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Dubai Hosts World Expo 2020
From October 2021 to March 2022, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates were host to 192 nations at the first World Expo ever to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Every participating country at the Expo had its own unique architectural pavilion presenting to visitors the opportunity to “Enjoy immersive cultural experiences and discover what makes each country unique…” Expo 2020 emerged out of almost 2 square miles of desert in Dubai. And in just a year, hotels, highways and roads, and even a new Metro line extension was built. Due to open to the public October 2020, and it would have, had it not been for Covid-19. Following a delay of one year, Expo 2020 opened 1 October 2021 when Dubai and the United Arab Emirates welcomed the world with open arms to a spectacular event.
District of the Future
Expo 2020 centered on the theme of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’, with an emphasis on - Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. Subsequently, each pavilion focused its exhibits, arts, entertainment and innovations on one of the three subthemes. At the close of Expo 2020, it will transition to “District 2020: a model global community for the future.” Eighty percent of the Expo infrastructure will become a “mixed-use integrated community…designed to encourage a healthy and balanced lifestyle.” Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy dedicated walking, cycling and jogging paths, fully connected pedestrian walkways, expansive outdoor green space, year-round community space, as well as, “modern co-living, urban, or loft-style residential units.”
“Creativity and innovation is a global challenge that Expo 2020 met with actual operational, yet practical ideas.” - Ricardo Byrd, Executive Director of the National Association of Neighborhoods
The National Association of Neighborhoods (NAN) visited Expo 2020 in March. The trip was intended to especially connect with those advances and innovations that are universal in re-imagining cities, towns, neighborhoods, and communities in the United States. The ultimate goal of Expo 2020 and District 2020 is to “serve as a blueprint toward a viable future, establishing sustainable benchmarks and leaving a meaningful legacy for generations to come.” https://www.expo2020dubai.com/