EXPO 2020 DUBAISUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
CONNECTING MINDS, CREATING THE FUTURE

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

“We pay the utmost care and attention to our environment for it is an
integral part of the country, our history and our heritage. Our forefathers
and our ancestors lived in this land and coexisted with its environment, on
land and sea, and instinctively realised the need to preserve it.”LATE SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHYANFOUNDER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES“Protection of the environment and achievement of sustainable
development in the UAE is a national duty; it has its own institutional
structures, integrated legislature and advanced systems.”

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYANPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |3

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY“We are building a new reality for our people, a new future for our children,
and a new model of development.”

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM
VICE-PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATESAND RULER OF DUBAI
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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES“The civilised, advanced nation we seek to build and the sustainable development weare keen to achieve both require concerted efforts from all sectors of the communityand from all public and private entities and organisations. They require consistent andharmonious work in order to achieve our goals and promote and underpin our nation’s
status with its distinct role regionally and internationally.”

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYANCROWN PRINCE OF ABU DHABIAND DEPUTY SUPREME COMMANDER OF UAE ARMED FORCESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |5

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYHIS EXCELLENCY SHEIKH NAHAYAN BIN
MABARAK AL NAHAYANMINISTER OF TOLERANCE AND COEXISTENCE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESCOMMISSIONER GENERAL, EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Given the many challenges that have defined
the past 18 months, I feel enormously
privileged and proud to introduce the third
annual Expo 2020 Dubai Sustainability Report.
The report contains our collective sustainability
results prior to opening our doors to theworld on 1 October 2021. It represents theupmost thought and sensitivity that has gone
into our preparations during these times of
unprecedented challenges.
The decision to delay the World Expo by one
year, made collectively alongside the majorityof BIE Member States, has proven to be wise.
All participants should now be able to safely
navigate the impact of COVID-19 and allow us
to focus on a collective desire for new thinking
to identify solutions to some of the greatest
challenges of our time.
The report delivers a holistic account of how
Expo 2020 has defined and implemented its
progressive and deep-rooted commitment tosustainability. It incorporates feedback from awide pool of internal and external stakeholders,
including our International Participants, Official
Partners and Official Providers. It reflects the
UAE’s efforts – as a champion of sustainable
development – to help build cleaner, safer, andhealthier communities.
Applying key performance indicators (KPIs)
and targets, the report extends and improves
on findings from previous years to include
emerging issues facing us all, such as the

6 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

COVID-19 pandemic. It illustrates our efforts
to integrate, impact and inspire – to establish alegacy of sustainable design and construction,
while generating new ideas and perspectives
on key environmental challenges. The report
maps a clear path forward for immediate
action. For example, we developed the ‘RISE
Guidelines for Sustainable Operations’ to bepractical, achievable and aspirational. The
guidelines contain numerous sustainabilityrelated responsibilities across a variety offunctional areas at Expo 2020 – the first of
their kind anywhere in the region.
In the unfolding reality of the COVID-19
pandemic, our theme and purpose of“Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”
is more relevant than ever. Indeed, as wecelebrate The Year of 50, marking 50 years
since the birth of the United Arab Emirates,
we look forward to the First of October withimmense pride for Dubai and the UAE. Expo
2020 will help to unite the planet with arenewed appreciation for innovation, empathy
and international collaboration thereby helping
to build a better, more sustainable, world for all.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |7

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYHER EXCELLENCYREEM AL HASHIMYCABINET MEMBER, UAE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION DIRECTOR GENERAL, EXPO 2020 DUBAI BUREAU

I am delighted to welcome you to our third
annual Sustainability Report, compiled inaccordance with GRI Sustainability ReportingStandards, and intended to capture an
essential element not just of our journey to
Expo 2020 Dubai, but of the arc of historyof the United Arab Emirates. For after all, ourembrace of this hallowed principle did not
begin with our identification of Sustainability
as one of our three Expo subthemes. It
can be traced back centuries, through anunderstanding innate to Emirati and Bedouin
culture: that it is our profound responsibility
to manage and preserve the precious natural
resources with which we have been blessed.
This duty of stewardship has gained evengreater resonance, and urgency, in the wakeof the COVID-19 pandemic and in anticipationof our opening in October 2021. It is my hopethat, as a species, we have acquired a deeper
appreciation for individual and collective action
towards building long-term solutions to thebenefit of all of humanity. It is my expectationthat as an Expo, we will fulfil our promiseof ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’,
through the manifestation of international
cooperation to design and deliver a safe, clean
and healthy tomorrow; one in which we might
live in beneficial harmony with the natural
world.
The connecting of minds from around theworld, and the subsequent free exchange ofideas and innovations, has already come to

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life in the build-up to our World Expo. Octoberlast year saw the launch of our Expo Talks
series, online gatherings clustered around the
10 thematic weeks that anchor Expo 2020
Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet.
The series catalysed contributions from morethan 120 participants, official partners andother members of the Expo family. Moreover,
our Climate and Biodiversity and Global
Goals weeks, each of which are of particular
relevance to our sustainability ambitions,garnered similarly tremendous interest from all
six continents.
But our impact hasn’t been constrained to thevirtual realm: even in this COVID era, we havesafely and successfully welcomed more than
100,000 visitors to our site and to the limited
preview of our Sustainability Pavilion, known
as Terra. Much has already been written about
this iconic structure and its place in the storied
history of sustainable buildings worldwide.
The story that has not yet been told, is of its
contents and their contribution to our role apioneer and changemaker.
The programming within Terra is designed
for impact, the reverberations of which are
already rippling through the UAE community:
95 per cent of visitors to Terra said they would
make a sustainable lifestyle change as aconsequence of their experience. They pledged
to save water, avoid single-use plastics, reduceenergy use, grow a plant, avoid waste, and/or
contribute to environment conservation.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Furthermore, approximately 70 per cent of
parents said they believed their children will
think and behave more sustainably after
visiting Terra. This is impact in action: for today,and for tomorrow.

community for their unstinting and ongoingsupport during these challenging times.
Together, we will mount a World Expo that isamong the most sustainable in history, thelegacy of which will be a tangible benefit for
generations to come.

