Delivering the vision • Forum
Huge international events can leave a lasting imprint on a city—think Barcelona since the '92 Olympics— and Dubai hopes Expo will be a springboard into the future.
SINCE THE BEGINNING, we have been planning for what happens after Expo 2020 Dubai closes its doors. Thus, our vision for District 2020, Dubai’s mixed-use innovation district, will keep the history of Expo 2020 alive for countless generations to come. Some 80% of the incredible assets and physical and digital infrastructure that will be built for Expo 2020 will be retained and re-purposed at District 2020, creating a space that will ultimately bring together businesses big and small, in addition to educational, social, and cultural platforms and entertainment. The District 2020 masterplan was designed specifically to cater to the needs of the community and meet the requirements of the market in order to generate long-term value, hence our drive to offer everything a business needs to propel their industry and support the UAE economy. Ultimately, it will be a holistic community in which to live and work where one can explore the next ‘big idea’ during the day and enjoy a cinema under the stars with their family at night.
EXPO 2020 is an event of unprecedented scale and requires an unprecedented amount of manpower. The need to recruit more than 30,000 people has never happened in the UAE before and is a huge challenge. The Expo 2020 Volunteers Program is inclusive, and we welcome anyone who lives in the UAE and is interested in volunteering with us; people from all nationalities and skillsets, from university students and retirees, to homemakers and people of determination. Dubai is home to over 200 nationalities, and we want to show the world through our volunteers that this is an event for us all. Volunteers will help demonstrate authentic Emirati hospitality and the values of respect, tolerance, compassion, and humility. Dedicating more than 16 million volunteer hours spread across 173 days, they will take on various tasks including welcoming and guiding visitors. We have created meaningful roles that will lead to work-ready skills, as well as an exceptional experience that will remain with volunteers for life.
WHEN DESIGNING THE EXPO
2020 Dubai master plan, we wanted to make sure there was meaning behind every part of the built environment. This includes everything from the park benches and on-site signage to the nods to traditional Arabic design that you will see in our thematic districts, right up to the incredible architecture of the thematic pavilions and the huge central dome of Al Wasl Plaza, which, as well as using the Expo logo in its design, also has a deeper meaning behind its name (Al Wasl means ‘connection’ in Arabic and is the old name for Dubai). We are also working with some of the best names in architecture in the world to ensure we create buildings that amaze our visitors. For example, Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill designed Al Wasl Plaza, the jewel of Expo 2020; Grimshaw designed the Sustainability Pavilion; Foster + Partners designed the Mobility Pavilion; and Asif Khan designed the majestic carbon fiber entry portals that act as the gateways to the site.
IT IS FAIR TO SAY EXPO 2020
Dubai will be very different from any other World Expo. At previous expos, approximately 80% of visitors were from the home market, the most prominent example being China, where 95% were domestic. The people attending Expo 2020 Dubai will come from all over the world, with 70% expected to be international, the highest proportion in expo history. The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, or South Asia, Expo 2020 Dubai will also be the largest event ever staged in the Arab world, giving the region access to the greatest inventions and collaborations from around the globe as 192 participating countries and millions of visitors come together to build a brighter future. It will also help elevate the tourism industry in the UAE to a new level, and we are working closely with tourism authorities across the nation to meet our targets.
MUCH LIKE THE RECENT NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH THAT SHOWS NEW NEURAL PATHWAYS CAN BE CREATED AND STRENGTHENED,
Dubai is aiming to challenge how the world conceptualizes today’s problems and tomorrow’s solutions through new connections and disruptive pathways between ideas. Not siloed concepts, but rather scopes through which to contemplate Expo 2020’s overarching theme of “connecting minds, creating the future,” opportunity, mobility, and sustainability interplay to create the ultimate Expo experience. Connection between ideas, concepts, and people will be the way forward, and as the world’s greatest show begins to take shape, the linkages are clearer than ever.
Located on an area of 4.38sqkm in Dubai South, Expo 2020 will be a mere four-hour flight away for a staggering one-third of the world’s population. When the estimated 25 million visitors arrive, the pavilions are largely divided into three districts, each dedicated to one of the subthemes. But, despite the physical separation of these districts participating countries, companies, and visitors are blurring the lines. Take, for example, Morocco’s pavilion, which is located in the opportunity district but also presents Morocco’s commitment to a sustainable future. This show of force on the international stage—more than 190 countries committed to participating— comes as Morocco continues make significant economic strides and looks to crack the top 50 in the World Bank’s Doing Business report. For Saudi Arabia, Expo is a way to solidify and strengthen existing links between the Emirates and the Kingdom.
Another example is Cartier’s recently announced pavilion that relates to issues of sustainability as well as opportunity’s for women. The pavilion—the only one sponsored by a luxury brand—will feature events with prominent female leaders with the core idea being “Everyone must bring a stone to build a new future,” according to Cartier International President Cyrille Vigneron. The pavilion will showcase “the impact that women of all cultures have had a cross time, focusing on both known and lesser-known achievements,” adds Vigeron, as well as reflect the environmental principles integrated into the company’s strategy.
Through the lenses of mobility and opportunity, SAP, Expo’s Innovative Enterprise Software Partner, is working to ensure that all visitors can have the full Expo experience regardless of abilities. In an exclusive TBY interview, COO of SAP Middle East South, Sameer Areff mentioned SAP’s collaboration with a start-up to build appbased solutions for people with visual impairments and limited mobility.
Beyond individual pavilions, much of the Expo conversation centers around the post-event opportunities and plans for the infrastructure. Erik Linquier, Commissioner General of Cofrex, the entity responsible for France’s exposition participation, notes Expo 2020 is just one element of Dubai’s drive toward environmental sustainability. More than 80% of Expo structures will be transformed into a new mixed-use development, District 2020, within Dubai South. The intent is for this district to host a significant chunk of the businesses, from multinationals to entrepreneurs, lured in from Expo itself. Areff is certain the event will bring new ambitions to the Emirate as Dubai continues to establish itself as the city of the future. Moreover, the opportunities created by Expo for human talent development will also carry on to help Dubai build the future workforce to sustain a knowledge-based, digital economy. Many universities are counting on Expo to create new opportunities for students and increase the flows of students choosing Dubai for their education experiences. Students are already making their interest and influence on Expo known. Nine Expo pavilions, namely the Djibouti, Grenada, Malawi. Myanmar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Zimbabwe pavilions, were designed by teams of students.
Just as the generation entering the workforce and offering new perspectives, Dubai aims to create a multifaceted prism, the facets being Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability, through which to advance the world. ✖