A statue in the Mobility Pavilion. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
A statue in the Mobility Pavilion. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The UAE pavilion with Al Wasl Plaza in the background seen from above at the Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The UAE pavilion with Al Wasl Plaza in the background seen from above at the Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza, seen behind new buildings at the Expo site. Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza, seen behind new buildings at the Expo site. Dubai Expo 2020
The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The Expo Entry Portal at the Sustainability District at Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The Expo Entry Portal at the Sustainability District at Dubai Expo 2020 site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The Children and Science Centre with Al Wasl Plaza in the background. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
The Children and Science Centre with Al Wasl Plaza in the background. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza's dome, where the opening ceremony will be displayed next year. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza's dome, where the opening ceremony will be displayed next year. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza, the centre of the expo site and where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Al Wasl Plaza, the centre of the expo site and where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Mobility District at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Mobility District at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020
Inside the Opportunity Pavilion at the expo site. Courtesy: Dubai Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai on course to host one of the most sustainable World Expos


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Expo 2020 Dubai achieved a major milestone in its goal to become one of the most sustainable World Expos ever.

Eight infrastructure projects across the Expo 2020 Dubai site received the highest sustainability ratings for engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public spaces.

The projects were awarded Ceequal certification, with each one achieving the top, excellent, rating, which Expo 2020 said underlines how it has incorporated sustainable design principles in its buildings, infrastructure and landscaping.

Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer, Expo 2020 Dubai
Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer, Expo 2020 Dubai

The Ceequal ratings assess a range of sustainability factors, including land use, ecology, transport, resilience and pollution.

Expo 2020 is the first project in the Middle East to receive an excellent Ceequal rating.

"Each of these Ceequal excellent certificates is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our sustainability and site delivery teams,” said Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer, Expo 2020 Dubai.

“All involved are bound by a shared desire to ensure Expo 2020 is one of the most sustainable World Expos ever, while supporting the UAE’s efforts to build cleaner, safer and healthier communities for its people."

Keith Nicholson, infrastructure key account and major project manager at BRE Group, which awards the Ceequal certificates, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai’s infrastructure, including its sub-projects, has illustrated a high level of sustainability performance across the entire site.”

Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions – in pictures

The US Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site. Reem Mohammed / The National
The US Pavilion at the Expo 2020 site. Reem Mohammed / The National
The Netherlands pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: V8 Architects
The Netherlands pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: V8 Architects
The Luxembourg pavilion, under construction at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020
The Luxembourg pavilion, under construction at the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Courtesy: Luxembourg pavilion at Expo 2020
France's Expo pavilion. Courtesy: France Expo 2020 Dubai
France's Expo pavilion. Courtesy: France Expo 2020 Dubai
The Swiss pavilion for Expo 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Swiss pavilion for Expo 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Australian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
The Australian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Courtesy: Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
The Irish pavilion located in the Mobility District, near Jubilee Park. Courtesy: Embassy of Ireland
The Irish pavilion located in the Mobility District, near Jubilee Park. Courtesy: Embassy of Ireland
The Austrian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Austrian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Bahrain Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Bahrain Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Belarus's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Belarus's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Belgium Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Belgium Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Czech Republic Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Czech Republic Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Finland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Finland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
France's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
France's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The German Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The German Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Italian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Italian Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Japan's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Japan's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Monaco Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Monaco Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Netherlands' Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Netherlands' Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The New Zealand pavilion for Expo 2020.
The New Zealand pavilion for Expo 2020.
Norway's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Norway's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Omani Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Omani Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Poland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Poland's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Saudi Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Saudi Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Spanish Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Spanish Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The South Korea Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The South Korea Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Sweden Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Sweden Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Swiss Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The Swiss Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Thailand's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Thailand's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
An artist's impression of the UAE pavilion.
An artist's impression of the UAE pavilion.
The UK pavilion at Expo 2020.
The UK pavilion at Expo 2020.
Ukraine's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
Ukraine's Expo 2020 Pavilion.
The biog

Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico​

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

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. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to increase your savings
  • Have a plan for your savings.
  • Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
  • Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
  • It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings. 

- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching