Budget for the Expo 2020 Dubai Site to Exceed USD 8 Billion

Other News   Subscribe to newsletter

9 Nov 2016

What can we expect from the Expo 2020 pavilions? How will Dubai’s Expo benefit the construction industry and transform the region? And what is the idea behind the theme “Connecting mind, creating the future”? These and many more questions on the water cooler world of Expo 2020 Dubai will be answered by Najeeb Al-Ali, Executive Director of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, on 22 November at The Big 5 2016, the Middle East’s largest construction event.

The budget for the Expo 2020 site is estimated between USD 8.1 and 8.7 billion, according to the latest BNC report commissioned by The Big 5, well above the initially forecasted USD 7 billion. 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.

Opportunity Pavilion Expo 2020

The Al Maktoum International Airport will be expanded in order to handle up to 200 million passengers by 2020, thanks to an investment of approximately USD 32 billion: “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 25 million visitors, the Expo 2020 Dubai is currently under development on a 438 hectare 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-square-kilometer urban area that will be built in stages.

According to BNC’s report for The Big 5, USD 30 million are being allocated to develop the Expo Village at the Dubai Exhibition City in DS. 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 Pavilion will cost approximately USD 30 million. The 15,000 square meters 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 Pavilion in DS will be built to embrace sustainable building principles.

Indeed, sustainability is a design imperative for Expo 2020, which is expected to be one of the most sustainable Expos in history. Buildings on the Expo site will use 25 per cent less water than the regulatory requirement, and all water used for irrigation and cooling will be recycled. Half of the electricity used by Expo during the event will come from wholly renewable sources, and organisers also plan to reuse or repurpose 90% of the material used for permanent constructions.

“The theme of Sustainability is finally gaining momentum in the construction industry in the Middle East. This is why this year The Big 5 will host a dedicated workshop agenda themed ‘Sustainability is the Future’”, Ms. Heijmans said. From 21 to 24 November at the Dubai World Trade Center, industry experts will present 12 dedicated free to attend and CPD-certified workshops exploring green buildings and sustainable construction’s best practices.

On the first day of The Big 5 2016, Dr Ioannis Spanos, Senior Sustainability Manager KEO International Consultants, will discuss “Zero Carbon Buildings: management of Design and Construction”, while on 22 November visitors will be able to explore a presentation titled “Leapfrogging the Residential new Construction Industry in the GCC to a Sustainable Future,” delivered by Dennis Steigerwalt, Managing Director International at IBACOS and Anas Ahmed Almathami, Marketing Specialist Home Innovation at SABIC.



According to event organiser, dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, visitors will be able to source thousands of innovative construction products at The Big 5 2016, including never seen before solutions for a sustainable built environment. Moreover, for the first time ever, shortlisted products for the Gaia Awards, the industry’s most respected awards honouring construction products that help moving towards a greener environment, will be also voted for by the public. “Industry professionals will be able to cast their vote on a dedicated page on The Big 5 2016 website and through voting stations at the Gaia Awards stand during the first and second day of the event,” Ms. Heijmans announced.

Running from 21 to 24 November at the DWTC, The Big 5 2016, 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 2:00 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 www.thebig5.ae/Summitreg. To know more about The Big 5 2016 visit www.thebig5.ae. FREE online registration at www.thebig5.ae/Register closes on 20 November at midnight; after this date an entrance fee of AED 150 is applicable.