Dubai has celebrated its success in being chosen as host of Expo 2020 with a huge firework display and a day off for schoolchildren.
Dubai saw off opposition from Brazil, Russia and Turkey to win the right to host the 2020 World Expo.
The emirate was chosen ahead of Russia's Ekaterinberg in the final round of voting by the general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, in Paris.
The four candidate cities also included Brazil's Sao Paulo and Turkey's Izmir.
According to officials, 40% of the estimated 227,000 new jobs expected to be created as a result of Expo will be in the tourism and travel sectors.
The site chosen for the event is located between the international airports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
The World Expo showcases technology, architecture and culture.
Shanghai was the last host city and Milan is next in line in 2015.
