The controversial former mayor of London Ken Livingstone today (6 October 2008) urges Dubai to recognise the need for an efficient public transport system if it wants to succeed in becoming a major financial centre.
Livingstone, who has strong ideas on how cities should be run and the driving force behind the London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid, was speaking to regional and international press at Cityscape Dubai, the world’s largest business-to-business real estate investment and development event.
Ken, who is chairing the World Architecture Congress which is part of the Cityscape programme, was recently appointed an advisor on urban planning to Caracas, Venezuela, acting as a consultant on the city’s policing and transport. Asked if he would consider taking on a similar role for Dubai, he said: “I’d be delighted!”
With strong ideas about how a city should be run, Ken has never been afraid of controversy. He introduced the congestion charge in London and oversaw a transformation of the city’s aging transport infrastructure to free up London traffic.
Making his first visit to Dubai, Ken said he had previously only passed through Dubai airport on his way to Australia. But asked for his suggestions on how Dubai could be improved, he replied: “Dubai must recognise a modern financial district requires the vast majority of workers to use public transport.”
How does he think the global economic crisis will impact the development of Dubai? “It represents a real opportunity as economic power continues to shift from America and Europe's financial centres to the growing economies of Asia,” he said.
Ken had no fear that the economic crisis will adversely impact the 2012 Olympics in London. “Initially the government will have to put up some more of the construction costs for the media centre and the Olympic village but they will get the money back when these are sold after the Olympic games,” he said.
Livingstone has twice held the chief executive office in London, firstly as leader of the Greater London Council from 1981 until the council was abolished in 1986 by Margaret Thatcher’s government. He became the first directly elected Mayor of London when London-wide government was restored in 2000.
Ken was defeated in his second re-election bid by Boris Johnson in May 2008. He has written two books, If Voting Changed Anything They'd Abolish It and Livingstone’s Labour. He is currently working on his autobiography for publication in 2009.
Cityscape Dubai is expected to break new records this year with more than 60,000 participants from over 150 countries attending the exhibition and conferences taking place from 6-9 October 2008 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. Now in its seventh year, Cityscape Dubai features a series of important conferences of which the World Architecture Congress is one.
Other conferences taking place at Cityscape Dubai include the Real Estate Leadership Strategy Summit and the International Real Estate Investment and Development Conference, Cityscape Dubai’s main conference. In addition, Cityscape Dubai hosts the second Cityscape Dubai Hotel and Tourism Investment and Development Conference and the Middle East Facilities and Asset Management Conference.
Platinum sponsors of Cityscape are: Nakheel, Aldar, Dar Al Arkan, Qatari Diar, Saraya, and Tanmiyat. Gold sponsor are: Abyaar, Aqaba Development Corporation, and Tameer. Silver sponsors are: Al Qudra Real Estate, MAG Property Development, and Iskandar Financial District.
The conferences are also backed by leading sponsors. Associate sponsor of the World Architecture Congress are Al Fajer Property and headline sponsors are Groho, Arup, Timelinks and Move In. Diamond sponsors of the Hotel and Tourism Investment and Development Conference are Bawadi, platinum sponsors are Group RCI and silver sponsors are SNASCO. Gold sponsor of the Facilities and Asset Management Conference are Wasl.
