As part of the preparations for the success of the important global event Expo 2020 in Dubai, more than 1200 contracts worth 544.5 million dollars were awarded last year, and another 47 construction contracts worth 3 billion dollars will be awarded in 2017. The "Legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai" session at the recent Arabian Travel Market's Global Stage at the Dubai World Trade Centre revealed that plans for the Expo 2020 site include the development of 80% of the site with the re-purposing of Expo assets and transportation infrastructure for future use by a range of residents and major private sector companies. Siemens became the first company to announce its plans earlier this year when it confirmed that its global headquarters for airport, cargo and port logistics networks will be based at the Expo 2020 site from 2021.

The plan was unveiled during a session chaired by UAE-based broadcaster Richard Dean and featuring Marjan Faraidooni, Vice President of Legacy at Expo 2020 Dubai, Anita Mehra, Senior Vice President of Communications and Reputation at Dubai Airports, Essam Kazim, Executive Director of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Deirdre Wells, CEO of UKinbound".

" 'We planned the Expo with two tasks in mind. The first is to make sure that the visitor has a memorable experience from the moment they set foot in Dubai until they leave. The second task is the issue of legacy. Many people ask about the fate of the Expo site after the end of the event and the answer to that is that we are building it with its legacy in mind and it will be an attraction for all categories of tourists; all the assets we are building for Expo 2020 will remain after the event, including buildings and transportation infrastructure".

Expo host cities have a strong history of creating innovative and sustainable tourism and entertainment attractions from previous World Expo sites, including Seattle, which has grown from a medium-sized city to a major metropolis with several strong industries.