Expo City Dubai

Rather than clear the site after the world expo closed in 2022, Dubai kept a large part of it as a district: the Al Wasl Plaza with its steel trellis dome used as a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree projection screen, the Sustainability Pavilion now called Terra, the Mobility Pavilion, the Women's Pavilion, and a set of country buildings reused as offices, restaurants and event spaces. Wide shaded walkways connect them, and the district hosts festivals through the cooler months.

Background

The district began as the main site of Expo 2020, a World Expo held between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022. It had been scheduled to run 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 but was put back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping its original name. Dubai was chosen as host on 27 November 2013. The 438-hectare grounds lie between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, close to the southern edge of Dubai. The American firm HOK drew a master plan around Al Wasl Plaza, ringed by three districts for the themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, and Orascom and BESIX built the infrastructure. Over six months the expo logged more than 24 million visits.

Source: Wikipedia, "Expo 2020"

Highlights

• Al Wasl Plaza - the domed steel trellis used as a full projection surface at night.
• Terra - the former Sustainability Pavilion, with its solar canopy and exhibits.
• The reused country pavilions - expo buildings kept for offices, events and dining.
• The shaded walkways - the wide covered routes designed for the expo crowds.

When to go

November to April for the outdoor walking and the event programme. Evenings are best for the Al Wasl projections. Summer visits mean moving between air-conditioned buildings.

What to expect

Much of the original expo is gone and many pavilions are now closed or converted to offices. The site is very large and walking it in heat is punishing. Some attractions require separate tickets.

Nearby

Al Qudra Lakes are east, and Dubai Marina is northeast.