Expo 2020 releases report on construction progress

DUBAI // Sand that could fill about 1,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools has been recycled for use in building the Expo 2020 site in Dubai South.

About 99 per cent of 4.7 million cubic metres of earth would not be going to landfill sites, organisers said in a report on Monday.

Also on Monday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, visited the site of the Expo near Al Maktoum International Airport.

He said work on the site should be finished on time to allow organisers to complete the final arrangements well before the arrival of participants from more than 180 countries.

Sheikh Mohammed also urged members of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, who accompanied him on Monday’s visit, to be patient, positive and optimistic, the state news agency Wam reported.

The Expo report covered site preparation and outlined partnerships planned with organisations, businesses and youth. It said all infrastructure work would be finished by October 2019.

Testing work would begin one year before Expo 2020 opens on October 20, 2020, with 25 million visitors anticipated over the six months of the event.

Work on the Expo Village that will accommodate guests would begin soon, the report said.

The Dh1.3 billion village project is expected to be completed by April 2018.

The report said ongoing procurement and logistic work would ensure that the site would be ready for participants to begin work on their pavilions from April 2018 onwards.

Development of the 4.38-square-kilometre site began last September. Designs for pavilions are being finalised.