(Dubai) – Officials in the Emirate of Dubai are going through every detail imaginable to pave the way for the smoothest possible hosting of the international event the World Expo 2020 in six years’ time with the influx of 25 million visitors, and what measures they are taking to ensure that the city is an efficient and sustainable one, according to an official at the Planning Research Section, Planning Department at Dubai Municipality.
Najeeb Mohammad Saleh, Head of Planning Research Section, said, “When we started to prepare the plan, we first took into consideration how the city is going to grow and what its growth rate would be. We looked at three different scenarios – low, medium and rapid. We have adopted the medium-growth scenario, and expect the population by 2020 to be about 2.8 million.” In 2010, the Dubai Executive Council appointed a steering committee made up of Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Civil Aviation, Lands Department, and Dubai Maritime City. These six government entities have since been responsible for planning, implementing and supervising the master plan for Dubai 2020.
Some of the projects already under way include Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Dubai Canal Project, Mohammad Bin Rashid City, and the main venue for Expo 2020 located next to Dubai World Central. The city’s urban planning also involves evaluating the amount of office and retail space needed by 2020.