In this, our final pre-event report, we look to
track our progress towards our previously
stated goals, as well as address new areasof consideration for Expo and its myriad ofstakeholders. Expo 2020 Dubai has evolved its
sustainability targets and metrics to address awider spectrum of initiatives and programmesthat aim to deliver the greatest positive impact,
reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, as well as key national strategies
and initiatives, such as UAE Vision 2021.
Examining our performance across a total of 21
topic areas, including innovation, biodiversity,and occupational health and safety, we seek
to provide readers with a comprehensive
perspective on how we entrench sustainability
across all our functions. Future editions,
meanwhile, will naturally evolve to encompass
event-time and post-event periods, illustrating
the wider and longer-term impacts of ourefforts here at Expo.
We would like to take this opportunity to
express our gratitude towards the Bureau
International des Expositions (BIE), and our key
stakeholders, including the Expo leadershipand our Expo family, participants, partners andproviders, as well as contractors, consultants,
volunteers and the local Dubai and UAE

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |9

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOTABLE OF CONTENTS
01

02

ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI
A. ABOUT THIS REPORT			

14

B. EXPO 2020: AT A GLANCE					

16C. OVERCOMING THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER			

28

FOUNDATIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE EXPOSUSTAINABILITY AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI				

42

A. DELIVERING A SUSTAINABLE EXPO				

42

B. RISE GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS		52

INTEGRATE							62A. STAKEHOLDERS AND MATERIALITY				

62		

B. SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN					

68IMPACT								80A. ECONOMIC IMPACT						80B. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT					88C. SOCIAL IMPACT138

INSPIRE

150

A. EXPO’S COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE

150

B. PEOPLE OF EXPO

160

C. LIFE AT EXPO

168

D. HEALTH AND SAFETY

172

E. INNOVATION

182

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

03.

04.

05.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESTHE EXPO LEGACY
A. EXPO LEGACY 2020 CONTRIBUTION

196

B. DISTRICT 2020 - THE FUTURE OF THE EXPO SITE

198

C. CORPORATE ARCHIVE

204

EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS
A. EXPO 2020 DUBAI’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN SDGS

208

B. GLOBAL BEST PRACTICE PROGRAMME SDGS218

GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES
A. GRI CONTENT INDEX

226

B. TOPIC BOUNDARIES

236

C. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS238

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |11

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01
ABOUT EXPO
2020 DUBAIEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |13

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYA
ABOUT THISREPORT
Expo 2020 Dubai isimmensely proud tointroduce its Sustainability
Report 2020, marking theorganisation’s third annual
sustainability report andrepresenting our continued
commitment to disclose inaccordance with the Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Sustainability ReportingStandards Core option.

14 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

The GRI Standards are a globally recognised sustainability reporting
mechanism that provides a common language and platform fororganisations and their stakeholders to communicate their economic,
environmental and social impacts.
This report provides insights into the impact of Expo 2020 Dubai
within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1st January 2020 until 31st
March 2021.

1. SCOPE
The sustainability performancedata provided in this reportcovers a 15-month period
between 1 January 2020 and
31 March 2021, representing
the pre-event phase – thefinal stage before Expo 2020
opens its doors to the world on
1 October 2021. Through thisreporting cycle, Expo 2020 is
more able to accurately reflect
the impact of the pandemic
over the past year.

Data collection efforts for thisreport are segmented between(1) 1 January 2020 and 31
December 2020, and (2) 1 Jan
2021 to 31 March 2021.
However, where applicable,
data and initiatives from otheryears have also been included
to illustrate trends and progressover time.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

2. CONTENT
Expo 2020 seizes thisopportunity to introspect on
our sustainability performance,bringing along on this exciting
journey our valued stakeholders,
including International
Participants, partners andmembers of the supply chain.
Guided by transparency
and accountability, theorganisation looks to enhancetheir measures of responsible
practices and commitments
towards delivering one of themost sustainable World Expos
ever held – to equip readerswith a complete perspective of
the contributions and impacts
created by Expo 2020.
The World Expo’s sustainability
strategy is structured toIntegrate, Impact and Inspire.
The strategy aims to integratesustainability throughout theentire framework of Expo 2020;
create a thorough, meaningful
impact that extends beyond
the site and the six months ofthe event; and inspire those
who visit to become part of
the journey towards a moresustainable future.
With a purpose rooted deeply
in legacy, Expo 2020 seeks
to leverage this report as apoignant tool to welcome thoseinspired by our mission to help
build cleaner, safer and healthiercommunities for all.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

3. GRI SERVICES
For the Materiality Disclosures
Service, GRI Services reviewedthat the GRI content index
is clearly presented and thereferences for Disclosures
102-40 to 102-49 align withappropriate sections in the
body of the report. For the
GRI Content Index Service, GRI
Services reviewed that the
GRI content index is clearlypresented and the references
for all disclosures included alignwith the appropriate sections in
the body of the report.
The services were performedon the English version of
the report.

4. CONTACT
Expo 2020 values and engages
with its many stakeholders,
especially in relation to theorganisation’s approach anddelivery to their sustainability
commitments. To help improve
performance and ensure better
sustainability performance
during and after the event, Expo
2020 welcomes any comments,
queries or recommendations
related to this final report.

These can be initiated via
the following email address:
sustainability@expo2020.ae
A digital version of thisreport can be downloaded at:
expo2020dubai.com

Expo 2020 is all about innovation,
collaboration and inspiration, and isrepresentative of the UAE’s commitment
to building a cleaner, safer, healthier future
for everyone.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |15

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYB
EXPO 2020:
AT A GLANCE
Expo 2020’s key
values of excellence,collaboration,
humility, integrity
and respect haveanchored its responseto the unprecedented,
pandemic-related
challenges faced by theworld during recent times.
The following chapter outlines
the celebrated legacy of World
Expos and how Expo 2020 Dubai
will add to the UAE’s historic
participation – educating the
public, promoting progress
and fostering cooperation in a
new world.

1. THE ROLE OF THE BUREAU INTERNATIONALDES EXPOSITIONSThe Bureau International
des Expositions (BIE) is anintergovernmental organisationthat has encouraged education,
innovation and cooperation
through the administration andregulation of World Expos
since 1931.
With a commitment toeducation, teamwork, anddevelopment, the BIE’sorganisational structure
includes the General Assembly,
Committees, the Secretariat and
169 member states. Since its
inception, the BIE has organised
more than 50 Expos globally:
World Expos, Specialised Expos,
Horticultural Exhibitions and the
Design Triennale of Milan.

With the BIE’s unwavering
support, Expo 2020 willcontinue, and build upon, thisproud World Expo tradition bydelivering one of most inclusive
and sustainable World Expos inhistory – a festival of wonder
and imagination, where visitors
can experience, explore, discoverand have fun, while sharing ideas
and working together.

2. 50 YEARS OF THE UAE:
CELEBRATING THE NATION’S GOLDEN JUBILEE
While 2020 was slated to bea hugely momentous year for
the Expo, a two-thirds majorityof BIE Member States voted
in May 2020 to postpone theWorld Expo by one year – adelay to allow all participants
to safely navigate the impact
of COVID-19, and allow Expo
2020 to focus on a collective
desire for new thinking to
identify solutions to some of
the greatest challenges of
our time.

