February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Expo 2020 Dubai was a World Exposition registered by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), held in Dubai from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” Originally scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed by one year due to the global pandemic but retained the Expo 2020 branding. It was the first World Expo hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region. The event featured 192 country pavilions across a purpose-built 438-hectare site organized around three thematic districts: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability.

UAE Context

Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020 in November 2013, defeating bids from Russia, Turkey, and Brazil. The event served as a catalytic infrastructure project for Dubai, accelerating the development of the Dubai South district including a new metro extension, road networks, and utilities infrastructure. Expo 2020 recorded over 24 million visits during its six-month run, making it one of the most attended world events in the post-pandemic era. The expo site has since been transformed into Expo City Dubai, a permanent urban district housing government entities, innovation labs, and cultural institutions.

Key Data

  • Duration: October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022
  • Theme: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future
  • Participating countries: 192
  • Total visits: Over 24 million
  • Site area: 438 hectares
  • Infrastructure investment: Estimated USD 7 billion including surrounding development
  • Legacy: Transformed into Expo City Dubai

Significance for Vision 2031

Expo 2020’s legacy continues to serve Vision 2031 objectives through Expo City Dubai, which operates as a model smart city district and hosts key government entities. The expo demonstrated the UAE’s capacity to deliver world-class mega-events and enhanced the country’s global soft power and tourism appeal. The infrastructure, international relationships, and institutional knowledge generated by Expo 2020 provide lasting assets that support the 2031 targets around tourism, innovation ecosystems, and global connectivity.

  • Vision 2031 - The national strategy benefiting from Expo 2020’s legacy
  • Non-Oil GDP - Economic diversification boosted by Expo-related tourism and investment
  • Masdar City - Sustainability-focused development paralleling Expo’s sustainability district