ons, and increased trade, culture and tourism. Hopefully the successful EXPO 2020 will also positively impact the MENA region.
The Dubai Expo 2020 is, without doubt, one of the most highly anticipated world events of 2021-2022. More than 192 countries participate in this epic Expo. It was truly a unifying event. In particular though, Expo 2020 Dubai ensured a myriad of immensely positive reverberations on the UAE and its people.
Dubai was awarded the rights to host Expo 2020 back in2013 and since then, the Dubai government had been hard at work developing the infrastructure and resources n
Wonders of Dubai’s Expo 2020 have been mesmerizing the unlimited visitors since its inception. It has now become icon of human creativity, innovation, productivity and above all future orientation. Although it was delayed because of COVID-19 but it had become one of the hottest destinations for regional as well as international tourists to visit.
It was the first time a world fair had been held in the Middle East and North Africa which brought great shifts in technological advancement, improved international relati
It is also mentioned on the website that from 2013 to date, there has been a whopping influx of approximately AED 37 billion, largely from the construction and real estate sector. During the event, another AED 22 billion is expected to be funnelled into the economy, which will bring about an expected addition of 1.5 per cent to the UAE Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
eeded to pull off a successful six-month event.
As per the official website of the Dubai Expo 2020, an economic boost of around AED 122 billion is anticipated to be experienced by 2031.
Interestingly, after the Expo 2020 the site that was specially constructed for the event, will be redesigned as District 2020 and will host business, art and other types of events. This will ultimately prove to be a gift to the emirate that keeps on giving, continually adding to the sustainable economic development of Dubai.
The real estate sector has become one of the major beneficiaries of the Dubai Expo 2020. Naturally, the Expo 2020 site caused a massive influx of cash into the real estate and construction sector. Moreover, it geared up the development of new commercial and residential projects near the site, mostly to accommodate the people who will be attending the half year-long event.
The Dubai Expo 2020 awarded 1200 contracts with a total value of AED 2 billion awarded to various contractors and developers in 2016. Additionally, it also awarded 47 new construction contracts in 2017, which amount to AED 11 billion.
According to official data the Dubai Expo 2020 received 25 million visitors, out of which 70 percent were from overseas. It boosted the tourism and hospitality sectors, whic
h had been heavily impacted by the travel restrictions during 2020, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were as many as 99 hotels constructed for this event which had the potential to be one of the largest developments in the hospitality industry across the MENA region, or perhaps even the world.
The Dubai Expo 2020 promoted a whole new transportation infrastructure which was included new roads, electric buses, new bus stops, metro stations, trains and much more.
Route 2020 was a new Dubai Metro route that had been specially designed for the event. It was a 15 km extension to the Metro Red Line and will connect Jebel Ali Station to the new Expo 2020 Station, with seven stations in between. Ultimately, it helped move visitors to and from the Expo 2020 site much faster and ensured further strengthening of the economy.
In anticipation of the Expo 2020, new buses and metro stations were developed, as well as new roads, which helped visitors reach the site easily. Additionally there was a new metro station at the site, which was capable of transporting 44,000 passengers per hour.
More than 200 entities signed up for the event, which included over 190 nations. There were multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions rigorously participated in the event.
The Expo 2020 featured many international companies from all around the world which generated new jobs opportunities.
At the UAE Pavilion a three-story marvel built in the shape of a falcon’s wings visitors were guided through the Emirate’s past, present and its aspirations for the future.
Much of the experience was focused on putting forward their traditions and culture to inform visitors, but the final section “The Dreamers Who Do” was aimed at attracting people to move to or work with the UAE.
By hosting co-creation opportunities with Expo and pavilion stakeholders, they sought to encourage local and global stakeholders to collaborate on social, diplomatic and philanthropic initiatives.
Undoubtedly, the UAE Pavilion was really about the human capacity for innovation and personal achievements of all these people who came together and built this country from the ground up.
It vividly reflected UAE spirits of multiculturalism, ethic harmony, tolerance, peace and stability. It also boosted UAE’s openness and readiness to welcome new people, from all races, religions and cultures, and what opportunities are available for them to come find success here.
UAE has visionary leadership, space, resources and the ability to create everything and anything, it is waiting for new ‘dreamers’ to come and partner with it.
The UAE has a lot of capabilities, but it needs the ideas and innovators; the people to come and realise them, so we’re showing visitors how people around the world are living in the UAE and what they could achieve if they came, too.”
According to an independent economic study requested by Dubai authorities, Ernst & Young expects Expo to have generated 905,200 jobs in the region and boosted the UAE economy overall by $33.4bn by 2031.
To conclude, after having entertained, inspired and educated millions of visitors over 180 days, Expo 2020 Dubai drew to a tearful close. For its hundreds of thousands of loyal patrons, the event was more than a destination; it was an emotion.
The world’s fair in Dubai, a tech-saturated site teeming with talking robots and solar canopies has now become icon of future development. After eight years of anticipation, over $7 billion in investment, 240 million hours of labor and six months of festivities the EXPO 2020 has been closed.
Good thing is that the fate of the fairgrounds is clear. National pavilions will be utilized in soft image activities. The first cohort of 85 startups and small businesses will set up shop at District 2020 (EXPO 2020) by the end of this year. The startups will receive a “soft landing at District 2020 and will become part of UAE’s innovation ecosystem.
Moreover, residents would move into apartments at District 2020 by early next year. About 800 residential units, available only for rent, will be handed over starting from Q1 next year, along with about 2,300 apartments at the nearby Expo village.
Residents and employees will enjoy some of the iconic landmarks of Expo 2020, which live on after the mega event, including the gravity-defying Water Feature, observation deck Garden in the Sky and the iconic Al Wasl Plaza.
The Sustainability Pavilion (Terra) will be transformed into a Children and Science Centre, while the Mobility Pavilion (Alif), Vision Pavilion, Mission Possible, and Dubai Exhibition Centre will remain unchanged.
Interestingly, District 2020 will be the UAE’s first 15-minute city. Everything they need from offices, parks, groceries, retail shops, restaurants and coffee shops will be accessible within 15 minutes by cycling, walking or riding e-scooters. Thus it will be start of smart city and living concept in UAE. It will be car-free city by connecting people via pedestrian walkways, autonomous vehicle routes and public transportation networks.
It will be a “human-centric” city, which will be essentially “a city designed around people, not around buildings or cars. Bringing the world to Dubai and showcasing Dubai to the world has been one of the successes of this event.