
Construction of one of the main Dubai's infrastructure projects, the "city within a city" on the site of the future World Expo 2020 and its main pavilions is on track according to the schedule. This was recently reported by representatives of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, an organization specially created for this purpose in Dubai.
In particular, they’ve reported about the four main phases of construction, four sections or infrastructure "packages", as they called them in the Bureau. The initial work phase, which includes excavation works for the three thematic districts, will be completed before the end of this year, and for the rest needed for the Expo 2020 constructors will have four more years.
Construction of thematic districts will begin in 2017, and the peak of the basic site infrastructure creation, including construction of a media center, VIP-zones and other operational areas for Expo, will be reached by 2018. After that, participating nations will begin constructing their own pavilions. The implementation of the four infrastructure "packages" for Expo 2020 in Dubai will cost AED 1,3 billion (USD 354 million).
As of the moment, September 2016, 188 tenders for works within Expo 2020 site have been already launched, more than 8,000 suppliers have been registered, and orders worth USD 550 million in total have been raised. Thematic districts at Expo 2020 will be built up with G+2 pavilions, a total floor area of which will amount to more than 200,000 square meters, with underground parking having another 147,000 square meters.
As for the residential Expo Village sector, where the event participants will live, it is scheduled for completion in April 2018.
After the exhibition wraps up in 2021, demo pavilions will be partially disassembled and partially turned into museum, but the biggest building footprint — 80 per cent of the infrastructure facilities created for the needs of Expo 2020 will be repurposed for future use to serve the city.