In a significant development for the Expo City Dubai project, the UK-based construction firm Mace has been selected to oversee Phase 1 of the Dh10 billion ($2.7 billion) expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC). The announcement was made by the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Phase 1 of the expansion is expected to be completed by 2026, with the DEC’s exhibition space increasing to 140,000 square meters, more than double its current capacity of 58,000 square meters.
The expansion will be completed in three phases, with the final phase slated for 2031. By then, the DEC will become the largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibition venue in the region, cementing its role as the new home for mega exhibitions in Dubai and the UAE.
Once fully expanded, the DEC will increase Dubai’s capacity to host large-scale events, aiming to double the number of such events from around 300 annually to over 600 by 2033.
“We are committed to further developing Dubai’s Exhibitions and Events industry, with the goal of tripling its annual economic contribution to Dh54 billion by 2033,” said Amer Al Farsi, Assistant Vice-President of Real Estate at Dubai World Trade Centre. “The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre will be pivotal in this growth, providing a next-generation venue for mega exhibitions. We look forward to partnering with Mace again for the successful delivery of Phase 1 of this crucial project.”
In addition to the DEC expansion, Expo City will undergo significant residential and commercial development, following the unveiling of its masterplan by Dubai.
When completed, the fully expanded DEC will feature 180,000 square meters of exhibition space across 26 halls, spanning a total of 1.2 kilometres.
Mace’s responsibilities for Phase 1 of the project will include project and design management. The company previously delivered the original Dubai Exhibition Centre (formerly COEX) in 2020 for Expo 2020 Dubai.
“We have been delivering iconic projects in Dubai and the UAE for over 25 years,” said Stephen Venney, UAE Country Director at Mace Consult.”
