WBG and IMF Joint Secretariat review Dubai Airport preparations for Dubai 2003

Representatives of the Security, Local Transport and Venue & Facilities Committees of Dubai 2003 accompanied the officials, Ms Pat Davies, Joint Secretariat Mission Head and Debbie Horrell, Joint Secretariat International Transport Officer, on their visit.

Thousands of delegates will arrive through Dubai Airport for the meetings from a total of 184 countries presenting a major logistical challenge for the airport authorities.

The delegation was given a tour of Dubai International Airport and discussed arrangements for the participants of the Annual Meetings with officials from the Protocol and Public Relations Division at the Department of Civil Aviation and representatives from Dubai International Airport Customs. They also reviewed airport VIP facilities.

The two Joint Secretariat members said they were tremendously impressed with the comprehensive planning and arrangements that will be put in place by the Dubai Airport authorities to ensure that participants in the Annual Meetings will be able to go through arrival and immigration formalities in the most efficient manner.

They said that Dubai has a world-class airport and infrastructure that is totally geared to meting the needs and requirements of the delegates who will arrive in September.

Dubai International Airport will be the major gateway to Dubai 2003 for representatives from the 184 countries who will participate in the Annual Meetings and the Dubai 2003 team has been working in close partnership with the airport authorities to ensure the smooth and efficient transfer of delegates on arrival.

To help speed up entry to Dubai officials delegates are being given special Dubai Airport "e-cards" to allow them easy access to Dubai on arrival. Registration procedures were commenced by the Dubai Immigration Department last September during the 57th Annual Meetings held in Washington. One of the first officials to register was World Bank Group President James Wolfensohn.

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