Expo 2020 Dubai leaves a legacy for business events
Having memorably hosted Expo 2020 Dubai , the site has now reopened as Expo City Dubai , providing meeting planners with a wide range of venues , offerings and entertainment for their events and itineraries
From the bidding phase , through planning and on to the hosting of the event itself , albeit in 2021 / 22 due to Covid , one of the key refrains from Expo 2020 Dubai organisers and the city ’ s leadership was the importance of legacy .
Now , just over half a year on from the conclusion of the landmark six-month event itself , that legacy has come to life through the opening of Expo City Dubai – and for meeting planners it ’ s added an entire new dimension to the possibilities and opportunities available to them in Dubai .
The district , which opened to the public on 1 October , aims to be a destination for business and innovation and features a number of Expo 2020 Dubai ’ s fl agship pavilions and technology offerings , which attracted over 24 million visits during the event .
Part of the wider Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan , the district is home to the world-class Dubai Exhibition Centre ( DEC ), which continues to host a range of conferences , events and activations . With 45,000 sqm of fl exible space including 14 exhibition and multi-use halls , DEC boasts best-in-class audiovisual resources and was in demand during Expo 2020 itself with a packed calendar of exhibitions , congresses and conferences , including the third edition of the Dubai Association Conference in February 2022 .
With easy accessibility , including an adjoining Dubai Metro station , DEC is already proving to be a popular venue , especially being in close proximity to many of the iconic pavilions and attractions that have also reopened within the district .
Indeed , venue options at Expo City Dubai extend to well beyond those in DEC alone . Around some of the key thematic pavilions that have now reopened are some appealing spaces that can host a wide range of events and activations . At Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion , for example , planners can use an auditorium or multiple outdoor and rooftop spaces . Meanwhile , Alif – The Mobility Pavilion also has indoor and outdoor options .
Other attractions and offerings around Expo City are also ensuring that the district is about more than just meeting spaces . Among them are :
• Al Wasl Plaza – Named after the Arabic word for “ connection ”, this unique architectural achievement was known as the beating heart of Expo 2020 Dubai . Its massive steel trellis dome , measuring 67.5 metres high houses the largest 360-degree projection surface in the world .
• Garden in the Sky - Dubbed ‘ the fl ying park ’, Garden in the Sky is a rotating observation tower that lifts visitors 55 metres above ground for
28 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 121