What can we expect from the Expo 2020 pavilions? How will Dubai’s Expo benefit the construction industry and transform the region? And what is the idea behind the theme “Connecting mind, creating the future”? These and many more questions on the water cooler world of Expo 2020 Dubai answered by Najeeb Al-Ali, Executive Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, on 22 November at The Big 5 2016, the Middle East’s largest construction event.
The budget for the Expo 2020 site is estimated between USD 8.1 and 8.7 billion, according to the latest BNC report commissioned by The Big 5, well above the initially forecasted USD 7 billion. Situated midway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Expo site will be served by a world-class road network, a brand-new extension to the Dubai metro system and three international airports, Expo 2020 organisers announced.
The Al Maktoum International Airport will be expanded in order to handle up to 200 million passengers by 2020, thanks to an investment of approximately USD 32 billion: “The airport is part of the secondary infrastructure that will support the Expo 2020 Dubai. This project is not entirely dependent on hosting the event, but responds to the rise in expected numbers of travelers to Dubai,” Josine Heijmans, The Big 5 Event Director, stated commenting the report.
Designed to be one of the greatest shows on Earth, bringing together more than 180 nations and an international audience of 25 million visitors, the Expo 2020 Dubai is currently under development on a 438 hectare area in the Dubai South (DS) district.
Announced back in 2000 and formerly branded as Dubai World Central, Dubai South has been divided into eight sub-districts after Dubai’s successful bid to host the Expo 2020. These sub-districts include commercial, residential, logistics, aviation, golf, humanitarian, airport and exhibition sites forming a 145-square-kilometer urban area that will be built in stages.
According to BNC’s report for The Big 5, USD 30 million are being allocated to develop the Expo Village at the Dubai Exhibition City in DS. This project, which is currently in the tender phase, consists of a residential development providing full-time housing facilities for participating countries’ staff working on the Expo. After its completion, expected by 2018, pavilion construction activities will start.
The UAE Pavilion will cost approximately USD 30 million. The 15,000 square meters project will include exhibition areas, an auditorium, food and beverage outlets and VIP lounges. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and inspired by a falcon in flight, the UAE Pavilion in DS will be built to embrace sustainable building principles.
Indeed, sustainability is a design imperative for Expo 2020, which is expected to be one of the most sustainable Expos in history. Buildings on the Expo site will use 25 per cent less water than the regulatory requirement, and all water used for irrigation and cooling will be recycled. Half of the electricity used by Expo during the event will come from wholly renewable sources, and organisers also plan to reuse or repurpose 90% of the material used for permanent constructions.
