Dubai’s impending construction boom in the run-up to the Expo 2020 is less speculative than the emirate’s previous construction boom, MEED’s Destination Dubai 2020 conference was told on 29 January.

Speaking on a construction panel at the event, Morne Fourie, director of design and development at local developer Meraas, said the real estate industry had changed since the previous boom in 2005-09, which crashed as a result of the global economic crisis.

“Masterplans and announcements are completely different from the past,” said Fourie. “These projects are non-speculative, business-driven real estate; completely different from before.”

Simon Moon, CEO of the UK’s Atkins Middle East office, said one of the key challenges confronting companies in the current construction market is hiring labour.

“The thing I lose sleep over most is where I am going to get the talent to build these schemes,” said Moon.

Moon added that increases in the cost of living for employees and supply of materials are also difficulties that may need to be overcome in the run-up to building the infrastructure required to host the Expo.