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With its revised 1 October 2021
start date, Expo 2020 considers
it a privilege to host the world
at Expo 2020 during the UAE’s
Golden Jubilee year.
Declared as ‘The Year of 50’ by
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, President of
the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi,
2021 marks half a century since
the formation of the United
Arab Emirates in 1971.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

Reflecting on the excellence andpotential displayed by the UAE
during its relatively short 50year history, Expo 2020 is proud
to be a forefront contributor inthis year of national celebration.
By leveraging our sustainability
strategy and commitments toinspire the world to act withcreativity and inclusivity, Expo2020’s efforts align withnational and international
drivers, such as the UAE
Centennial 2071 Plan, UAE Vision
2050 and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESIt is imperative to recognise themany instances of human andcommunity-led excellence,with the country’s national
history highlighting the dynamicrole of its citizens in driving
positive change over its near
50-year history.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |17

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

1971

1981

1989

Formationof the UAE

Inaugural Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC)
Summit held in Abu Dhabi

UAE national footballteam qualifies for theWorld Cup

Image Credit - National Archives

On 2 December 1971, six Gulf
Sheikhdoms came together toform a federation that would
soon become a leading nationin almost every respect. As theseventh Sheikhdom joined in thefollowing months, the UAE wasrecognised as a sovereign nation– a prime example of the value
in cooperation. The consolidationof the region’s key strengths
allowed it to enjoy the advantagesof its natural resources, evolving
and diversifying its interests toencompass trade, transport,
tourism, finance, and more.

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Six Gulf leaders convened in Abu
Dhabi on the 25th of May, 1981
to form the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) and ascribe to acommon economic agreement.
The momentous occasion wasmarked by rulers from the UAE,
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar,
Kuwait, and Oman, coming
together to give the region agoverning and collaborative
union. With his opening remarks
at the summit, the late Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan put
forth the significance of themeeting in establishing “security,
development, and solidarity”
within the region. Decades after
the group’s creation, citizens in
the region benefit from a single
market that provides accessrights for employment, healthcare,retirement, education, and more.
The Gulf identity is now associatedwith prosperity and social
cohesion, and is a distinguishing
factor that continues to define
and enhance national priorities
pertaining to cooperationand loyalty.

With a significant role in nationbuilding, unity and social
development, sports have long
been encouraged in the UAE.
The UAE was proud to support
the talent and determination of
its national football team as it
earned the coveted privilege ofcompeting at the 1990 FIFA World
Cup in Italy. As football became
one of the most popular sports
in the UAE, this momentous
occasion placed the nation’s
skilled athletes in one of the mostcompetitive tournaments in theworld, playing among international
sporting greats.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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2004

2009

2010

UAE wins nation’s first
Olympic gold at theSummer Olympics

Launch ofDubai Metro

Burj Khalifa – the tallest
building in the world –opens its doors

A symbol of immense national
pride, the Burj Khalifa was unveiledin 2010 as the tallest freestanding
structure in the world. Since its
inauguration, the building has
become one on the most visited
attractions in the world, widely
considered a defining feature of
Dubai’s cityscape. The 828-metretall tower is a potent reminderof the power of international
cooperation, cutting-edge
technology, grand inspiration andthe exceptional growth of Dubai.

Further exhibiting the variedstrengths and capabilities of
its people, the UAE remains anactive participant at the Olympic
Games. The United Arab Emirates
National Olympic Committee
sent a total of four Emiratis to
the 2004 Summer Olympics inAthens, Greece. The delegation
returned with the nation’s first
Olympic accolade – a gold medal
in shooting earned by Sheikh
Ahmad bin Mohammad bin
Hasher Al Maktoum. The
win galvanised interest in
supporting youth involvement inrecreational activities.
Inaugurated at 9:09:09 pm on 9
September 2009, Dubai Metrobecame the first urban train
network in the Arabian Peninsula.
Fully automated and driverless,the Metro exemplified the nation’s
ongoing efforts to deliver value tosociety through highly integrated
management systems. Graduallyextending lines across Dubai tostreamline transport, Dubai Metro
has expanded, linking Expo 2020
with key transit points in the city.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |19

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

2019

2020

2021

Launching the Hope Probeas part of the
Emirates Mars Mission

Hazza Al Mansouri
becomes the first
Emirati in space

Expo 2020 Dubai
welcomes the world

On 25 September 2019, Hazza
Al Mansouri boarded the Soyuz
MS-15 spacecraft, bound for theInternational Space Station (ISS),
where he stayed for eight days –making him the first person fromthe UAE to visit space. His mission
was broadcast live all around theworld, igniting growing interestin space and space exploration
among young Arabs. Filming Q&A
sessions with students during his
stay on the ISS, Hazza Al Mansouri
paved the way for the nation’s
youth to look to space, among
other science-related fields, forfuture careers and areas of study.
Image Credit - Emirates Mars Mission

The Emirates Mars Mission, known
as the Hope Probe, was launchedaboard a Japanese H-IIA rocket
in July 2020 to assist scientificunderstanding of the Martian
atmosphere. The Hope Probe wasdesigned to be the first probe toprovide a complete picture of the
red planet’s intricate atmosphereand layers. Making enormous
strides in its exploration of space,
the UAE views this interplanetary
milestone as a way to develop itsscience and technology sectors.
The mission was intended toencourage the region to embrace
ambitious opportunities ofinnovation and employed atotal of 150 Emirati engineers inmaking the journey to Mars’ orbit
a possibility.
20 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Image Credit - National Archives

After a year-long postponement,
as agreed to by a two-thirds
majority of BIE Member Statesin May 2020, Expo 2020 will
welcome the world in one
place – a global platform built
on innovation, collaborationand inspiration, and the UAE’s
commitment to building a cleaner,safer, healthier future for everyone.
Bringing together people,
communities and nations, Expo
2020 enthusiastically prepared
for its launch this year by uniting
global best practices and national
principles to address our three
key subthemes of Opportunity,
Mobility and Sustainability.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

Expo 2020 is proud to be at theforefront of the nation’s 50th
anniversary commemorations
and looks forward to honouring
the country’s heritage through theWorld Expo. While the UAE has
cemented its legacy as a land of
unification, tolerance and progress,
Expo 2020 – the first World Expoin the Middle East, Africa andSouth Asia (MEASA) region – will
showcase these uniquely
Emirati values and principles on
a global stage.
Expo 2020 recognises its uniqueposition as a major contributor
to the UAE Golden Jubilee
celebrations. ‘UAE Next 50’
supports a comprehensive national
development plan that seeks toequip and improve key sectors,
including healthcare, education,
housing, transport and foodsecurity. Designed to deliver longterm and sustainable value for
the UAE, the ‘Designing the Next
50 Years’ project aligns strongly
with the goals of Expo 2020,
particularly its commitment to the
Sustainable Development Goals– a global blueprint to eradicate
poverty, fight inequalities andtackle climate change before theend of this decade.

