Experts say Dubai’s hosting of the World Expo 2020 will contribute as much as $40 billion to its economy, driven largely by an expected influx of 25 million tourists, as well as new investments related to the city’s build-up for the event.

The Dubai World Expo 2020 would be the first to be held in the MENASA region and would also coincide with the UAE’s golden jubilee.

“For the first time in the history of the World Expo, as much as 70 per cent of the expected 25 million visitors would be international - stemming from beyond the host nation.

“This is important because Dubai Expo 2020 would offer opportunity for both the developed and the developing world,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing in an interview with MEED.

Al Marri will deliver the Opening Keynote Address at Destination Dubai 2020, the first conference to comprehensively detail the opportunities and challenges confronting Dubai ahead of its next most important event.

While Dubai’s preparations for the expo has expectedly been the subject of so much buzz across the globe, the plan for the city after the event will also be significantly discussed during the conference, outlining potential uses for the infrastructure that will be set up in place.

“Creating a legacy for Dubai and the UAE beyond the expo is a critical issue that is being addressed by expo organisers from the onset, ensuring real estate projects are developed with the long-term benefits in mind, considering the scale and magnitude of investments and infrastructure involved,” said Edmund O’ Sullivan, chairman, MEED events, organisers of Destination Dubai 2020.