• Districts form site’s largest built-up area, including 86 buildings for Country Pavilions, F&B, retail
  • All Expo-built structures designed to meet LEED’s global benchmark for sustainable architecture

Images and video: https://expo2020dubai.sharefile.com/d-sdf2c41a1b2a4ebda 

DUBAI 21 May 2019 – Construction of Expo 2020 Dubai’s petal-shaped Thematic Districts is now complete, marking one of the most significant milestones on the road to welcoming the world to the UAE for 173 days of fun, creativity and inspiration.

More than 100 million working hours have now gone into developing the site, including the completion of all shell and core works for the Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability Districts. Final building completion certificates have been received from Dubai Municipality, with all Expo-led construction on track to be completed in the year before gates open.

Built by the UAE’s Al Futtaim Construction and already landscaped with water and shading features, the districts are now ready for fitout. They form the largest built-up area of the site and include 86 low-rise buildings that will house dozens of Country Pavilions, food and beverage outlets, retail, performance spaces and leisure areas. Each district will be anchored by its own Thematic Pavilion and connected to the central Al Wasl Plaza, set to be the next iconic structure of Dubai.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “The completion of the Thematic Districts is a significant milestone in our journey towards delivering an exceptional Expo, including worldclass design, as part of the UAE leadership’s vision to always achieve the highest standards and to show the world the spirit and creativity of our nation.” 

Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “This is the year of delivery, and the completion of the three Thematic Districts is a major construction landmark to be celebrated as we prepare to welcome the world in less than 520 days. It’s exciting to see the site evolve every day, and despite the pace of progress, we remain committed to quality and worker welfare.”

Designed by Hopkins and Partners, the Thematic Districts evoke old Dubai, with façades resembling traditional Emirati wind towers and walkways lined with flora indigenous to the UAE. They incorporate a host of innovative features, including smart shading, solar cells and moisture capturing mechanisms, as well as an enormous basement under each district, which will be used for seamless logistics during the event and parking post event.

All Expo 2020-built structures are designed to achieve at least LEED Gold certification, the globally recognised standard of sustainable architecture, which is in line with Expo’s commitment to leaving a sustainable, meaningful legacy. More than 80 per cent of the Expo-built environment will live on after the event as part of District 2020, an integrated mixed-use community.

The next major Expo 2020 construction milestone is the completion of Al Wasl Plaza’s massive domed trellis, which will act as a huge 360-degree projection screen and is scheduled for completion in June.

The Dubai Metro Route 2020 extension, which will link Expo 2020 to the rest of the emirate, the three DEWA substations that will power the 4.38 sqkm site and other key water, sewage and telecommunications infrastructure, including the 2.2 km road  network, have already been completed. Ongoing construction of the Thematic Pavilions, the Dubai Exhibition Centre, and Expo Village is progressing as planned.

Expo 2020 expects to attract 25 million visits between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021, with 70 per cent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the 168-year history of World Expos. More than 200 participants, including countries, corporations, multinational organisations and educational institutions, will gather to explore Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

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About Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai is guided by the belief that innovation and progress are the result of people and ideas combining in new ways. For six months from 20 October, 2020, Expo will bring together 192 countries and millions of people to celebrate human ingenuity: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

  • During the six months from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, we expect to welcome 25 million visits
  • About 70 per cent of all visitors are anticipated to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in Expo history
  • We aim to create and deliver an inclusive and global Expo with more than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions
  • Expo 2020 also has an ambitious volunteer programme, which aims to include more than 30,000 volunteers from a wide range of ages, nationalities, cultures and backgrounds
  • The Expo site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area. It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
  • Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to take place in the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) region

Applications for media accreditation for Expo 2020 Dubai are now open and media organisations are invited to submit their expression of interest at https://www.expo2020dubai.com/media-centre/expression-of-interest by 30 June, 2019. All accredited media will have access to the Expo 2020 Media Centre and all associated services and facilities within the Expo 2020 site. Additionally, if your media organisation has television or radio studio requirements during Expo 2020, please email media.services@expo2020.ae  by 9 May, 2019.

Visit: www.expo2020dubai.com 

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About World Expos

In 1851 the Crystal Palace was the centrepiece of London’s Great Exhibition – the first World Expo. It celebrated the man-made industrial wonders of a rapidly changing world. Architecture, contents and a theme, ‘Industry of All Nations’, were combined to create a big idea of nations meeting nations in shared technological and commercial progress. In more recent years, participants in World Expos, including governments, international organisations and companies, have gathered to find solutions to universal challenges and to promote their achievements, products, ideas, innovations, their national brand, and their nations as destinations for tourism, trade and investment.

World Expos are held under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organisation responsible for overseeing and regulating international exhibitions (‘Expos’) and for fostering their core values of Education, Innovation and Cooperation. Today, four types of Expos are organised under the BIE’s auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos and the Triennale di Milano.

This project milestone is a testament to the fact that delivery of the first World Exposition held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asian (MEASA) is right on track. It also indicates that the Expo 2020 Dubai ambition to deliver all Expo-led construction a full year before doors open to the largest event ever staged in the Arab world on 20 October 2020, are well underway.

© Press Release 2019

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