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Indeed, as we celebrate The Year of 50, marking 50 years since thebirth of the UAE, we look forward to 1 October with immense pride for
Dubai and the UAE – uniting the planet with a renewed appreciation for
innovation, empathy and international collaboration in helping to build abetter, more sustainable, world for all.
HIS EXCELLENCYSHEIKH NAHAYAN BIN MABARAK AL NAHAYAN

3. EXPO 2020 DUBAI THEME
On 27 November 2013, following a record vote by BIE members, Dubai
was selected to host the World Expo in 2020 – becoming the first
Arab nation and the first MEASA country to do so. Dubai’s winningbid was the result of an inspiring collaboration between the UAE’s
leadership and Expo 2020 organisers to create an event that will havea sustainable and long-lasting impact for generations to come.

The theme of Expo 2020 Dubai – ‘Connecting Minds,
Creating the Future’ – aims to cultivate new connections,collaborations and partnerships across sectors andgeographies, with the event serving as a platform to inspire
progressive change that will shape the future.
Within this, Expo 2020 identified three interconnected
drivers of progress – Opportunity, Mobility andSustainability – as subthemes.

OPPORTUNITY

MOBILITYSUSTAINABILITYEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |21

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

THE EXPO 2020 GLOBAL PLATFORM
Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme andsubthemes have been developed
to capture a vision for the futurefrom the perspective of the UAE
leadership (from Vision 2021
through to the 2071 Centennial
Plan), linking regional priorities andglobal challenges – as reflected in
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Sustainable
Development Goals.
As the world strives to createa sustainable future, within thecontext of the pandemic, Expo
2020 has sought to integratesustainability – as one of its threesubthemes – into all its activities
and create a meaningful impact
beyond the six months of theevent. It seeks to dive deep intorising global concerns aroundsustainability and the pressing
need to drive change to create abetter future.
Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion
aims to promote such interactions
by enabling new experiences
through pioneering technologies
and a sustainable infrastructure.
Furthermore, Expo 2020 hopesthat by hosting people fromacross the world at a global
platform, interactions will open up
avenues to find collective solutions
to combat global challenges. Expo
2020 will serve as a medium to22 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

breathe life into its main theme
and three subthemes. To achievethis, extensive planning is essential
to ensure visitors are given thecorrect framework through which
they can consume and immersethemselves in the dynamic,
exciting content that will be on
display.
Expo 2020 will engage with theinternational community andvisitors from across the world,
and will embark on a journey toseek collective solutions to global
challenges, in a culmination of
innovation and collaboration. Expo
2020 is the UAE’s commitment tobuilding a cleaner, safer, healthier
future for every person fromevery community – an event thatwill bring about partnerships andassociations, leading to long-term,
sustainable benefits thatwill permeate people’s lives
around the world and leave alasting legacy.

4. THE EXPO 2020
SITE PLAN
The 4.38 sqkm Expo 2020
site incorporates theOpportunity, Mobility andSustainability Thematic
Districts, all of whichconverge at Al Wasl Plaza– the beating heart of theExpo 2020 site. The site
also houses the Dubai
Exhibition Centre, Expo
2020 Dubai, the Expo 2020
Metro Station, arrival plazas,
parks, permanent buildings,
approximately 30,000 car
parking spaces and more.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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I. AL WASL PLAZA
Al Wasl Plaza is the beating heart of the Exposite, connecting all the Thematic Districts. The
domed trellis forms the largest 360-degree
projection surface in the world, creating a virtualand truly immersive experience that can beviewed from inside and outside.

II. THEMATIC DISTRICTS
There are three Thematic Districts in the
Expo 2020 site, reflecting the mega-event’s
three subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility andSustainability. Construction of the districts
was completed in May 2019. The three petalshaped districts are central to the design of themasterplan and are connected to Al Wasl Plaza.

III. UAE PAVILION
Targeting LEED Platinum certification, thebuilding’s innovative design was inspired by thewings of a falcon, the UAE’s national bird. The
longest individual wing section on the roof is
70 metres.

IV. TERRA – THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION
Embodying one of Expo 2020 Dubai’s key
subthemes, Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion
is designed to achieve LEED-Platinum
certification, while targeting net-zero energy
and water in legacy. Sustainable features
include 4,912 photovoltaic panels arranged on a
130-metre-wide roof canopy, with a series of 18
Energy Trees in the surrounding landscape.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |23

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

V. ALIF – THE MOBILITY PAVILION
Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, which istargeting LEED Gold certification, featuresa dynamic landscape with undulating tracks
and demonstration areas for the latest
innovations related to the Mobility subtheme.

VI. MISSION POSSIBLE –THE OPPORTUNITY PAVILION
Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion
encapsulates the concept that even small
actions can make a big impact. The pavilion’s
facade is enclosed with a natural terracotta,
while its ethereal canopy – shaded by layered
fabric on metal structures – floats 32 metresabove the ground.

VII. PARKS
Two major parks, Al Forsan Park and Jubilee
Park, provide space for large outdoor
performance areas, plus zones for recreational
activities. Facilities include washrooms, prayer
rooms and food and beverage outlets.

VIII. DUBAI EXHIBITION CENTRE,EXPO 2020 DUBAI

A 45,000 sqm, world-class multipurpose
space, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) will bea major draw for the Meetings, incentives,
conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry
during the World Expo and beyond.

24 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

IX. ARRIVAL PLAZASThere are four entrances to the Expo 2020
site – three leading to the welcome plazas foreach Thematic District and a fourth entrance
concourse running between the Expo 2020
Metro Station and DEC.

X. EXPO 2020 DUBAI METRO STATIONThe Expo 2020 Station is the final stop on Route
2020, an extension created by the Roads andTransport Authority (RTA) that connects Jebel
Ali Metro station with the Expo 2020 site. Witha fleet of 50 trains, it will run every two minutes,
capable of carrying up to 22,000 passengers
per hour in each direction.

XI. PERMANENT BUILDINGSAND INFRASTRUCTURE

All permanent buildings on the Expo 2020 site
are on track to achieve a minimum of LEED Goldand CEEQUAL Excellence, the highest rated
infrastructure in the region.

