To ensure comfort and safety for its key visitors during an international economic meeting almost two years from now, Dubai intends to provide 250 luxury cars for the guests.
The emirate has signed a $19 million deal with Germany's Audi A.G. to provide the luxury cars to ferry VIPs around at the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in 2003, AFP reported.
Ibrahim Belselah, Dubai 2003 general coordinator, was quoted by the agency as saying that the deal was signed after research on "how to safely and comfortably move the large number of expected senior VIP visitors during the event ... we are proud to partner with Audi A.G."
Ali Bilaloglu, managing director of Audi A.G. Middle East and Egypt explained that none of the 250 Audi A-8 cars will actually be owned by Dubai 2003, and the luxury sedans will only be in Dubai from September 10 to September 27, 2003 before being moved or sold on.
Audi, which provided 230 A-8 cars for the last World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Prague in 1999, will also provide training for the drivers.
According to the agency, Belselah, who acts as Dubai municipality's finance director, expects more than 20,000 people, including around 25 heads of state, to attend the meetings in Dubai.
The Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund normally meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. The Annual Meetings, which generally take place in September-October – Albawaba.com
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