Expo City Dubai, the destination that hosted the 2020 World Expo and COP28, has unveiled its brand new strategy, offering opportunities for businesses, investors and residents from around the world.
In a statement on 8 October it said the plans offer investors "significant opportunities in key growth sectors such as trade and logistics, technology and innovation, and events, as well as the chance to lease office space and own residential property in the up-and-coming Dubai South area that links Dubai and Abu Dhabi".
Expo City said it is welcoming businesses of all sizes, providing an enabling and empowering business hub for multinational businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs, SMEs, startups, government and educational institutions.
Spanning 3.5 square kilometres, the bold blueprint includes new global headquarters for DP World – an enabler of international trade and one of the UAE’s flagship organisations – and is next to the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC).
DEC recently announced a AED 10bn (£2bn) expansion plan that will see it become "the largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions venue in the region".
Over 6,000 UK businesses operate in the UAE, with total trade in goods and services between the equalling £25.2bn in the four quarters ending Q1 2024, making the UAE the UK’s 18th largest trading partner.
UK citizens are the second largest group of real estate investors in the Dubai residential property market, according to Betterhomes, playing a pivotal role in shaping the city's real estate market. Buyers from the UK, along with India and Germany, are also most interested in existing Expo City Dubai residential real estate, the statement continued.
Adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport – set to be the largest in the world when fully operational – and part of the logistics corridor that connects to Jebel Ali Port, Expo City is the new centre of Dubai’s future, cementing the city’s position as a hub for international trade and gateway to the world. Several global businesses and industry leaders have already established operations at Expo City’s world-class free zone, including DP World, Emirates Group, Siemens Energy, and Terminus.
Across five districts designed as an efficient grid system, the city will feature residences, offices, green spaces and event venues, as well as amenities including healthcare, a school, sports and wellness facilities, retail, and F&B. Plots will be available for investors and developers, as well as office spaces to lease, with Expo City set to become home to around 35,000 residents and 40,000 professionals.
Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer, Expo City Dubai said: “The new plans signal a defining milestone for Expo City Dubai. We are witnessing our city take its place as the new, vibrant centre of Dubai, a destination that welcomes all those who believe in our mission to create a better future for people and planet. The plan establishes
"Expo City Dubai as an epicentre for pioneers, entrepreneurs and investors, a magnet for innovators, educators and students, and a vibrant, nurturing community for residents and visitors. A new global centre, it leverages our strengths as a proven global convener, committed to collaborating to maximise our social, environmental and economic impact to contribute to shared growth and prosperity.”
The city will set new benchmarks in sustainable urban excellence. Key performance indicators relating to areas such as biodiversity, economic growth, energy use and wellness demonstrate the balance between human needs, environmental stewardship and societal advancement, while maintaining the city’s 2050 net zero targets.
The plan was unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai and plays a critical role in achieving the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy by 2033. Expo City Dubai is also one of five hubs on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which maps out sustainable urban development in Dubai, focusing on developing vibrant, healthy, and inclusive communities and doubling green space and leisure areas.
Caroline Bos, co-founder / principal urban planner UNStudio said : “With the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai as a powerful starting point, our mission was not only to imagine, but to pragmatically deliver an innovative model city that would influence the sustainable development of cities around the world.
"The new master plan for Expo City Dubai transcends traditional urban paradigms and is a clear example of a city in harmony with its users. We are proud to have been part of such an influential, impactful project which will play an integral role in the continued growth and development of Dubai.”
