Dubai awards 72 contracts for Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai, the committee tasked with overseeing the organisation of the six-month long mega event, announced that it has awarded 72 contracts through its online portal.

Some of the winners of the contracts were United Arab Emirates-based online recruiter Bayt.com, global expertise design company Thinkwell Group and open innovation experts Nine Sigma.

The announcement came shortly after the committee secured the final nod from Paris-based International Bureau of Exhibitions last month and is a sign that the emirate is stepping up its work on the mega event.

Bayt.com won a tender for the provision and implementation of an online recruitment solution, it was announced. Meanwhile Thinkwell Group, a global design and production company whose clients include Disney, Smithsonian Institution, Samsung, Google and Virgin among others will be working with officials to create a compelling visitor experience.

NineSigma, a global innovation services firm, will be collaborating on the design and delivery of the Expo Live Challenges, an on-going innovation and partnership programme that will stimulate developments in the expo sub themes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Other contracts handed out by the Expo 2020 committee were awarded to Matrix Laboratories for the provision of geotechnical works in Dubai South, Parsons for infrastructure design services and Aecom for urban planning and the design of the public realm at the event’s site.

“Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. We are already doing this by bringing together thought-leading companies from the UAE and globally, to prepare, build and operate an exceptional event that will be attended by millions who are inspired by what they see, and thrilled by the best possible visitor experience; leaving a positive legacy that benefits the whole nation,” said vice president for Engagement at Expo Manal AlBayat.

She added that the committee will be handing out more contracts in 2016 as work progresses in preparation for Expo 2020.

“As we move into 2016, the scale and pace of the project will increase. We are committed to transparent procurement and a totally even playing field. Tenders are published online via our eSourcing portal. We want to select the best suppliers to work with – of any scale. Individuals and firms of all sizes, local or international, can register and bid for opportunities.”

The six-month long expo is predicted to bring in 25 million visitors over the period. The event is also expected to have economic benefits. According to a recent report by investment firm Arqaam Capital, Expo 2020 will add $23.4bn to the UAE’s gross domestic product, boosting it by 5 per cent.

“Dubai Expo 2020 will be bigger and better than the recently concluded Milan Expo 2015, with a more pronounced effect on GDP,” said Arqaam Capital’s managing director Jaap Meijer.

“While Expo 2020 is expected to cost $9.4bn to stage, almost double the investment of Milan Expo 2015, we see it as an overall positive stimulus to the economy. We expect an increase of government revenues in the UAE of $2.9bn (0.6 per cent of GDP), given the larger scale of Expo 2020 compared to Milan 2015.”

Expo 2020 is scheduled to be hosted by Dubai in an area spanning 438,000 square metres in Jebel Ali.