Dubai has issued a decree launching ‘Dubai 2020', a new initiative that will explore Dubai's potential to host the World Expo and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

As per the decree, a working committee will be chaired by Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as deputy chairman.

Other members of the committee are HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shebani, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Nassir Al Owais, Lt. General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Ahmad Abdullah Al Sheikh, Yousuf Yacob Al Serkal, John Ferguson and Giselle Davies.
 
The committee will explore Dubai's potential to host the World Expo and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.  Bringing together these two world events in one place - each for the first time in the Middle East - would be a unique proposition, uniting business, science and technology with sport, education and culture. 
 
Speaking about Dubai 2020, HH Sheikh Mohammed (left) said, ''We need to engage our community here in Dubai and the UAE in a discussion about our vision and everyone's role in our future. For this we need a clear, common goal that highlights shared universal human values.  The Dubai 2020 initiative will look at how we can shape our environment and society for future generations. It will address, in an integrated way, the building blocks that underpin social and economic progress - sport, education, culture, business, science, technology, health and the environment. These two global events - the Olympic Games and World Expo - give us a sense of common purpose and play to our strengths. Dubai is already home to people from different nationalities and cultures who live in friendship and peace. And I believe we can deepen this respect and mutual understanding if we work together to achieve something spectacular and meaningful.''
 
A feasibility study will be undertaken before further decisions are taken regarding making any formal bids to the International Olympic Committee and the Bureau of International Expositions.

HH Sheikh Mohammed has mandated Falcon and Associates to lead the Dubai 2020 project and Working Group.