Khaleej Times

3,000 employees likely to work out of Expo City Dubai by Sept

This legacy site is a 15-minute city, with all amenities and attraction­s falling within a 15-minute walking or cycling distance

- Sahim Salim sahim@khaleejtim­es.com

Multiple pavilions from Expo 2020 Dubai will be repurposed, as local and internatio­nal businesses, organisati­ons, and educationa­l institutio­ns set up shop at its legacy site. About 3,000 employees will be working out of offices at Expo City Dubai by September.

Anchor tenants and new businesses setting up their operations include DP World, Emirates Airline, Siemens Energy, Siemens Industrial, Terminus Group, Engie, and Gratiya Consultanc­y.

Expo City Dubai offers an enabling free zone environmen­t and digital platforms. Designed as a blueprint for ‘green' urban planning, it retains 80 per cent of Expo 2020's infrastruc­ture.

These are the former pavilions that will find a new purpose:

The Australia Pavilion will house the University of Wollongong Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre. Professor Patricia M. Davidson, vice-chancellor and president, said: “The centre will enhance the university's and Australia's presence in the area, creating valuable opportunit­ies for students, researcher­s, and industry to make a lasting impact. Launching the centre at Expo City Dubai reflects our belief that data science can revolution­ise industries and improve lives in numerous ways, and that the most effective research is conducted collaborat­ively and collegiall­y.”

The Finland Pavilion will become Fingulf LLC. Mika Puustinen, manager of Fingulf LLC, said: “Sustainabi­lity and the circular economy were central to the Finland Pavilion's purpose at Expo, and extending its life cycle into Expo City Dubai is a concrete example of our commitment to these principles. Under Fingulf, the pavilion and exhibition will continue to serve as a platform for building bridges between the UAE and Finland as well as other Nordic countries, and sees us wellplaced to contribute to the upcoming COP28.”

The China Pavilion will continue to support China-uae relations and business developmen­t. A spokespers­on said: “A symbol of the friendship between China and the UAE, the China Pavilion has been preserved and set to become an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Retaining the original design, facilities, and function, the China Pavilion will support the continued, high-quality developmen­t of China-uae economic and trade relations, and people-to-people connectivi­ty. (It will) support Chinese enterprise­s looking to invest and do business in the UAE and serve as a hub for Chinese culture and storytelli­ng through a variety of enriching events.”

The Emirates Pavilion is being transforme­d into a “bespoke space” for Emirates Group Innovation and Emerging Technologi­es Centre. Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said: “This will serve as a base for our innovation team, a venue for events, and also a space for global partners to collaborat­e with us on projects that will propel our vision for aviation and travel.”

Fortune 500 companies, entreprene­urs and SMES — as well as government, academia, and research institutio­ns — will work together at Expo City. The aim is to enhance Dubai's position as a global centre of trade. Manal Albayat, chief engagement officer, Expo City Dubai, said: “Organisati­ons of all sizes, across a myriad of sectors and from all around the world are crucial to Expo City's legacy plans and take forward Expo 2020 Dubai's purpose to connect minds and create the future.”

Organisati­ons of all sizes, across a myriad of sectors and from all around the world are crucial to Expo City’s legacy plans.” Manal Albayat

Chief engagement officer,

Expo City Dubai

 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? Expo City Dubai offers an enabling free zone environmen­t and digital platforms. — courtesy: expo 2020 dubai
Expo City Dubai offers an enabling free zone environmen­t and digital platforms. — courtesy: expo 2020 dubai

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates