Dubai's SME and Expo 2020 Research Paper

Total Length: 6310 words ( 21 double-spaced pages)

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Expo 2020 to Small Scale Business in United Arab Emirates

The Expo 2020 will have an enormous economic impact on the Emirate of Dubai since they won the bid to host the convention. Dubai's is a nation with an economy that is not very diverse. The country depends on several factors to keep the economy stable, and these include tourism, the real estate sector, and the financial services sector. Due to this it is understandable that Dubai's economy could easily come under heavy pressure from external factors. The 2008 and 2010 economic crisis demonstrates this point clearly as the housing bubble declined and pulled Dubai's economy down with it.

The Expo 2020 is a great benefit for Dubai since its economic implications will lift the financial sector for both Dubai and the UAE. Travelers from all over the world will come to see the Expo and is thus a great opportunity for foreign investment to grow. Another obvious perk is that these visitors will be spending very large amounts of money in Dubai. This will provide a much needed boost in the economy, specifically in the hospitality sector. Those businesses which provide accommodation for tourists and visitors will benefit greatly from the Expo 2020. Infrastructural development is also a sector that the Dubai government is hoping will grow during the event, and as a result they have invested very large amounts of money in expanding the industry for the expo (Dokoupil & Menon, 2013).

Even though the Expo 2020 comes with great economic benefits, it also carries certain financial risks with it. The most severe risk is the possibility that the other sectors of Dubai's economy will be cut across by an economic bubble. Housing prices have inflated greatly since the announcement of the expo being held in Dubai, and the stock market is sharing the same trend. Unstable and unsustainable prices are permeating Dubai's markets right now, and could eventually cause a great collapse which would lead to an economic depression (Mustafa & Crompton, 2013). This would additionally lead to Dubai ceasing to be as competitive of a city and foreign investors might choose to go elsewhere.

The build up to the Expo over the next six years will greatly benefit the SME's. Additional FDI's (foreign direct investments), skilled labor, and more business will be attracted to Dubai's increasingly competitive business arena as the Expo comes closer. An approximate number of 200,000 new businesses will be founded by 2020 (Walid, 2015). Due to this many of Dubai's entrepreneurs feel like privileged stakeholders and important agents in the government's goal to boost the national economy and create a thriving environment in which both small and large businesses can flourish. However, these industries do realize that their fate is their own and that only their own hands can help build a successful enterprise (Yahoo News, 2013). The travel industry is a big sector in the Expo as over 25 million visitors will come over the half year prior to the Expo (Dubai Chronicle, 2015)

History of Expo

The World Expo has proved to be a highly fruitful achievement throughout its history. It is a reflection of man-kinds deep understanding of economy, industry, science, technology, culture, and ethnicity. Its history is a history about cooperation, of people joining together and collaborating in order to advance civilizations industries. In a way, the Industrial Revolution really paved the way for the modern World Expo that we know today. The World Expo features various achievements held by the different participating countries. The very first expo is recognized as the one held in London back in 1851. This was called the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations. The event lasted for a total of 160 days and included 10 participating countries. The entire event attracted roughly 6.3 million visitors. Later, the Chicago Expo in 1993 was another defining moment in the development of the World Expo. It was held in a very historic and sensitive time in America that was just starting to emerge from the Great Depression. The city celebrated its 100th anniversary with 47 participating countries and over 38 million visitors present. A Century of Progress was the explicitly given theme that expo received, and it has become the official theme and staple of the convention. It also started the tradition of large scale companies building pavilions at the convention site. The Expo allowed for certain large businesses such as Ford, Chrysler, or GM to build dedicated pavilions.
This practice became greatly appreciated by both businesses and visitors (Mohamed bin Rashid, 2011).

The first World Expo following World War II was held in Brussels in 1958. The convention took place during a time when people where still living in rubble and trying to recover from the war. Another theme was therefore added to the expo: A World View - A New Humanism. A shift to a higher focus on humanism is what this new theme symbolized. The Atomium was a huge structural model depicting atoms which became yet another symbol of this theme. The structure represented the ability man has to use power in a peaceful and safe way. This was of course a reference to the atomic bombs and their devastation towards the end of the war. Japan, a defeated country, started focusing heavily on economic revival and national development following the war. A major progress point for the country came when they were allowed to host the 1970 Expo in Osaka. This drew the attention of over 64 million visitors and 76 countries. This was by far the largest turn out throughout the World Expo history, and became a massive success for Japan and their economy. Transportation, residential communities, tourism, cultural exchanges, and business facilities all received wonderful improvements due to the success of the expo. It also marked a milestone as the first expo ever held in an Asian country (Mohamed bin Rashid, 2011).

The respecting of nature was a growing trend as the 20th century transitioned over towards the 21st. This in turn led to the expo also become significantly more environmentally concerned. Ecology and environmental protection became big issues and inclusive themes in the convention. People's yearning for peace had become intensified due to the numerous wars behind them. Because of this, the World Expo came to be viewed as many as a bridge between cultures and peoples that could eliminate conflict, provide protection, and sort out misunderstandings. The current scope of the theme led the Hanover Expo of 2000 to choose protection of resources as a major issue. This fit the line of the current trend very well. In similar lines, the Aichi 2005 Expo in Japan chose Nature's Wisdom as its theme. It reflected both global and individual attitudes and perspectives in regards to society, nature, and the future. The Zaragova Expo of 2008 followed suit with a large focus on water and the human society's dynamic relationship. The Zaragova Expo had a profound impact on the globe due to its supportive program on water and sustainability (Mohamed bin Rashid, 2011).

The 21st century Expo organizers desire to demonstrate the processes through which humans connect with nature using technology and wisdom. As in the past, the 21st century Expo will also promote peace and unity throughout the world. The World Expo will continue to have a profound impact on history and it has started with the 2010 Shanghai China Expo with the theme: Better City, Better Life (Mohamed bin Rashid, 2011).

Objective of the research/survey

The primary purpose for this research project is to examine and evaluate the implications tied to small scale businesses before and after the Dubai 2020 Expo.

Research Problem (Statement of Problem)

The problem to be studied is regarding whether or not the Dubai 2020 Expo will have negative or positive effects on the small scale businesses in the UAE.

Hypotheses

The hypothesis for this project stands as such: That the Dubai 2020 will provide positive and long lasting effects for the small business owner.

Limitation of the Study

Through have the purpose of lowering all chances of erroneous replies, Saunders et al. (2012) recommends that detailed deliberation of both rationality as well as consistency be offered by the researchers in regards to the strategy of the project. Dissimilar researches gaining similar deductions have to be taken into account when determining reliability of a study. All in all, the exactness of the computing stratagem demonstrates difficulties and quandaries present when considering the limitations of reliability (Bouma, 2010).

In support of this position and opinion, Saunders et al. (2012) claims that the apprehensions of predispositions can be connected to reliability and exists in two types. Emphasis will be placed on the plan and design of the questionnaire questions so that no prior bias of the researches will have an impact on the individual. Additionally, the researcher will seek.....

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