Dubai plans to submit the masterplan for World Expo 2020 to the Paris-based organising body by the third quarter (Q3) of 2015, following which construction for the global event will kick off in full swing.

Dubai aims to reach important milestones in the projects work a “full year before the intended date”, a top official of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), which is responsible for the development at the Expo site, was quoted as saying in a report in the Gulf News.

“Third quarter of 2015 is the latest date for registering the masterplan with the Bureau International des Expositions,” said Chris Scott, director of investment and development management at DWTC.

“All of the finer details regarding the masterplan need to be finalised well before that to give us as much time as possible to test it out.”

The Dubai Expo 2020 will be held over a six-month period starting in October.

“Construction will start after the masterplan submission and validation, but the work on the Metro link may come about sooner,” Scott said.

Of the 438 hectares, 138 hectares will be used up for Expo-related infrastructure and allied needs, the report said.