Having memorably hosted Expo 2020 Dubai, the site has now reopened as Expo City Dubai, providing meeting planners with a wide range of venues, offerings and entertainment for their events and itineraries
From the bidding phase, through planning and on to the hosting of the event itself, albeit in 2021/22 due to Covid, one of the key refrains from Expo 2020 Dubai organisers and the city’s leadership was the importance of legacy.
Now, just over half a year on from the conclusion of the landmark six-month event itself, that legacy has come to life through the opening of Expo City Dubai – and for meeting planners it’s added an entire new dimension to the possibilities and opportunities available to them in Dubai.
The district, which opened to the public on 1 October, aims to be a destination for business and innovation and features a number of Expo 2020 Dubai’s flagship pavilions and technology offerings, which attracted over 24 million visits during the event.
Part of the wider Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the district is home to the world-class Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), which continues to host a range of conferences, events and activations. With 45,000 sqm of flexible space including 14 exhibition and multi-use halls, DEC boasts best-in-class audio-visual resources and was in demand during Expo 2020 itself with a packed calendar of exhibitions, congresses and conferences, including the third edition of the Dubai Association Conference in February 2022.
With easy accessibility, including an adjoining Dubai Metro station, DEC is already proving to be a popular venue, especially being in close proximity to many of the iconic pavilions and attractions that have also reopened within the district.
Indeed, venue options at Expo City Dubai extend to well beyond those in DEC alone. Around some of the key thematic pavilions that have now reopened are some appealing spaces that can host a wide range of events and activations. At Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, for example, planners can use an auditorium or multiple outdoor and rooftop spaces. Meanwhile, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion also has indoor and outdoor options.
Other attractions and offerings around Expo City are also ensuring that the district is about more than just meeting spaces. Among them are:
- Al Wasl Plaza – Named after the Arabic word for “connection”, this unique architectural achievement was known as the beating heart of Expo 2020 Dubai. Its massive steel trellis dome, measuring 67.5 metres high houses the largest 360-degree projection surface in the world.
- Garden in the Sky – Dubbed ‘the flying park’, Garden in the Sky is a rotating observation tower that lifts visitors 55 metres above ground for beautiful panoramic views of the city. Earning its name from its luscious green, tree-lined upper deck, the base of the tower beams with light at night, as do rings around the observation cabins, lending the attraction an out-of-this-world glow.
- Surreal – Blends mesmerising sights and sounds in a synchronised spectacle of music, water and fire. Larger-than-life immersive walls are swept over by gushing water which then appears to flow upwards in a gravity-defying feat of engineering.
And just as Expo 2020 Dubai showcased global cuisines, the site is set to continue to be a gastronomic hub, with exciting food concepts from around the world.
Further burnishing the site’s legacy will be its hosting of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties – or COP 28 – in November 2023. It is expected to welcome over 45,000 participants daily, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts and representatives of civil society organisations.
Expo City Dubai is aiming to be free of single-use plastic and retain 80% of infrastructure and buildings that was constructed for Expo 2020 Dubai, including 123 LEED-certified buildings, epitomising the highest levels of sustainable design, construction and operations.
It is also the first WELL-certified community in the region, demonstrating the built environment’s positive impact on health and wellness. These credentials are further underlined by the 10 kilometres of cycling tracks, as well as the 5km running track and 45,000 sqm of parks and gardens
Offering a wealth of opportunities for businesses that meet its sustainable targets, Expo City Dubai is already attracting interest from a large number of commercial tenants. It will soon become the new headquarters of DP World, Siemens, as well as start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Steen Jakobsen, associate vice-president, Dubai Business Events says: “Expo 2020 Dubai was a landmark event for the city, demonstrating our ability to host events of any scale and add momentum to the development of the wider destination.”
“In this exciting new phase, we expect Expo City Dubai – with its robust infrastructure, variety of attractions and dedicated events facilities – to be a major draw for meeting planners. The dedicated events spaces in Dubai Exhibition Centre in particular provide flexibility for events of all types and sizes.” Contact Dubai Business Events to find out more about Expo City Dubai: askdbe@dubaidet.ae
