Expo City Dubai

Masterplan for a 240-hectare mixed-use district, transforming Expo 2020 into a sustainable urban hub with residential, commercial, and cultural spaces, accommodating 72,000 residents and workers, achieving LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent standards.

Expo City Dubai was envisioned as a global hub for innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, with the challenge of creating a masterplan that would leave a lasting legacy beyond the Expo 2020 event. The client required a forward-thinking design for the 240-hectare site that balanced cultural significance, environmental responsibility, and economic viability, while ensuring the site could transition seamlessly from a temporary event space into a thriving, permanent urban district.

UNS responded by delivering a comprehensive masterplan that integrates cutting-edge sustainable strategies and innovative urban design. The plan prioritises connectivity, adaptability, and inclusivity, creating a framework for a vibrant mixed-use environment. The design blends residential, commercial, and cultural spaces, accomodating over 72,000 residents and workers. The masterplan embeds advanced technologies and sustainable practices to meet ambitious environmental goals. As a minimum, all buildings must achieve LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent for infrastructure and public realm projects.

Although the masterplan is yet to be realised, it has already set a benchmark for future urban developments. The design anticipates significant reductions in energy and water consumption through innovative strategies, such as renewable energy integration and optimised resource management. Once implemented, the project is expected to attract global businesses, foster innovation, and enhance the quality of life for future residents and visitors.

As one of the region’s first legacy projects, and one of the largest and most significant in the world, the Expo City Dubai masterplan brings sustainability and livability to a challenging context, at an unprecedented scale. Here UNS is helping to drive economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusivity, setting a new standard for urban development in Dubai, and across the globe.