Expo 2020 is one of the most anticipated and largest events in the Arab world and is in fact the first exhibition of its kind in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The UAE government has high hopes for Expo 2020 as it aims to diversify the economy of Dubai and enhance its global image as a technical and financial hub. Even though the development and construction of Expo 2020 was highly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic the organizers still expect a footfall of 25 million visitors (70% of which will fly in from abroad) due to the global vaccination rollout and a recent series of “in-person” events in the emirate. As for the real estate sector, investors, end-users and tenants can benefit from decreased property prices for at least one more year due to the rescheduling of the event.

Postponement of the Exhibition

The theme of the exhibition is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” with the event supposedly running from October 2020 to April 2021. However, the decision was made to postpone Expo 2020 last May after the participating countries announced their intention to keep the spread of Covid-19 under control. In the beginning of 2021 it was reported that the exhibition will take place from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. According to the event’s Chief Development and Delivery Officer Ahmed Al Khatib, the organizers are following all the international guidelines on how to deal with Covid-19. Therefore, social-distancing squares, temperature checks and distribution of hand sanitizers are just a few of the virus countermeasures to be taken to ensure the safety of visitors.

Pandemic-Related Projects

Besides Expo 2020, Dubai’s Global Best Practice Programme added five projects that address the challenges of the pandemic and offer a range of solutions. For instance, some of the projects are:

<ul><li aria-level="1">SafeDistance, Lopos, Belgium. SafeDistance is a device that measures the distance to other SafeDistance sensors, as well as traces and tracks active coronavirus infections.</li><li aria-level="1">Maji Bucket, Project Maji, UAE (Ghana). This project helped to distribute soap bars across Maji communities and inform people of proper hand hygiene. Furthermore, the facility called Maji Bucket ensures safe hand-washing in the rural areas of Ghana.</li><li aria-level="1">Mi Casa, Mi Cancha, Fútbol Más, Chile. This program is aimed at the promotion of physical activity and education among children and teenagers. It includes active routines for mental and physical health.</li></ul>

How Will Expo 2020 Impact Dubai’s Economy?

As stated by the Expo 2020 executive body, the total GDP will stand at AED 24.2B, USD 6.6B. In the meantime, a report by Ernst and Young states that the Dubai economy will rise to approximately AED 122.7B, USD 33.4B. This means booming growth in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and construction as well as significant investments in public affairs, environmental avenues and real estate. Furthermore, after Expo 2020 Dubai will have proven that the economy  does not need to rely on its oil to generate revenue but will in fact emerge as a technology-based city along with the whole of the UAE. As a matter of fact, it will be the most digitally connected Expo in its history. A.I and 5G will play a huge role in connecting the site by the ‘Internet of Things’. The collected data will be visualized via Navigator, the Siemens cloud-based platform. Sustainability will also become a key factor in the emirate as Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Park will provide clean energy and facilitate charging stations for electric cars.

District 2020

District 2020 is an innovation-centered community which aims to be an independent city and a new Free Trade Zone at the same time. It is located close to Al Maktoum International Airport where the community will be able to accommodate 90,000 people and will feature the following:

<ul><li aria-level="1">Low-rise buildings</li><li aria-level="1">Business and retail facilities</li><li aria-level="1">Commercial spaces</li><li aria-level="1">Al Wasl Plaza, the central hub for Expo 2020</li><li aria-level="1">Dubai Exhibition Center</li><li aria-level="1">Leed Gold-certified area</li><li aria-level="1">699 654 sq. ft of residential area</li><li aria-level="1">484 375 sq. ft of green spaces</li><li aria-level="1">Jogging tracks and bike lanes</li><li aria-level="1">Children and Science Park</li><li aria-level="1">World-class educational institutions</li></ul>

Activities to Do in Expo 2020

Expo 2020 in Dubai will last for 182 days and will be held in the Dubai South District. A single-day adult ticket will cost AED 120 (USD 33) and provide access to parades, special celebrations, over 200 F&B outlets, future-shaping technologies, 60 live daily shows and performances by some of the most famous artists. All 192 participating countries will have their own pavilions with the best accomplishments and developments in three districts – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Here are just a few activities that the Expo 2020 visitors could participate in:

<ul><li aria-level="1">Meeting Robo-Beethoven</li></ul>

This project will be presented in the German pavilion where the robots will perform in tune with Ludwig Van Beethoven.

<ul><li aria-level="1">Riding aboard the world’s first ropeless elevator</li></ul>

This is a new concept for skyscrapers, which moves both horizontally and vertically at a speed of 8-9 km per hour.

<ul><li aria-level="1">Attending the first Emirati Opera</li></ul>

The opera will feature performances by over 100 musicians and artists in English, Arabic and Russian languages. The lead composer is Mohammad Fairouz. Furthermore, multiple Dubai landmarks and attractions will open during and after the event:

<ul><li aria-level="1">Aladdin City</li><li aria-level="1"><a href="https://metropolitan.realestate/al-habtoor-city/">Al Habtoor City</a></li><li aria-level="1">Jewel of the Creek</li><li aria-level="1">Deira Islands</li><li aria-level="1">Ain Dubai</li><li aria-level="1">Museum of the Future</li><li aria-level="1">Zombie Park</li><li aria-level="1">Madame Tussauds</li></ul>

Conclusion

<ol><li aria-level="1">Expo 2020 is a completely safe event as organizers will pay special attention to the Covid-19 guidelines.</li><li aria-level="1">The exhibition will give a huge boost to Dubai’s economy with the expected revenue boost of AED 122.7B, USD 33.4B.</li><li aria-level="1">Sustainability and technology will become key factors in the future development of the emirate’s economy.</li><li aria-level="1">District 2020 is a mixed-use urban community which aims to become a smart and sustainable city.</li><li aria-level="1">During and after Expo 2020 there will be even more attractions open in Dubai, including Ain Dubai, Aladdin City and Zombie Park just to name a few.</li></ol>