Marking the close of the six-month Expo 2020 Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the end of the World Expo offers the opportunity of “a new beginning” for the UAE and the world.
District 2020
The Expo 2020 Dubai site is set to be redeveloped following the event to become a mixed-use, integrated ecosystem known as District 2020. The community will include a range of features and offerings, including commercial, educational, cultural, and residential infrastructure.
Smart City – accessible within 15 minutes
District 2020 will be the UAE’s first 15-minute city. Everything they need — from offices, parks, groceries, retail shops, restaurants, and coffee shops — will be accessible within 15 minutes by cycling, walking, or riding e-scooters.
Children and Science Centre
District 2020 will eventually span more than 2,000,000 square meters, with as much as 80 percent of the Expo site itself being repurposed. Several iconic structures will be transformed into full-time facilities, including the giant Al Wasl Plaza dome, and the Sustainability Pavilion, which will become a Children and Science Centre.
The new Dubai Exhibition Centre will also remain, as well as much of the transportation infrastructure, making District 2020 one of the most accessible communities in Dubai.
Blockchain Campus
The Shanghai-based firm will be constructing a blockchain campus in District 2020, in line with the master strategy of hosting and developing blockchain companies.
Startups and small businesses
The first cohort of 85 startups and small businesses will set up shop at District 2020 by the end of this year.
Nadimeh Mehra, vice-president of District 2020, said last week that the selected startups can operate from District 2020 rent-free for two years.
Residential Units
About 800 residential units, available only for rent, will be handed over starting next year, along with about 2,300 apartments at the nearby Expo village, according to Sanjive Khosla, senior vice-president at District 2020.
Iconic Landmarks
Residents and employees will enjoy some of the iconic landmarks of Expo 2020, which live on after the mega event, including the gravity-defying Water Feature, observation deck Garden in the Sky, and the iconic Al Wasl Plaza.
Legacy Pavilions
Tenants and visitors will also get the chance to indulge in some country pavilions that stay as major cultural attractions, including the UAE, Saudi, and Indian ones. Dismantling of all non-legacy structures at the Expo site will be done in 3-6 months