Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has appointed a committee to oversee the development of the next stage of the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
The Supreme Committee will oversee the site’s transformation into District 2020, the city’s newest residential and business district, Dubai Media Office said.
It will be led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group.
Plans for District 2020 to use more than 80 per cent of the Expo 2020 site’s built environment have already been released.
When transformed into District 2020, it will become the UAE’s first 15-minute city, a cycle-friendly, traffic-free suburb of the growing metropolis.
It will include an autonomous-vehicle route, a 10-kilometre cycling track, interconnected, wide pedestrian pathways and a 5km jogging track.
It will also have space for 85 start-ups and small businesses when it opens to its first corporate tenants towards the end of this year.
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Ten Expo attractions that will stay as part of District 2020
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Al Wasl Plaza has been Expo’s main staging area and the venue of unforgettable concerts featuring bands such as Coldplay. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Sustainability Pavilion will live on as a children's and science centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Alif - The Mobility Pavilion will host temporary exhibitions to attract tourists and residents. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
The UAE pavilion will be used as a visitor attraction and a cultural meeting place. Victor Besa / The National -
The Saudi Arabia pavilion will continue to showcase green energy innovations in Dubai and the rest of the region. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Expo water feature will continue to be a big attraction even after Expo ends. Victor Besa / The National -
The Garden in the Sky is a rotating observation tower that soars 55 metres above the ground for a bird’s eye view of the site. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dubai Exhibition Centre will be used by companies across the logistics, tourism, education and technology spectrum. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Firdaus Studio by AR Rahman will be a special element of the Expo’s legacy as it aspires to attract musical and artistic talent. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Cycling tracks at Expo. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
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Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer for Expo 2020, previously told The National that District 2020 would open “in different phases between now and October”.
The Supreme Committee, which has a term of three years, will oversee District 2020’s development, including all projects, initiatives, programmes and activities.
It will supervise the transformation of the site’s infrastructure to accommodate the new facilities and look at investment opportunities with the private sector.
The committee will also look after global promotional and marketing activities for the area.
Other members of the Supreme Committee include Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai, Mohammed Al Shaibani, director general of Dubai Ruler’s Court, Abdulrahman Al Saleh, director general of Dubai’s Department of Finance, and Helal Al Marri, director general of the emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism.
Sheikh Mohammed has extended the terms of the Expo 2020 Dubai Preparatory committee and those of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau and its director general by six months.
First glimpse of Expo's residential village ahead of relaunch - in pictures
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The site of Expo 2020 Dubai is now being transformed, following the end of the world's fair on March 31. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Former accommodation for world's fair staff is being converted into the Expo Village residential complex. -
Located in Dubai South, Expo Village is just a few minutes’ walk from the entrance gates of the Expo legacy site – which will soon evolve into District 2020 -
Expo Village is made up of 15 mid-rise buildings divided into four clusters. Each cluster has its own swimming pool. -
The four clusters of Expo Village contain a total of 2,273 dwellings. These range from studio to three-bedroom apartments to 30 three-bedroom townhouses, -
Parks and playgrounds throughout the complex make it appealing to families, say developers. -
While occupancy by Expo staff was 97 per cent during the event, soon this will be down to less than 5 per cent, and apartments will be available to rent. -
Expo Village has its own dedicated park spanning 38,000 square metres, a running track and a cycle path circling its perimeter. -
Keeping fit indoors is covered too, with a residents' gym in each cluster. -
Dubai World Trade Centre, which manages Expo Village, says the focus on parkland, gardens and the running and cycling tracks encourages health and wellness among residents. -
Tree-shaded walkways at Expo Village. Developers describe it as 'a village within a village'. -
The entrance to the Expo 2020 Dubai metro line is located just a minute's walk from each cluster and the area is connected to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. -
A rooftop leisure area at Expo Village. -
Green spaces are a vital part of Expo Village, say property managers. -
The development includes a supermarket, a pharmacy, cafes and restaurants, a healthcare clinic, salons and Covid-19 testing clinic. -
With Expo 2020 Dubai over, apartments are now being made ready for new tenants expected over the next few months. -
The living room of a two-bedroom apartment. Most properties will be let fully furnished. -
The kitchen and dining area of a three-bedroom townhouse. -
A twin bedroom in a three-bedroom townhouse. -
Property managers are seeking to create a co-working space within some of the Expo Village retail and home rental units. -
An overview of Expo Village. -
The nearby Expo 2020 Dubai metro line. -
With properties ranging from 40 square metres up to 130 square metres, management company Dubai World Trade Centre says Expo Village rents will be 'very competitive'.