XII. CAR PARKS
Approximately 30,000 car parking spaces
will be available during Expo 2020. The roads
were built using reclaimed crushed concrete,salvaged from previous buildings as part of oursite-wide sustainability commitments.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |25

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

5. PARTICIPATING COUNTRIESAs of 2021, more than 190 countries
had confirmed their participation in
Expo 2020 Dubai.

6. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
As the host of Expo 2020 Dubai,
and pursuant to the Convention
Relating to International
Exhibitions that was signed in
Paris on 22 November 1928,
and the regulations madefor its implementation, theUAE is required to implementa series of legislative andfinancial measures to facilitate
the event’s organisation. To

26 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

implement these measures,the UAE Government hasdeveloped the necessary legal,financial and organisational
measures required to organiseand host the event successfully.
Compliance to laws andregulations are administeredby respective departments
and monitored by a dedicatedinternal audit team. The Dubai

Government established theWorld Expo 2020 Preparatory
Committee (the Higher
Committee) through Decree 49
of 2013. The Higher Committee
was formed to centralisestrategic decisions andoversee the overall planningand delivery of Expo 2020’s
requirements and activities.

THE BUREAUEXPO 2020 DUBAI LLC

The Bureau Expo Dubai 2020
(the Bureau) was set up underDecree 30 of 2014, issued on 25
June 2014, while Decree 31 of2014 appointed Her Excellency
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Ministerof State for International
Cooperation, as Director Generalof the Bureau. As a government
entity, the Bureau acquires its
legal and financial jurisdiction
directly from the Government of
Dubai and acts as the executive
arm of the Higher Committee.
For more information on thefunctions and powers of the
Bureau, kindly refer toExpo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability
Report 2018.

On 12 December 2015, theBureau incorporated Expo Dubai
2020 LLC in the Departmentof Economic Development(DED). Once incorporated, theorganisation set up the Boardof Directors to advise the
Director General on operational
development and overseeing
the Expo, reporting through the
Bureau to the Higher Committee.
It also set up various Board
Committees and a management
governance structure to oversee
the operational developmentof the Expo and provide timely
reports through the Bureau to
the Higher Committee.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESHIGHERCOMMITTEE
Members of the Higher
Committee, whocome from a diverse
background of expertiseand experience.
HIS HIGHNESSSHEIKH AHMED BIN
SAEED AL MAKTOUM

HIS EXCELLENCYSHEIKH SULTAN BIN
TAHNOON AL NAHYANHER EXCELLENCYREEM AL HASHIMY

President of the Dubai Civil
Aviation Authority

Member of the
Executive Council

Minister of State forInternational Cooperation

Chairman of Dubai Airports

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Director General
Expo 2020 Dubai

Chairman and CEO of
Emirates Group
Chairman of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

HIS EXCELLENCY
MOHAMMED IBRAHIM
AL SHAIBANIHIS EXCELLENCY
DR. SULTAN AHMED
AL JABER

HIS EXCELLENCY
LIEUTENANT GENERALABDULLAH KHALIFA AL MARRIHIS EXCELLENCY
MATTAR MOHAMMEDAL TAYER

Director General of
The Ruler’s Court,
Government of Dubai

UAE Minister of Industry andAdvanced Technology

Commander-in-Chief ofDubai Police

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Chairman of the Board andExecutive Director of Roads
and Transport Authority (RTA)HIS EXCELLENCYHELAL SAEED ALMARRIHIS EXCELLENCY
ENG. DAWOODABDULRAHMAN AL-HAJRIHIS EXCELLENCYKHALIFA AL ZAFFINHIS EXCELLENCY
MOHAMED ALABBAR

Director General of Dubai’s
Department of Tourism andCommerce Marketing

Director General of Dubai
Municipality

Executive Chairman of Dubai
Aviation City Corporation
and Dubai SouthFounder and Managing
Director of Emaar Properties

Vice Chairman of theExpo 2020 Dubai Higher
Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

Member of the Expo 2020
Dubai Higher Committee

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |27

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC
OVERCOMINGTHE PANDEMIC
TOGETHERAs the coronavirus spread across the globe, 2020 was a year marked by reflection,
resolution and innovation. As we continued to carefully monitor the rapidly evolving
situation, the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee made the decision to make a formal
request to the BIE to authorise a postponement of the World Expo, taking into accountthe immense global shifts taking place in the primary phases of the pandemic.
Paramount to its COVID-19 response, the UAE rolled out an ambitious
vaccination drive to safely immunise its citizens and residents freeof charge. Today, the UAE, which has also become the first Arabcountry to begin manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine, has one of mostinoculated populations in the world. To further combat the pandemic,
the government has allocated a budget of AED 256 billion to support avariety of initiatives and schemes.

28 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSUPPORTING
ECONOMICGROWTHESTABLISHINGRULES ANDREGULATIONS• Developed an

Created initiatives
to support specificsectors including:economic support
plan from the
UAE Central Bank

• Financially
supported
the federal
government• Provided local
government
packages• Instated funds toaid communities• Education• Labour• Health• IT andCommunications• Youth• Tourism• Transport

INITIATINGTHE NATIONALDISINFECTION
PROGRAMME,SOCIALDISTANCING
RULES• Developed asupport planby the Ministryof Health &Prevention• Endorsed
precautionary
measures specificto sectors andentities• Implemented

FORTIFYINGTHE NATION’SFOOD SECURITY
STRATEGY• Strategised onbuilding a robust
stockpile of healthand food supplies• Diversified foodimports

LAUNCHING
HUMANITARIAN
INITIATIVES• Government
initiatives tosupport national
and international
resilience in lightof the pandemic• Alternative
entities delivered
charitablepandemic-related
solutionsSocial Distancing
Rules.

• Media, Arts, andCultureThis segment of the report is designed to highlight how
Expo 2020 has protected workers, stakeholders and visitors
during this period of hardship – paying reverence to those
who have exhibited the UAE’s spirit of global citizenshipduring these unprecedented times.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
2020 |

29

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCOVID-19
Corporate Management
Expo has worked closely with key stakeholders to implement a range of comprehensive
health and safety measures across the delivery and operations of the site in responseto the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. SITE DELIVERY
Expo 2020 issued ‘Health and safety guidancefor construction activities during the COVID-19
outbreak’, guidelines that incorporate
requirements and best practices in line withguidance from Dubai Health Authority (DHA), UAE
Ministry of Health & Prevention, and the World
Health Organization. Under this guidance, it falls tocontractors to develop project-specific COVID-19
risk assessments and implement an action plandetailing precautions. The risk assessment andaction plan must be reviewed and approvedby the appointed supervision consultant. Sinceissuing this guidance, Expo 2020 has tracked thesubmission of risk assessments and action plansacross Expo 2020. Expo 2020’s Health and Safety
team verifies whether organisations are fulfilling
their duties through assurance visits, focusing inparticular on site welfare arrangements.
Briefing sessions have been delivered tocontractors and consultants to raise awarenessof COVID-19 precautions. Communicationmaterials have also been shared, including posters
in English and Hindi, covering topics such as
hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Regularprogramme-wide communications are issued toensure all organisations are kept up to date withnew government directives. Expo 2020 has also
provided detailed guidance on the COVID-19
reporting process and a pro-forma to assist withcontact tracing.
Significant focus has been given on ensuringcontractors adopt a comprehensive approach
to COVID-19 so workers can continue to worksafely. Expo 2020’s guidelines outline various
requirements in relation to social distancing
at project sites, worker accommodation and

