An Expo 2020 Dubai chief is already gearing up to welcome the public back to the world's fair site - after a spectacular closing ceremony capped off an unforgettable six months
Ahmed Al Khatib, chief development and delivery officer for Expo 2020 Dubai, tells The National how the sprawling area will be transformed into a futuristic city where people can live, work and play.
What was Expo will soon welcome crowds again as District 2020 – providing a fitting legacy to the success of the global spectacle.
The most striking structures will remain in the Dubai South neighbourhood as will the two large parks, walking, cycle paths and restaurants in the city’s newest residential and business district.
Mr Al Khatib, Expo 2020 Dubai’s chief delivery officer, said the plan was to open up gradually.
“It will be in different phases, between now and October it should all open,” he told The National.
“Yes, the public can come in, so they can still can enjoy Terra, Mobility and other spaces.
“Our reopening will be done in phases because we want to open gradually.
“We need time to do the necessary transitioning to ensure the place is ready to integrate with the bigger city.”
Built to last from Day 1
Country pavilions will be dismantled and returned home as part of sustainability regulations that govern all world fairs.
“The physical site and of course the infrastructure will remain,” Mr Al Khatib said.
“The sustainability, mobility and opportunity pavilions are staying. Definitely the UAE pavilion, Al Wasl, the landscaping, the two parks, the exhibition centre, the water feature, the garden in the sky [observation tower] – all those were built to stay, since Day 1.”
These were references to the main pavilions that anchored the Expo – Terra, the disc-shaped sustainability pavilion; Alif, the mobility pavilion shaped like a fidget spinner; and the opportunity pavilion.
Other structures that will stay are Vision, the women’s pavilion, the UAE pavilion and a few other country pavilions.
Expo has previously said Terra would evolve into a children's and science centre that will be an educational attraction focused on green goals.
“What will be removed is just the security gates, signage, country pavilions,” Mr Al Khatib said.
“But the physical site, a lot, everything almost, will remain of what was built for Expo.”
Minutes away
The new neighbourhood will be the region’s first 15-minute city, with amenities in close proximity.
“So there is no reason for you to leave this city because you will have all your needs within 15 minutes from where you are,” Mr Al Khatib said.
“In terms of distance of your residence, work, park, gym, shopping, groceries, you are always within 15 minutes – also for your entertainment.
“It’s human-centric, the main factor was always the human experience for walkability, resting, shaded areas and the landscaping.”
The new district was planned from the outset to cater for residents.
This intention to build lasting structures was part of the bid document submitted in 2013 with the metro linked with a dedicated station.
Expo organisers studied earlier world fairs and visited the cities that hosted the events.
“We did look at the legacies of Shanghai, Milan and previous ones," Mr Al Khatib said.
“However, when it comes to Expo 2020 Dubai the approach is totally different.
“When we built Expo, the whole investment and vision was to build a future city and a legacy. That future city happened to host Expo.”
Must-visit destination
Art will hold a special space in the community with 11 art installations commissioned for the Expo that will stay.
“These are placed carefully in specific locations across the site so, during legacy, it will become not only a real estate destination, it will also be an art destination,” he said.
The public art programme includes Garden, an arresting marble inlay work with trees, streams and mountains and a recreation of life-size 11th-century implements to determine location that children and adults stop to examine.
Mr Al Khatib described the new space as a “must-visit” destination for all who loved the Expo.
“What will bring families here? Food, exploring, parks, entertainment, museums, everything is going to stay as you could see it during the Expo,” he said.
Mr Al Khatib said the enjoyment of visitors at the world fair was a treasured takeaway from his time spent working with the Expo for the past nine years.
“It has been amazing to see the reaction of the public, countries and participants from different groups coming to the Expo,” he said.
“In the morning you would see school kids interacting and playing. It’s priceless for all the hard work of the past years.”
He looked ahead to the future with mixed feelings.
“I don’t know should I be happy, should I be sad,” Mr Al Khatib said.
“I cannot imagine how I will feel on April 1.
“I’m sure it will be a time to reflect and relax and look forward to the next challenge.”
Ten Expo attractions that will stay as part of District 2020
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Jetour T1 specs
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RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
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5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
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RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
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Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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John Isner (x8)
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Roger Federer (x2)
Kevin Anderson (x4)
Dominic Thiem (x6)
Kei Nishikori (x7)
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
