Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 12th, 2017: Construction work on the Expo 2020 site at the Al Wasl Plaza. Sunday, November 12th, 2017 at Expo 2020 Site, Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Construction work on the Expo 2020 site at the Al Wasl Plaza. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai says Dh10bn of construction contracts awarded this year



A total of Dh10.8 billion worth of construction contracts for Expo 2020 Dubai have been awarded this year, as well as Dh411 million of non-construction contracts, organisers said, adding that the mega-event is on track to award Dh11bn of construction-related tenders by the end of 2017.

“This has been a significant year on the journey to Expo 2020 Dubai and we are excited to continue our progress into 2018, which will see us offer further opportunities to companies in the UAE and wider region,” said Manal Al Bayat, the senior vice-president of business development and integration at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Dubai will host the World Expo 2020 at a 4.38 square kilometre site currently under construction in Dubai South, an economic free zone close to Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port.

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Organisers said on Sunday that preparations are “on track”, with Expo 2020 Dubai having exceeded its pledge of distributing Dh360m of non-construction contracts in 2017. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) received more than 50 per cent of contract awards this year, the organisation has said.

Meanwhile, a target announced in January to award Dh11bn of construction contracts by the end of the year will have been reached once certain urban planning and event overlay packages are finalised. Among the tenders awarded this year was a Dh353m contract to build the UAE's showcase pavilion, snapped up by the Dubai contractor Arabtec Holding’s construction arm.

There are currently 12 cranes operating on site and a further 10 will commence over the next month as new sections break ground into 2018.

Sectors to offer procurement opportunities next year include design, logistics, health and safety, construction and construction materials. The total number and value of these will be announced in the coming months, organisers said.

The majority of "outer" construction work at the Expo site is due to be finished by October 2019 and countries’ exhibition pavilions by the end of the first half of 2020. The huge exhibition opens in October 2020 and continues for six months until April 2021.

Expo 2020 Dubai hopes to attract 25 million visitors over the course of the event.

RESULTS

Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

The specs: Macan Turbo

Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October

RESULTS

6pm: Marfa Deira – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Wadheha, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)
6.35pm: Dubai Creek – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Barq Al Emarat, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ismail Mohammed
7.10pm: Mina Hamriya – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Tahdeed, Dane O’Neill, Michael Costa
7.45pm: Mina Rashid – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Seyaasi, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Garhoud Sprint DP World – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Mouheeb, Ray Dawson, Michael Costa
8.55pm: Mirdiff Stakes Jebel Ali Port – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Seyouff, Antonio Fresu, Michael Costa
9.30pm: Jebel Ali Free Zone – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Ajuste Fiscal, Jose da Silva, Julio Olascoaga

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

match info

Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside

The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg

Two stars

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others

if you go

The flights

Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return. 

The trek

Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required. 

The specs

Engine: Single front-axle electric motor
Power: 218hp
Torque: 330Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 402km (claimed)
Price: From Dh215,000 (estimate)
On sale: September

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kinetic 7
Started: 2018
Founder: Rick Parish
Based: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Clean cooking
Funding: $10 million
Investors: Self-funded

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor

Power: 843hp at N/A rpm

Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km

On sale: October to December

Price: From Dh875,000+(estimate)

SPECS

Engine: Dual electric motors with 102kW battery pack

Power: 570hp

Torque: 890Nm

Range: Up to 428km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh1,700,000