Expo 2020 Dubai has revealed its master plan in the form of a dedicated experiential zone displayed at the 15th edition of the Arab Media Forum.
Visitors were among the first to take a glimpse at how the Expo 2020 Dubai site will look and feel upon completion, through augmented reality and leading-edge digital technology.
This experience will bring to life the recently-announced winning designs of the Expo Theme Pavilions, dedicated to Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
Held under the theme ‘Media for Good’, the Arab Media Forum is taking place on the 10th and 11th of May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The annual gathering is the largest event of its kind in the region, and hosts prominent and respected media industry leaders, journalists and intellectuals from the Middle East and beyond.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General of Bureau Expo Dubai 2020, said: “We at Expo 2020 Dubai strive to deliver a comprehensive and inclusive experience, which began the moment the bid was won and will continue long after the Expo closes in 2021, living through its legacy. We seek to contribute in making a better future through a platform that enables the collaboration of people and ideas in novel ways leaving a lasting legacy.”
The Expo 2020 Dubai’s master plan reflects the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, and aims to seamlessly integrate the three subthemes into the urban design, infrastructure, delivery, operations, and legacy of the mega-event.
The master plan aims to enable all involved with the event to benefit from an inclusive experience with specific attractions, services, amenities, and design considerations that maximise enjoyment and comfort for all.
The Expo site will spread across a two-square kilometre, revolving around the Al Wasl meeting plaza – the figurative and literal heart of Expo 2020 Dubai. Spreading outwards from Al Wasl will be three Theme Districts, each boasting its respective Theme Pavilion. The three Theme Pavilions will showcase the latest ideas, innovations and developments, and provide millions of visitors with an immersive and memorable experience that will inspire them with future possibilities.
Eng. Ahmed Al Khatib, Vice President, Real Estate at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “The Expo 2020 Dubai site has been designed to deliver a memorable experience for all visitors, that will embark on a journey of discovery and leave them inspired to contribute to the common vision of our shared future.
“Work on the site is progressing well as per our schedule and today attendees at the Arab Media Forum will be the first to get a sense of our plans through the use of virtual reality.”
Expo 2020 Dubai recently announced that its three Theme Pavilions would be designed by leading global architecture firms. The Opportunity Pavilion is being designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), the Mobility Pavilion by Foster+Partners and the Sustainability Pavilion by Grimshaw Architects. The winning design for the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai was also revealed recently by the National Media Council. The design by Santiago Calatrava was selected from eleven concepts proposed by nine of the world’s most renowned architectural firms following a competition managed by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.
Expo 2020 Dubai has been engaging with the local business community through the BusinessConnect series which recently completed its 9th editions, and with the younger population through YouthConnect, a flagship initiative that seeks to inspire youth, aged 16 to 25, to take part in shaping the future. Expo 2020 Dubai has rolled out a wider programme of youth engagement include a technology workshop in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi and active participation at this year’s Think Science.
Last month Expo 2020 Dubai launched its own Apprenticeship Programme, which seeks to provide young jobseekers with the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts leading the delivery of the landmark event.
The programme, which will start in August 2016, is nine-months long and includes career development and training, a two-month long academic module, and a job placement for a period of six months with Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as one month for review phases and graduation.