![]() Finally, as much as AED62.2bn in GVA is anticipated in the decade after the Expo ends, as the legacy infrastructure starts to pay its way. While the Expo is being held, a further AED22.7bn in GVA is predicted, coming predominantly from spending on hotels and hospitality and business services. The pre-Expo period is expected to deliver some AED37.7bn of gross value add (GVA) to the economy, mostly from construction activity. ![]() The event will, it is hoped, provide a AED122.6bn ($33.4bn) boost to the local economy and support the equivalent of 49,700 full-time jobs a year, according to a recently published economic impact assessment by consultancy firm EY, commissioned by the Dubai authorities.ĮY divided the impact into three blocks: a seven-year build-up to the Expo, the six months when the Expo is being held, and a ten-year legacy period. (Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images) Gettyįor Dubai, hosting the Expo is about trying to bolster its reputation as an international business hub, but there are some large financial opportunities on offer too. The plans for at least one of the thematic pavilions has also been significantly scaled back.īillboards advertising Expo 2020 on display outside the official site in Jebel Ali on September 16. There has already been some controversy over some of the pavilions, including criticism of the nautically-themed design of the Italian one and the €4m cost of the Irish one. Even Iran has indicated its interest in having a pavilion at the event. Local rival Qatar, which is locked in a bitter diplomatic standoff with the UAE and a few other countries in the region, is also expected to take part. Israel has said it plans to take part – another sign of the growing appetite for links between the UAE and Israel, which may not have any formal diplomatic ties but which these days are drawing closer together over their mutual distrust of Iran (Israel already has a permanent presence in the UAE via its delegation to the Abu Dhabi-headquartered International Renewable Energy Agency). A few countries have announced their plans, such as an illuminated maze in the UK pavilion and an exploration of the role of frankincense in the Oman pavilion, but these are exceptions to the rule.īeing the Middle East, there are some political and diplomatic stories behind the exhibitors too. ![]() However, it is not clear what will be inside many of the pavilions. There will also be a programme of live events every day and 200+ food outlets. The Expo site on the southern edge of the city will host an architect's playground of 192 national pavilions for countries from Algeria to Yemen (along with a few other thematic ones), designed by star architects such as Foster + Partners, Grimshaw Architects and Santiago Calatrava. Other than an expensive marketing campaign, what might draw all these people in remains an open question. The planned Mobility Pavilion at Expo2020 in Dubai, UAE (Image courtesy of Expo 2020) Expo 2020 The organisers say most visits will be by people living outside the country – they're expecting 11 million visits by people living in the UAE and 14 million from overseas visitors (most of the latter group will be tourists taking a holiday in Dubai and fitting in a visit to the Expo while they’re there). That’s around 145,000 visits for every one of the 173 days the site is open. Such high-profile efforts are vital if Dubai is to hit its target of attracting 25 million visits to the Expo over the six months it's on, from October 2020 to April 2021. A collection of theme parks run by Dubai Parks & Resorts has had a tougher time since launching in 2016.ĭubai is leaving little to chance when it comes to drawing people to its Expo, with the event's livery painted on the outside of 40 Emirates aircraft flying around the world and footballing superstar Lionel Messi featuring in an international advertising campaign. Its trade and transport infrastructure has proved extremely popular and it has established itself as the pre-eminent financial centre in the region. ![]() The Gulf city state has a pretty good record when it comes to the “build it and they will come” philosophy. So will Dubai’s Expo follow in the footsteps of Shanghai’s success or Milan’s mediocrity?
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