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 City Dubai is a purpose-built urban district occupying the 4.38-square-kilometer site of the former Expo 2020 Dubai world exposition. Officially opened as a permanent destination in October 2022, Expo City Dubai retains signature pavilions including Terra (the Sustainability Pavilion) and Alif (the Mobility Pavilion), while repurposing the broader site into a mixed-use community featuring corporate offices, research institutions, cultural venues, public green spaces, and residential areas. The district is designed around principles of sustainability, smart city technology, and human-centric urban planning.

UAE Context

Expo City Dubai demonstrates the UAE’s approach to leveraging mega-events for long-term economic returns rather than allowing costly infrastructure to become underutilized. The district hosts anchor tenants including Siemens’ global logistics headquarters, the UAE’s Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, and several international organizations. Its location within Dubai South places it adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport and the broader logistics corridor. The site’s built-in sustainability infrastructure, including district-wide solar power, water recycling, and smart building systems, makes it a testbed for the urban technologies the UAE aims to scale nationally.

Key Data

  • Location: Dubai South, adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport
  • Site area: 4.38 square kilometers
  • Key pavilions retained: Terra (Sustainability), Alif (Mobility), Dubai Exhibition Centre
  • Anchor tenants: Siemens, DP World, UAE federal ministries
  • Sustainability features: Solar energy, water recycling, smart grid, zero-waste targets
  • Opened as permanent district: October 2022

Significance for Vision 2031

Expo City Dubai serves as a physical laboratory for the smart city and sustainability goals embedded in Vision 2031. The district’s operational data on energy efficiency, smart mobility, and waste reduction informs national policy on sustainable urban development. Its role as an innovation cluster attracting multinational R&D operations supports the UAE’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy, while its cultural programming reinforces the country’s soft power and tourism objectives.

  • Dubai South - The master-planned zone within which Expo City Dubai sits
  • Expo 2020 - The world exposition that created the site’s infrastructure
  • Smart City - The urban technology model Expo City Dubai embodies
  • Net Zero 2050 - The climate strategy Expo City’s sustainability design supports