Up to 80% of Dubai’s Expo 2020 site to be redeveloped

Up to 80 per cent of the Expo 2020 site in Dubai will be redeveloped after the six-month long event, according to the organisers.

The expo, which runs from October 2020 to April 2021 will take place on a 4.38 square kilometre site, divided into three thematic districts. The site will also feature a central hub, called the Al Wasl Plaza, which will feature a massive translucent dome.

Also see: In pics: Huge translucent dome to be part of Expo 2020 Dubai site

Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) event in Dubai, Marjan Faraidooni, SVP, Legacy Developments and Impact, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “We planned the Expo with two missions in mind. The first is to make sure the visitor has an unforgettable experience from the second they step foot in Dubai until they leave.

“The second mission is the legacy question, Expo 2020 is being built with legacy in mind and all assets will remain after the event including the buildings and transport infrastructure.”

Last year, Expo 2020 Dubai awarded over 1,200 contracts worth $544.5m,and a further 47 construction contracts worth $3bn are due to be awarded in 2017.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that work on the extension of the Dubai Metro line to the Expo 2020 site has begun and is progressing on schedule.

Anita Mehra, SVP Communications and Reputation Dubai Airport, said: “We have already begun working with the Expo team to ensure we have the technology, innovation and customer service levels to create a world-class airport experience.”

Following the completion of the event, plans for the site will see 80 per cent of the plot redeveloped with all the expo’s assets and transport infrastructure re-purposed for future use by tenants and private sector firms, organisers said.

Earlier this month, Siemens revealed that it would shift its global headquarters for airports, cargo and ports logistics to the expo site from 2021.

Read more: Siemens to set up global logistics headquarters in Dubai

“The first Expo in London had one of the most enduring legacies and we will celebrate this in many ways during Expo 2020, including a 24-hour celebration of New Years’ Eve on December 31, 2020, uniting the 200 nationalities who call Dubai home and the 25 million people we will welcome to Dubai that year,” said Faraidooni.

“The legacy that we will leave behind is bringing Expo to a truly global audience, to inspire visitors to return to Dubai time and time again.”