Dubai to reveal Expo District 2020 at Cityscape

The legacy development of the Expo 2020 will add to the emirate’s long-term economic development

An artist rendering of legacy District 2020, which is due to be unveiled at this week's Cityscape Global. Courtesy Expo 2020

Dubai will unveil the legacy development of the Expo 2020 at Cityscape Global this week, showcasing the project that will become a contributor to Dubai’s long-term economic growth once the global business event in the emirate concludes.

District 2020 will include 65,000 square metres of residential space and 135,000 square metres of commercial space, in a location that will be home to innovation, educational, cultural and entertainment facilities as well as a dedicated conference and exhibition centre, according to an Expo 2020 statement, which added that the planned world-class development will become an integral part of the legacy of the Expo from the fourth quarter of 2021.

“Back in 2013 when we won the bid to host this great event, we set ourselves two clear objectives in line with our leaders’ vision: to stage a World Expo that would amaze the world and build a lasting legacy with a global destination that offers a new alternative for urban living," said Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State for International Cooperation and the director general of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau. “We have created District 2020 to achieve that goal. It has been a key part of our planning from the very start, not just for our legacy team but the entire Expo organisation.”

District 2020 has been designed to be environmentally sustainable and every building will meet global standards in sustainable construction. The development will be home to major structures such as Al Wasl Plaza, the Sustainability Pavilion, which will live on as a Children and Science Centre, and the falcon-shaped UAE Pavilion. The projects have been designed by some of the world’s most renowned architects, the Expo statement said, adding that the District, which will have 10km of cycling track and 45,900 square metres of parkland, will also boast one of the first 5G networks in the world, taking connectivity to the next level.

Dubai’s position as one of the premier Middle East conferencing and events destination will be further strengthened by the conference and exhibition centre on site, being developed by Dubai World Trade Center.

“District 2020 will continue to carry forward Expo 2020’s mission of connecting people – offering a new urban experience,” said Marjan Faraidooni, the senior vice president of Legacy Impact and Development at Expo 2020 Dubai.

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In terms of connectivity, District 2020 will be one stop from Al Maktoum International Airport - set to become the largest airport in the world - on the dedicated Route 2020 Dubai Metro line currently being constructed. It will be within an hour of two other international airports. The site is also adjacent to four major UAE motorways and close to Jebel Ali Port, the largest marine terminal in the Middle East.

Visitors to Cityscape, which opens to the public on September 11, will be able to find out more about the design, architecture and state-of-the-art infrastructure that makes up the development and will be able to get details of residential options, work spaces, and leisure and hospitality facilities.

Dubai is expected to award Dh11 billion worth of contracts related to the Expo this year. Contracts to build the three major pavilions representing Expo 2020’s main themes of sustainability, opportunity and mobility, will be awarded in the fourth quarter of this year, Ahmed Al Katib, the event's vice-president of real estate, said in July. A tender to build up to 30,000 car parking spaces around the outer elements of the site is also due to be floated by the end of the current quarter.

The biggest contract awarded so far this year is a Dh2.2bn deal with Al Futtaim Carillion for the site’s three thematic districts, but Mr Khatib at the time that many smaller contracts have also been awarded on site for facilities such as police stations and substations.