30 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

worker transportation. This guidance is supportedby specific COVID-19 ‘Promises’ that identify key
behaviours that must be followed by front-line
workers.
In line with the UAE Government’s National
Disinfection Programme, the entire Expo 2020
site was subject to an extensive sanitisation
programme on 27 and 28 March 2020. The
following measures were also implemented at the
Expo 2020 offices for essential workers:

Misting of all office and public areas
with DM-approved sanitisers

Deep clean and sanitisation of all
toilets, canteens, pantries, fridges
and office desks

Fresh air unit filters cleaned in all
Expo offices

Additional hand sanitiser units
positioned in all offices and fleet
buses

Temperature screening sensors
installed at the main reception

Additional cleaners deployed toassist with ongoing cleaning andsanitisation activities

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Expo 2020 also has an on-site Emergency
Centre, which is operated 24 hours a day, sevendays a week by DHA. This facility supported theinitial assessment of workers presenting COVID19-like symptoms, before transferring them toneighbouring hospitals for further assessment,
when required.

2. EXPO 2020 PAVILIONS PREMIERE
From 22 January to 10 April 2021, Expo 2020
demonstrated that it is ready to fully open its
doors to the world later this year after safely andsuccessfully welcoming 100,000-plus visitors toexperience Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion.
Expo 2020 developed a set of COVID-19 guidelines
for this ticketed showcase that detailed theprecautionary measures implemented across thesite to protect the health, safety and well-being of all
visitors, in line with UAE Government requirements
and following the latest guidelines from global
health, science and medical experts.
Through the online booking process, all visitors wererequired to complete a health acknowledgement.
None were permitted to enter the site if sufferingfrom any COVID-19 symptoms or if they had
been in contact with any confirmed or suspected
COVID-19 positive case, and/or were under a selfquarantine order.

A number of precautions were implemented, including:

Thermal cameras at arrival points
to check the temperature of visitors
prior to entry to the site

Appropriate facilities and specialist
staff available to manage any medical
issues on-site

Requirements for all visitors to wear
face masks at all times

A dedicated call centre for visitors
to raise any COVID-19 concerns orquestions, and enquire about on-site
precautionary measures

Regular cleaning sanitisation of allvenues and common areas

Proactive COVID-19 testing of
workforce

Hand sanitiser stations positioned atregular intervals site-wide

Support and care for confirmed
cases within our workforce and close
contacts, in line with UAE regulations

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |31

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

Specific attention was given to capacity management
and social distancing:

Capacity limits to control the
maximum number of people
permitted in venues

Social distancing regulations of atleast two metres between people

Floor markings to encourage social
distancing in areas where visitors
could queue or congregate

KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE

STOP COVID-19

2 meter

Signage and posters throughout thesite to reinforce the importance ofsocial distancing

Designated staff responsible
for monitoring and regulatingsocial distancing

The Pavilions Premiere was awarded the ‘Dubai
Assured’ stamp, a Government certificate of approval
across tourism outlets and attractions that they arecompliant with the strictest international health andsafety standards.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

3. EXPO 2020 DUBAIVACCINATION DRIVE
Expo 2020 rolled out a comprehensive
vaccination programme, in which the Sinopharm
COVID-19 vaccine – approved by UAE regulators– was offered to all employees and their families,in collaboration with Al Tadawi Medical Centre.
The effort was designed to cover all Expo 2020
staff, contractors, consultants and site workers. It
was administered at a dedicated hub on the Expo
2020 site.
GROUP

NO OF PEOPLE

349
EXPO STAFF

42
EMBEDDED STAFF

982
CONTRACTORS

393
FAMILY OF STAFF AND
CONTRACTORS140
OTHERS

1,906
TOTAL FULLYVACCINATED ACROSSEXPO 202032 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

4. SCREENING FOR COVID-19
Expo 2020 has implemented a proactive
approach to COVID-19 screening to identify
potential positive cases. Dedicated temperaturecheck and thermal screening facilities have been
established to check all staff and visitors entering
the main office. Expo 2020 has also implemented
a programme of rapid testing to protect theworkforce who supported the Pavilions Premiere,
as well regular PCR tests for staff required to be in
the office for operational purposes.

5. COVID-19 TASKFORCE
Expo 2020 created a designated taskforce for thehandling of COVID-19 issues internally, along witha COVID-19 hotline to provide support for positive
cases and close contacts. The hotline is operated
24 hours a day, seven days a week, and plays a keyrole in providing aftercare to employees impacted
by COVID-19.

6. KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE
Aligned with UAE legal and other requirements,
capacity limits have been established for all
venues and spaces used by Expo 2020 staff
and consultants, with signage and alternative
measures – such as plexiglass dividers and floor
decals – to ensure social distancing measures areadhered to.
Expo 2020 has also reconfigured its officelayout to ensure appropriate social distancing
and reduce office capacities where possible.
Dedicated ‘well-being wardens’ were assigned in
the main offices to monitor that capacity limits
are not exceeded and compliance with otherprecautionary measures.

7. PROTECTING EMPLOYEESExpo 2020 has encouraged employees to workfrom home unless they need to be in the offices
for operational reasons. Before returning to theoffice, briefings are provided to employees to raise
any specific concerns and ensure they are awareof the health and safety precautions in place.
Employees classified as “vulnerable” have beenstrongly encouraged not to return to the office.
These employees include the following groups:

Employees above
60 years old

Pregnant employees

Employees with pre-existing healthconditions

People of determination

In addition, Expo 2020 published a ‘Stay Safe’guide, detailing the hygiene, disinfection andsocial distancing measures established in toilets,coffee shops, prayer rooms, the canteen, meetingrooms and pantries on the Expo 2020 premises. It
also provides information on employee practices
that must be followed while at work, including
hand hygiene, safe travel to and from the site,
workstation sanitisation, safe movement withinelevators and stairways, and the appropriate useof personal protective equipment.

8. STAYING ALERT AND VIGILANT
Expo 2020 provides regular informationfor employees through a range of different
communication programmes, including the Expo
2020 intranet, regular email bulletins and posters.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |33

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Posters have been strategicallyplaced around the Expo
2020 workplace to reinforce
precautionary measures andbehaviours, including social
distancing, use of sanitisers, aswell as correct hand washingand mask wearing. They also
include information on the
COVID-19 hotline to support
positive cases and close
contacts.
To ensure employees and theirfamilies are more effectively
equipped to deal with thechallenges presented by the
pandemic, Expo 2020 has also
deployed a comprehensive
range of health and well-being
programmes, including mental
health awareness training.

