MEED and Siemens are collaborating to look at how the UAE and Dubai plan to maximise the regional impact and benefit of Expo 2020 Dubai.

What will the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai be? In winning the Expo 2020, Dubai has put the region firmly in the global spotlight, extending an open invitation to government and business from all around the world to meet at this global gathering to discuss the future of trade, business and society. The region will have the chance to showcase its enormous potential beyond oil. So where are we in the run-up to the event and what happens next?

The past two decades have been characterised by investment in infrastructure such as airports, highways, ports and real estate, including the world’s tallest buildings and free zones. This investment has driven non-oil growth, funded by high oil prices.

What does the next decade hold? There will still be a requirement for investment in infrastructure. However, without soaring oil prices the financials are different. Priorities have changed to focus on new technologies and disruptors – big data, AI, and the training and development of the next generation and creation of high-value jobs for locals.

There is also a move from physical infrastructure to optimising the diversification of the region.

How will technology empower these urban megaprojects to be sustainable? We will discuss these changing shapes, explore the initiatives underway to get there, debate the barriers and roadblocks, and share ideas on where the investments will be to get us there.

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