Executive director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, Najeeb Al-Ali, will present Expo 2020, the first mega event in the Middle East at The Big 5 2016
The budget for the Expo 2020 site is estimated between USD$8.1bn and US$8.7bn, according to the latest BNC report commissioned by The Big 5, well above the initially forecasted USD$7bn. 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 200mn passengers by 2020, thanks to an investment of approximately USD$32bn, ?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 25mn visitors, the Expo 2020 Dubai is currently under development on a 438 ha 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 sq km urban area that will be built in stages.
According to BNC?s report for The Big 5, USD$30mn are being allocated to develop the Expo Village at the Dubai Exhibition City in Dubai South. 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 Pavillion will cost approximately USD$30mn. The 15,000 sq m 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 Pavillion in Dubai South will be built to embrace sustainable building principles.
Running from 21 to 24 November at the DWTC, The Big 5, Middle East?s largest construction event, co-located with Middle East Concrete and PMV Live 2016, will host over 3,000 exhibitors and is expected to welcome 75,000 visitors. According to Ms. Heijmans, ?Expo-related development projects support UAE?s vision to diversify its economy away from the hydrocarbon sector, and are contributing to the growth of the construction and infrastructure industry in the country?.
The executive director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, Najeeb Al-Ali, will present ?A preview of the much-awaited Expo 2020 Dubai: Delivering the first mega event in the Middle East?, at The Big 5?s Excellence in Construction Summit from 2 pm to 2:30 pm. Taking place on 22 November 2016, the Summit is organised with the strategic support of the Dubai Economic Council (DEC) and will gather 500 industry leaders to discuss current and future trends of the construction sector in Dubai, the GCC region and beyond.
Applications for a free place at the Excellence in Construction Summit can be submitted at here. To know more about The Big 5 2016 visit www.thebig5.ae. Free online registration here closes on 20 November at midnight, after this date an entrance fee of AED150 is applicable.