34 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 202002. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

9. MAINTAININGPERSONAL AND
PHYSICAL HYGIENE
Comprehensive cleaning andsanitisation programmes havebeen implemented across all
Expo offices. Sanitising wipes
are available for employees
to use on their own desk
spaces and IT equipment,with roaming sanitising
teams assigned throughout
common areas who focus
on high-touch points. As an
enhanced precaution, officespaces receive regular mistingand deep cleaning. Regularly
checked and replenishedhand sanitising stations
are also positioned at
strategic locations.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

10. HANDLINGHAZARDOUS WASTE
To ensure the appropriate
disposal of medical andpotentially contaminatedwaste, Expo 2020 places
yellow pedal bins, equippedwith an appropriate plastic
liner, throughout the offices.
Airtight with secure lids,
the bins are designated forhazardous waste, whichis collected by a Dubai
Municipality-approved
hazardous waste provider fortreatment and disposal as per
DM regulations.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |35

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYSTAYING ACTIVE AND RESILIENT
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Because of theunprecedented COVID-19
pandemic, employee
well-being has been morecritical than ever since
the start of the pandemic.
Expo 2020 ascribes tothe belief that our staff
are our greatest asset,with their mental andphysical well-being theforemost indicator of ourcommunity’s welfare andthe organisation’s
overall performance.
To provide consolidated
support on wellness,
we equipped our staff
members, known as our
Tribe, with the tools andresources they needed tobuild resilience, manage
anxiety and feel like theirbest selves throughout
these uncertain times.
Initiatives launched during
the pandemic included:

LEADERSHIPSUPPORT PACKS
Designed to help management oversee their teams while working
remotely and as the pandemic unfolded, leadership support packs havehelped Tribe leaders understand the anxieties faced by employees
during the pandemic; learn how to support their team’s well-being
and hold positive dialogues surrounding mental health; and provide
employees with the tools to access emotional support. By giving
leaders consolidated assistance to tackle the stresses associated withthe pandemic, we successfully equipped our management with theknowledge and skills to continue leading a productive team.

VIRTUAL WELL-BEINGSESSIONS
During the lockdown, we wanted to ensure the Tribe was still looking after
its physical, emotional and mental health. To endow staff members withthe practical tools and knowledge to create positivity and endurance,
Expo invited a variety of wellness experts to discuss well-being andanswer employee questions on a weekly basis. Topics included financial
well-being, nutritional well-being, emotional resilience during uncertain
times, the importance of sleep, mindfulness, managing stress and anxiety,and more. Each session was recorded and shared internally.

36 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSHARINGSKILLSWe also sought assistance from the Tribe to collectively create a
supportive and distanced working atmosphere. We were pleased to see
several members from the community step forward to teach their peers
and colleagues new health practices and skills. Giving employees a senseof purpose and belonging, team sessions included:.

YOGA

MEDITATIONPROJECT
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EXCEL TIPS
AND TRICKSPOSITIVE
AFFIRMATIONS

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STEPPI
With the lockdown in Dubai limiting physical activity, we took theopportunity post-lockdown to introduce Steppi to our staff. A fun fitness
app that counts your daily steps, Steppi fostered a sense of friendly
competition and accountability, with employees able to track team steps
and workout activities. Additionally, we launched monthly competitions
where teams could work together towards a common fitness goal.

NOURISHING
PRACTICE
TIPS

Meditate
TO BE ACTIVE

EVERY

DAY

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WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
NEWSLETTER

With our weekly Wellness Wednesday Newsletter, the Tribe received
wellness tips and awareness on nourishing practices – inspiring
action and highlighting resources on important welfare topics such as
mental health.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |37

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIWELLNESS

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOGUIDES

Stress Mana

gementSleep andComfortNutritions

WELLNESSGUIDES
Throughout the height of the pandemic in the UAE, Expo 2020 shared awellness guide with Tribe members every week, covering topics such as
gratitude, stress management, sleep, nutrition, keeping physically active
during lockdown, and more.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE
TRIBE
Emerging from 2020, Expo 2020 chose to leverage the new year witha renewed appreciation for the growth and varied experience that Tribemembers had endured in the past year. To let staff know they were notalone in either their struggles or achievements, we established a platform
for our employees to talk about any tips and tricks they had learned
throughout the pandemic, as well as share their passions and plans forthe future. The organisation accomplished this by introducing weekly
spotlight interviews with Tribe members as part of the circulated
wellness newsletters.

HIKINGCLUB
When the UAE’s hot weather allowed, Expo 2020’s hiking club beganencouraging employees to move, connect with nature and interact with
one another. The activity has proven to be very impactful, with more than
130 participants expressing an interest – leading to organised trips every
two to three weeks.

38 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESMASS HIGH INTENSITY INTERVALTRAINING SESSION FOR ONE YEARTO GO EVENT‘One Year to Go’ was one of Expo 2020’s first major milestones since
the postponement was announced in May 2020. While the pandemic
continued to dominate global conversation, ‘One Year to Go’ was anopportunity to re-engage the Tribe with the renewed importance andrelevance of Expo 2020 – redefining also the roles of Tribe members
during event time.
Expo 2020 also invited a well-known fitness superstar for a High Intensity
Interval Training virtual session, where members of the Tribe and theirfamilies could join remotely and enjoy a challenging workout!

WELLNESSMASTERCLASSMarch 2021 also saw the introduction of a monthly Wellness Masterclass,where Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Human Resources and Visitor Experience
Officer at Expo 2020, interviews various wellness experts. The series
is designed to educate and empower, while encouraging the Tribe to
break the stigma around mental health, check-in with themselves, learn
coping strategies and know when and where to seek help. Before andduring sessions, employees are encouraged to submit questions so theirconcerns, queries and comments are heard and addressed in a safe andwelcoming communal space.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |39

40 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

02
THE FOUNDATIONS
OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |41

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYSUSTAINABILITY
AT EXPO 2020 DUBAIA
DELIVERING ASUSTAINABLE EXPO
Sustainability at Expo 2020
has evolved during thepast 18 months, placing
significant importance on
the organisation’s ability
to manage and mitigate
major disruptions to theenvironment, economy andsociety in general.

