Expo City will no longer be vehicle-free as part of a new masterplan for the site in the south of Dubai.
The 3.5 square kilometre site is undergoing a major overhaul which will see it be home to more than 35,000 people and a hub for 40,000 professionals.
When Expo City was first built in 2022, it was revealed that it would be a car-free pedestrianised city.
But top officials for Expo City have now confirmed that vehicles will be allowed as part of the updated masterplan for the site.
However, if you’re expecting another area of Dubai to become a traffic problem then don’t worry, the vehicles allowed on the site will be emergency services, delivery and private ones.
In September, city leaders announced a major overhaul for Expo City which will see it become its own self-contained city in Dubai.
The redesign of Expo City will mean that those living and working there will be able to reach everything they need within a walk of no more than a few minutes with easy access healthcare, retail and sports facilities.
Projects included in the overhaul are a Dhs1.75 billion mixed-use project neighbouring the Dubai Exhibition Centre, the welcoming of DP World’s new global headquarters and a revamp of the Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo City Dubai says that the revamp at Expo City means that the site will need to grant access to some vehicles.
He said: “Expo City Dubai will be a fully integrated city, which necessitates enabling access for private, delivery and emergency service vehicles to certain areas of the city.
“With that in mind, our master plan takes the concept of a 15-minute city and adapts it to the region, prioritising ‘walkability’ and ensuring climate comfort.
“Expo City’s masterplan design ensures that all daily tasks can be completed within a walk of no more than a few minutes, and includes a seamless transition between home, work, school and leisure time, with easy access to amenities including healthcare, retail outlets and sports facilities.”
Expo City bosses stress that the masterplan maintains the focus on soft low-emission mobility vehicles such as e-scooters and Careem bikes rather than cars.
The site will also remain one of the key areas involved in the emirate-wide plans to become a pedestrian-friendly city.
Ahmed Al Katib added: “The design also supports soft mobility options – which are particularly important in the summer months – and convenient public transport connectivity via the Dubai Metro with our existing dedicated metro station, linking Expo City to 60-plus stations across Dubai.”
“The Expo City Dubai master plan reflects our vision to become a people-centric city of the future, offering a better quality of life by encouraging active mobility, reducing commute times, improving air quality and providing more opportunities for social connection.”
“Our master plan design also aligns with the recently announced Dubai Walk Masterplan – a major project to transform the emirate into a year-round pedestrian-friendly city – and reaffirms our role as a hub in the 2040 Dubai Urban Masterplan.”
Source: Timeoutdubai
