Expo 2020 contracts and orders reach $530m

The total value of all contracts and purchase orders to date for Expo 2020 Dubai is approximately AED1.95bn ($530m), according to a recent update released on 25 September.

The update also said that 4.7 million cubic metres of earth has been recycled and moved in preparation for the construction phase of the 4.38-square-kilometre site.

The first infrastructure package, which is one of four packages totalling AED1.3bn, is due to start soon, with completion expected by April 2018. The consultant on this package is US-based Parsons.

The second infrastructure package, which is for the gated area of the site, is set to be tendered soon. The final infrastructure package will include the surface road network.

All infrastructure work will be completed by October 2019. Read more.

Expo construction wait is nearly over

Contractors have been waiting for three years for building work to start on the Dubai Expo 2020 site, by the end of this year the wait will be over as fast-track construction contracts are awarded for some of the main components of the site.

So far this year the most high-profile appointments have involved architects. The UK’s Foster+Partners and Grimshaw Architects, and Denmark’s Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) were selected to design three of the Expo 2020 pavilions, and the UAE’s National Media Council (NMC) selected Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s falcon-inspired design for the UAE pavilion.

There has other progress both on and off the site. According to the Dubai Expo delivery team, the value of all contracts and purchase orders placed so far totals AED1.95bn ($530m). The primary focus on site has been levelling with 4.7 million cubic metres of earth moved in preparation for four infrastructure packages totaling AED1.3bn, the first of which is due to start soon. Read more.