Safeguarding our future
Sustainability at Expo City Dubai
We have a responsibility
We know that every actor has a role to play in ensuring future generations can enjoy a greener and better world. Expo City Dubai – serving as a blueprint for sustainable urban living – is committed to making this a reality.
Our approach
As an inclusive, innovation-driven, people-centric city committed to maximising its social, environmental and economic benefits, sustainability is embedded into everything we do.
Enabling you
Community initiatives
Expo City Dubai engages its community of tenants, visitors, employees, school groups, youth and partners to cultivate a strong sense of personal responsibility in sustainable living.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Expo School Programme launched the Climate Ambassadors Programme (CAP) in 2023, offering students across the UAE a chance to step into the shoes of climate negotiators at the annual COP climate change conferences, with a vision to nurture tomorrow’s leaders.
A global innovation impact grant programme, Expo Live supports grassroots solutions that improve people’s lives or have a positive impact on the planet. Its latest cycle focused on climate-related interventions that can be shared and replicated, with selected start-ups receiving funding, support and the opportunity to showcase their ideas at COP28.
Expo City encourages and enables visitors to do their part, with smart bins that engage with visitors, raising awareness on how waste can be reused, leading to proper segregation and a higher separation rate.
The Women’s Pavilion reaffirms Expo City’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and offers a dedicated space for meaningful discussions to shaping a more balanced world.
Expo City Dubai champions worker welfare by prioritizing equitable treatment and upholding the dignity of all employees and contractors.
Surrounding you
Built environment
Expo City Dubai advances a model for a sustainable and smart built environment by blending passive strategies with technology-based solutions.
Expo City complements the LEED standards by adding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in areas specific to the priorities for this region, such as having a higher minimum performance for water and energy efficiency. Passive design strategies support the achievement of these KPIs. Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, an example of sustainable best practice in action, is designed to be net zero for energy and water and is LEED Platinum-certified.
Expo City’s passive design strategies are based on UAE historical precedent and inherited wisdom, and can produce significant environmental and social benefits at a lower cost. For example, water features, shade structures, trees, landscaping and features, and lighter coloured materials help to reduce heat, while condensate capture and greywater recycling used in toilet flushing and cooling systems help to save water.
Expo 2020 Dubai was the first large-scale urban development in the region to register under the WELL Community Standard, which presents a framework for creating communities that prioritise the health and wellbeing of all inhabitants. Expo City carries this forward and is targeting WELL Community Gold certification.
In addition to prioritising pedestrian and micro-mobility pathways for bicycles and e-scooters, Expo City features running and cycling tracks and 45,000sqm of parks and gardens.
Expo City's Sustainable Materials Guidelines aim to reduce the negative environmental, social and economic impacts of all construction materials procured.
Expo City has received international recognition for best practices in green building design, with 123 LEED-certified buildings, including seven LEED Platinum and 105 LEED Gold. It also has eight infrastructure projects rated ‘Excellent’ under BREEAM Infrastructure.
Operational environment
Expo City Dubai integrates environmental and social responsibility into the city’s operations and events.
The Food Rescue Programme, piloted at Expo 2020, continues at Expo City, enabling the collection of food surplus from vendors, food halls and caterers and distributing this food to communities in need. It also monitors and records data on repurposed food.
The RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations see vendors and suppliers demonstrate their support for environmental and social standards by enhancing their products and services and providing appropriate sustainability certifications.
Expo 2020 Dubai achieved ISO 20121:2012 Event Sustainability Management System certification, and Expo City Dubai will continue to pursue ISO 20121:2012 certification which embeds sustainability further into its management processes for events at Expo City.
The 10 principles of circular economy are central to Expo City’s sustainability practices. From responsible sourcing that minimises production waste, such as using recycled and recyclable materials and designing for re-use and re-purpose, to identifying innovative solutions to process waste.
Resources and reports
Expo 2020 Dubai – Sustainability Report 2021/22
72 MB • PDF
Expo 2020 Dubai – Sustainability Report 2020/21
27 MB • PDF
Expo 2020 Dubai - Sustainability Report 2019
26 MB • PDF
Expo 2020 Dubai - Sustainability Report 2018
11 MB • PDF
Expo City Dubai is the proud host of COP28
Questions?
Contact Expo City Dubai's Sustainability team