Dubai has revealed its innovative Expo 2020 masterplan in the form of a dedicated experiential zone displayed at the two-day Arab Media Forum which opened today (May 10)  at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Visitors to the 15th edition of the forum 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.

With this masterplan, Expo 2020 Dubai has reaffirmed its plans for a long-lasting legacy of innovation and wonderment that benefits the UAE and the wider region.

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 forum has become the largest event of its kind in the region, hosting prominent media industry leaders, journalists and intellectuals from the Middle East and beyond.

Speaking at the launch, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation and 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," she noted.

According to her, the Expo 2020 Dubai’s masterplan truly 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 masterplan 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 2 sq km, 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.  

Ahmed Al Khatib, vice-president (real estate) at Expo 2020 Dubai, said the venue 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 the country's 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,” stated Al Khatib.

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 11 concepts proposed by nine of the world’s most renowned architectural firms following a competition managed by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.

The falcon inspired concept of the UAE Pavilion captures the values and principles that the nation was founded on and which also reflect the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai, namely inclusion, connection and tolerance.

Expo 2020 Dubai has been engaging with the local business community through the BusinessConnect series which recently completed its ninth 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.

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.-TradeArabia News Service