Expo 2020 Dubai projected to add Dh154.9 billion to UAE economy from 2013-2042

Expo 2020 Dubai projected to add Dh154.9 billion to UAE economy from 2013-2042

The lion’s share of economic benefits from the World Expo – 62 per cent – will be felt in the legacy phase

Published: Fri 31 Mar 2023, 2:15 PM Last updated: Fri 31 Mar 2023, 2:38 PM

Expo 2020 Dubai and its legacy are expected to contribute Dh154.9 billion ($42.2 billion) of gross value added (GVA) to the UAE’s economy from 2013 to 2042, a report from EY has shown.

The World Expo, which welcomed 24.1 million visits during its six-month run, is also expected to support approximately 1,039,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) job-years, equal to more than 35,000 FTE jobs per annum in the UAE over the same period.

The sectors contributing most to GVA – a measure of economic productivity – are events organisation and business services (Dh75.5 billion), construction (Dh31.9 billion), and restaurants and hotels (Dh23.1 billion).

The pre-event phase contributed around one quarter of GVA, the event itself added almost 13 per cent, while the lion’s share of economic benefits – 62 per cent – will be felt in the legacy phase through to 2042.

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO, Expo City Dubai Authority, said: “From the outset, we were committed to hosting a World Expo that