Business Bureau, Gulf Today

Construction consultancy Jacobs Mace has been named Expo 2020 Dubai’s Official Programme Delivery Management Provider, strengthening an already successful relationship and supporting Expo’s ambition to deliver a worldclass site that will attract 25 million visits.

Since its appointment as Project Management Consultant in January 2015, the syndicate has been part of the team responsible for managing the design and construction of the Expo 2020 Dubai site, overseeing everything from logistics and infrastructure to project management of the Thematic Districts, public realm and Al Wasl Plaza centrepiece. Jacobs Mace also monitors the planned construction of almost 100 self-build pavilions for international participants and partners.

Jacobs Mace – a joint venture between engineering company Jacobs Engineering and consultancy and construction firm Mace – has more than 200 consultants working at Expo 2020. Becoming an Official Provider marks the next stage in a successful collaboration that has driven the transformation of the 4.38 sqkm site, including the recently-announced completion of the Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability Districts.

Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Jacobs Mace has proven to be a solid partner, playing an essential role in ensuring that construction is on track. Delivering an event of such enormous scale takes a collaborative effort and is only achievable by sharing knowledge and making continuous improvements side by side with our partners.”

Amer Battikhi, Growth and Sales Vice President for the Buildings and Infrastructure Business in Asia Pacific and Middle East at Jacobs said: “We are proud and excited to be appointed the Official Programme Delivery Management Provider of Expo 2020 Dubai, helping to deliver a state-of-the-art home for this international event. It has been amazing to see the site come to life and we are confident that millions of visitors from around the world will be impressed once doors open in October next year.”

Jason Millett, Chief Operating Officer for Consultancy at Mace, said: “Delivering the design and construction of the Expo 2020 Dubai site has been a fantastic journey for Jacobs Mace, and this official provider status reflects years of close partnership working on behalf of our client. We are very excited to share the fantastic Expo site with the world when it opens next year.”

Expo 2020 is expected to attract 25 million visits between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021, and 70 per cent of its visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in the 168-year history of World Expos. More than 200 participants, including countries, corporations, multinational organisations and educational institutions, will gather to explore Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

Expo 2020 Dubai is guided by the belief that innovation and progress are the result of people and ideas combining in new ways. For six months from 20 October, 2020, Expo will bring together 192 countries and millions of people to celebrate human ingenuity: ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

During the six months from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, we expect to welcome 25 million visits

About 70 per cent of all visitors are anticipated to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion of international visitors in Expo history

We aim to create and deliver an inclusive and global Expo with more than 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions

Expo 2020 also has an ambitious volunteer programme, which aims to include more than 30,000 volunteers from a wide range of ages, nationalities, cultures and backgrounds

The Expo site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area. It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to take place in the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) region

Applications for media accreditation for Expo 2020 Dubai are now open and media organisations are invited to submit their expression of interest at https://www.expo2020dubai.com/media-centre/expression-of-interest by 30 June, 2019. All accredited media will have access to the Expo 2020 Media Centre and all associated services and facilities within the Expo 2020 site. Additionally, if your media organisation has television or radio studio requirements during Expo 2020, please email media.services@expo2020.ae  by 9 May, 2019.