Expo 2020, the first World Expo held in the Middle East, unveiled a sneak peek of the new Dubai Exhibition Center, which will be the meeting hub for the event. With an estimated 25 million visitors from 190 countries, this event will shine a light on the exponential growth of Dubai’s hospitality industry. In 2017, the city saw a 6.2 percent increase in their number of visitors and is predicted to keep rising. Along with the unveiling of the Dubai Exhibition Center, Expo 2020 has its eyes set on creating a sustainable city for the future.
Expo 2020 will be led by Shaun Vorster, vice president of strategy and business integration. He joined the Expo in 2015, where he created Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Program, which offers funding to those seeking to innovate to tackle global social and environmental issues.
More: A Growing, Hospitable Giant—Dubai
Spread across two campuses, the venue, comprised of 45,000 sq. m. (484,376 sq. ft.) of event space, will house a theater, auditorium, multi-purpose halls, four suites and 24 meeting rooms.
Approximately 80 percent of the infrastructure built for the Expo will be repurposed as part of District 2020—Dubai’s plan to transform itself into a ‘smart city.’ Through technology and innovation, Expo’s goal is to drive trends on a global scale and make the city a pleasant place for meeting planners.
“There will be no place on the planet offering more exceptional business networking opportunities than Expo 2020 Dubai, and the DEC will be right at its heart,” Vorster said.
