heart of the new centre is a state-of-the art multi-purpose hall that will provide seating for the 4,500 delegates to the Annual Meetings and be the biggest venue of its kind in the Middle East. Organising Committee members toured the hall that is the first element of the Convention Centre project to be completed.

Dubai 2003 Organising Committee Chairman, Mr. Qassim Sultan, said: "This visit gave the members of the Organising Committee the opportunity to see first hand the progress on the development of the Convention Centre that is a truly world-class facility."

The United Arab Emirates won the bid to host the Annual Meetings prior to the decision of the Government of Dubai to build the stunning new convention centre.

This represents a major long-term investment that will significantly boost Dubai and the UAE as an international conference centre and boost the tourism industry. Statistics for example show that one third of US tourism is generated via the conference industry.

Construction work on the Convention Centre -that also includes a stunning new entrance concourse, a second exhibition hall, two hotels and an office accommodation building - was completed just 18 months after construction commenced.

The magnificent new centre, which has been designed by leading international architectural practice RMJM, is being constructed on a site next to the existing exhibition halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre who will also manage and operate the convention centre in the future.

Designed for long-term use the main multi-purpose hall can be transformed into 12 separate configurations ranging from the special World Bank Group and IMF design to seating of 6,000 for general convention or theatre use to 15,000 standing in the hall for indoor rock concerts. It can also be transformed into a venue for sporting events, opera or classical music.

A special circular convention room will be created within the rectangular hall to house the visiting delegations from the 184 members of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and the world's media during the Annual Meetings.

The multi-purpose hall is 140 metres long, 60 metres wide and has a ceiling height of 13 metres and is big enough to fit an international football field inside the building.

The most advanced conference and convention centre technology has been used throughout including the latest fibre optic technology and acoustic techniques to ensure perfect sound quality for any type of event in the hall.

There are 10 simultaneous translation booths that will communicate to delegates via wireless infrared headsets. The main hall has two giant 8m x 6m projection screens allowing delegates to clearly view speakers and presentations.

Dubai 2003 General Coordinator Mr Ibrahim Belselah said: "The eyes of the world will be on the UAE and Dubai next September when we have the honour to host the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund.

"The development of the Dubai International Convention Centre, that has been constructed on schedule, ensures that the meetings will take place in a truly world-class facility designed and built to the standards that such a prestigious gathering deserves.

"It also gives the UAE a magnificent centre to help the country promote itself in the future as venue to host the most prestigious and large scale international events. The far sighted and visionary approach to creating such a multi-purpose hall also means the Dubai International Convention Centre will be a major long-term asset to the people and businesses of the UAE long into the future."

The new concourse and main entrance to the convention centre is 240 metres in length with a 100m long water feature and features glass bridges, 7000 sq metres of marble imported from Spain, will have shops and cafes and include 25 additional meeting rooms.

Other features complementing the convention centre are two new international hotels, a 412-room Novotel and a 210-room Ibis Hotel in addition to a 14-storey office tower that will be part of the 1,000 temporary offices on site for the Annual Meetings to be used by delegations and support staff attending the event from 184 different countries. There is also parking for 1500 cars.

Lead Consultants on the project are RMJM with sub consultants Maunsell, Al Kathib Cracknell and Logam. The main contractor for the construction of the project is Khansaheb Civil Engineering. There are currently 5000 people working on the construction of the centre and work commenced in September 2001.