Early in June this year Shaikh Mohammed launched ‘Dubai 2020’ with the aim of furthering social and economic progress for the region.

Monday’s meeting held at the Emirates Towers was chaired by the Crown Prince of Dubai Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Shaikh Mohammed directed the chairman and members of the group to work as a team to enable the UAE to win bids for the Olympics and Expo in 2020.

“Nothing is impossible as long as we have the determination for change, not change of determination,” Shaikh Mohammed told the group members.

The members include Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Civil Aviation Authority, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, & Head of the UAE Olympic Committee, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth & Community Development, and several heads of government departments.

Shaikh Hamdan welcomed the Group members and stressed the importance of the inaugural meeting in brainstorming credentials for the UAE in hosting international events.

An executive sub-committee was formed to oversee plans for the ‘Dubai 2020’.