DUBAI // The UAE aims to set a green benchmark for major events in the Middle East in its bid to host Expo 2020, a symposium for visiting delegates from the world fair's governing body heard on Tuesday.
More than 250 delegates from 167 member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) are attending the three-day Dubai symposium that ends on Thursday.
Helal Al Marri, a member of the Higher Committee for Dubai Expo 2020, explained how half of the Expo’s energy requirements will be produced onsite.
“We will deploy the most innovative solutions for environmental management and energy generation, as demonstrated by our aim of producing 50 per cent of the Expo’s operational energy requirements from renewable sources onsite,” said Mr Al Marri.
"Sustainability has informed every aspect of Dubai Expo 2020, from our overarching philosophy to the physical design of the site and infrastructure."
A substantial portion of the 438-hectare site’s energy needs will be met using photovoltaic panels on the building’s facade.
Recycling waste water, reusing materials and monitoring the carbon footprint are also among green initiatives planned for the centre.
And recycled materials will be used for 30 per cent of construction for the Expo.
A State of Energy Report, commissioned to pool resources on sustainability, share best practices in energy strategy and environmental innovation, was unveiled at the symposium.
“Our contribution to this State of Energy Report reflects our commitment to deliver an Expo that is environmentally sound, inspiring for all visitors, and sets new standards in the planning and execution of mega events,” Mr Al Marri said.
The report was commissioned by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Dubai Carbon Centre for Excellence.
“It describes our way forward to build a green future for generations to come,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and of Dubai Expo 2020.
“This report is a reference for all the necessary knowledge and best practices for the energy sector.”
It included a chapter specifically on major events and highlighted how sustainability could play a vital role when hosting summits.
Dr Kishan Khoday, UNDP regional practice leader for energy and environment, said the organisation was keen to form partnerships with Arab countries to lead innovations in policy and technology.
“Sustainable energy has emerged as a major development priority for countries around the world, with a critical role to be played by sub-national and local partners like Dubai,” Dr Khoday said.
“The expansion of sustainable energy in the Arab region can be a vital part of the region’s drive to achieve sustainable development.”
Yesterday’s symposium was told of the advantages to the UAE hosting Expo 2020.
Speakers focused on the nation’s infrastructure, the emirate’s operational readiness and the country’s stability and security.
Groups of delegates were taken on afternoon tours covering landmarks in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to give them an insight into the country’s heritage and culture.
The host city will be chosen after a BIE general assembly on November 26 and 27.
Dubai is competing with Izmir in Turkey, Ekaterinburg in Russia and Sao Paulo in Brazil.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
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5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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NO OTHER LAND
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
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Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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