Expo 2020 Dubai celebrated its two-years-to-go mark with event in Downtown Dubai
Dubai marked two years to go milestone with a choreographed show and three-minute projection on the Burj Khalifa, part of a larger public event attended by thousands at Burj Park in Downtown Dubai.
Approximately 40,000 workers are expected to be on-site at the peak of construction activity for Expo 2020 Dubai as it crosses the two-years-to-go mark, according to officials.
On Saturday, Dubai marked the milestone with a choreographed show and three-minute projection on the Burj Khalifa, part of a larger public event attended by thousands at Burj Park in Downtown Dubai.
The human spirit knows no limits; only the need to push forward and achieve the unachievable. We’re so close – only 2 Years To Go! #Expo2020 #Dubaipic.twitter.com/WyJBFzrLZ0— Expo 2020 Dubai (@expo2020dubai) October 19, 2018
The event included five hours of live music performances, illuminations and dances from around the world, as well as artistic exhibitions and global cuisines.
According to Expo officials, construction on the three thematic districts that make up the site is “well advanced”, with the foundations and structural works already completed, with approximately 243,000 cubic metres of concrete poured.
Currently, precast production and installation is taking place, alongside face, mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) and public realm works.
So far, more than 44 million work hours have been completed and there are currently about 26,000 workers at the Expo site. This figure is expected to rise to 40,000 workers – both manual and non-manual – are expected on site in H1 2019, including employees of third party stake-holders and participating countries.
Premier partners
Over 170 countries have confirmed that they will be taking part in the event, including Australia, Germany, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the United States.
Additionally, Expo has so far named 11 premier partners for the event, including DP World, Emirates airline, Emirates NBD, Mastercard, Nissan, PepsiCo, SAP and Siemens. Additionally, there are so far four official partners – DEWA, Emaar Hospitality Group, ENOC and UPS – and one official provider, cyber security firm DarkMatter.
The event is also expected to have significant – and increasing – economic impact in the build-up to and during the event. To date, over 25,000 suppliers from 149 countries are registered to do business with Expo 2020, more than half of which are SMEs.
The event’s innovation and partnership programme, Expo Live, has also allocated $100 million to back projects that offer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian, social and environmental challenges. To date, 70 grantees from 42 countries have secured funding, guidance and exposure.
Expo also have a “university innovation programme” designed to support university students in the UAE. In the programme’s first cycle, which was launched in September 2018, 19 student teams received AED 50,000. The programme’s second cycle opened in August.
0 comments