Infrastructure works for Dubai Expo 2020 site to begin soon

29-6-2016/ Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau Reem Al Hashemi confirmed that infrastructure works on the Expo site are set to begin shortly. Expo 2020 aims to complete major construction on the site around a year ahead of the Expo’s Opening Ceremony, on 20th October 2020.

Al Hashemi was speaking at a ‘Meet the CEO’ event organised by the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) . ‘Meet the CEO’ is a regular series of press events organised by GDMO for leaders of prominent Dubai organisations.

The Director General of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau explained that while the site will be completed a year ahead of the inauguration, many participating countries will build their own, which will be finished at least four months ahead of the opening.

Al Hashemi told the media attending the ‘Meet the CEO’ event that with 1,575 days until the event — which will be the most visited mega event of 2020, hosting some 25 million visitors — the Expo project is progressing on schedule.

The Expo 2020 site will be part of a new city with its own unique infrastructure, facilities and services, the Minister said. Al Hashemi expects the private sector to play a major role in the Expo 2020 project. In the last two months, Expo 2020 Dubai has signed up three Premier Partners, Emirates Airline, etisalat and DP World in a series of deals worth hundreds of millions of US dollars. She said that the media is also a key partner in the UAE’s development and in the development of the Expo project.

Al Hashemi talked briefly about the standards being put in place for Expo 2020. She said that the project will have specific standards in areas like sustainability and environmental protection, including a public commitment to using 50% renewable energy on the Expo site over the period of operation.