42 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Expo 2020’s efforts to deliver
one of the most sustainable
World Expos in history align withnational and international drivers,
such as the UAE Centennial 2071
Plan, UAE Vision 2050 and theUnited Nations’ 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, andreflects the UAE’s commitments
as showcased by the national
initiative ‘A green economy
for sustainable development’.
Launched in 2012 by His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Vice President andPrime Minister of the UAE andRuler of Dubai, the plan of actionseeks to establish the UAE asa global hub and a successfulmodel of the new green economy– enhancing the country’s
competitiveness and sustainability,

while preserving its environment
for future generations.
Embodying the principles ofsustainable development,
respecting ecological limits andnatural resource constraints,
encouraging prosperity and wellbeing, while optimising conditions
for human development, Expo
2020 will focus on criticalsustainability target areas,
supported by various key
performance indicators (KPIs).

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI’S FOUR KEY SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES

1

2

Leaving a legacy of sustainableinfrastructure and futureoriented sustainable practices

Catalysing sustainability
efforts in Dubai and the UAE

3

4

Increasing public awareness byengaging society on sustainability
principles and sustainable living

Developing sustainability solutions
that are scalable, extending theirbenefits to the wider economy

EXPO 2020 ALIGNMENT WITH REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ASPIRATIONSIn order to achieve its sustainability targets, Expo 2020 has implemented a well-integrated, strategicallyconsistent approach that aligns with national and international drivers.

GLOBAL POLICY 2030 AGENDA FORSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

UAE VISION 2021

DUBAI PLAN 2021

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

Expo 2020’s programmewide sustainability strategy
ensures the integration of
a number of processes andmethodologies across a wide
range of environmental, social andgovernance (ESG) areas, including
planning, design, construction
and operations, and responsible
outcome deliveries across our
stakeholder value chain. This
provides the following:

Programme-wide
approach to sustainability,
prioritising the deliveryof passive, active andtechnological solutions

Programme-wide
approach to integrated
sustainable design,
optimising synergies
between projectsystems and components

To deliver one of the most sustainable World Expos in history, Expo 2020
Dubai’s Sustainability Policy sets the foundation to ensure the event
respects and protects the environment, societal challenges and culturaldifferences – engaging the global community, participants and visitors
to become part of the solutions that address various sustainability
challenges across the world.

44 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

Key sustainability areasof approach, aligned withnational and international
drivers to assist regional
movement towards asustainable future04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESTO ACHIEVE THIS POLICY, EXPO 2020 DUBAI ISCOMMITTED TO:•

Ensuring Expo 2020 Dubai’s four key sustainability objectives are
met–

Creating a legacy of sustainable infrastructure and futureoriented sustainable practices.

–

Catalysing sustainability efforts in Dubai and the UAE toward
Vision 2021.

–

Increasing public awarness by engaging society aboutsustainable principles toward living.

–

Developing sustainability solutions that are scalable, extending
benefits to the wider economy.

•

Advancing, aligning and promoting the UAE’s sustainability
commitments to the Paris Climate Accord and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

•

Providing visible leadership by implementing sustainable
standards, best practices and innovations, before, during andafter the event.

•

Effectively communicating this policy to all personnel involved
with Expo 2020 Dubai ensuring adequate sustainability related
information, guidelines and training are provided.

•

Advocating sustainably through an internally focused culture,
where sustainable practices are embraced by employees,
stakeholders and visitors alike.

•

Ensuring stakeholders are accountable for measuring andmaintaining Expo 2020 Dubai’s sustainability standards.

Expo 2020’s sustainability
strategy seeks to create alasting positive environmental,social and economic impact ona national, regional and global
scale.
It encompasses a sustainable
scope for several disciplines,
such as:•Sustainable construction
and materials•

Sustainable event
management andoperations•

Sustainability certifications•

Responsible procurement,
production andconsumption of resources•

Accessibility and inclusion•

Sustainable partnerships

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |45

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYEXPO 2020 SUSTAINABILITY KEY AREAS, KPIS, AND 2020 PERFORMANCE
TRANSPORTSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Encourage the use of sustainable,
low-carbon transport by providing
alternative transport options, i.e. Dubai
Metro and the Expo Rider bus service

KPIs
Encourage significant shift from private
vehicles to alternative transport options

2020 PERFORMANCE
Reduction from private toalternative vehicles

51%

ENERGYSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Ensure efficient energy use andsustainable energy production acrossExpo 2020 by applying (1) passive
design solutions and appropriate ‘active’industry standard solutions and (2)innovative technological solutions andrenewable energy systems

KPIs
Reduce energy demand inbuildings by 20% in comparison tointernational standards

2020 PERFORMANCE
Reduction when compared tointernational standards

33%

PUBLIC REALMSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVESCreate people-centric, comfortable
and walkable spaces, supporting
Expo 2020’s sustainable legacy

KPIs
Provide shading for 75% of primary
walkways in Thematic Districts at the
midday peak2020 PERFORMANCE
Shading provided for primary walkways
in thematic districts at the midday peak

Provide shading for 60% of hardlandscaping areas and public open
spaces at the midday peak58%

46 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

80%

Shading provided for hard landscaping
areas and public open spaces at the
midday peak

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESECOLOGYSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Enhance the ecological value ofthe site, protecting and promoting
biodiversity and local species

2020 PERFORMANCEof landscape plants (during Expo 2020)are native and adaptive species

KPIs
Ensure 50% of landscape plants (during
Expo 2020) and 95% of landscape plants(post-Expo 2020) are native and adaptive
species90%

Ensure 95% of landscape area ismanaged without the use of chemical
pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers

90%

of landscape area is managed without
the use of chemical pesticides,
herbicides or fertilisers

WATER
SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVESReduce the demand of potablewater systems by applying a waterefficiency hierarchy, followed by thesubstitution of potable water with
non-potable supplies

2020 PERFORMANCE
Reduced water demand in buildings ascompared to local standards

53%

94%

of non-potable exterior water uses to be
met by treated sewage effluent (TSE)82%

of condensate water recoveredfrom buildings

KPIs
Reduce water demand in buildings by
40% in comparison to local standards

Recycled water is used for 100% of
non-potable applications (e.g. irrigation,
cooling)
Collect and use 95% of condensate
water recovered from buildings

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

MATERIALSSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Minimise depletion of natural resources
through design for reuse and legacy
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainable Materials
Guidelines and the RISE Guidelines for
Sustainable Operations provide guidanceon the selection of appropriate materials

KPIs
90% of materials used in permanent
construction to be retained for thelegacy phase, District 2020

2020 PERFORMANCEof materials used in permanent
construction retained for legacy

90% of selected materials areprocured in accordance with
Sustainable Materials Guidelines

98%

98%

of selected materials procured werein accordance with Sustainable
Materials Guidelines

WASTE
SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Minimise the amount of waste
produced throughout all stages ofdesign, construction, and operation;
minimise the amount of waste that
goes to landfill by incorporating acircular economy approach; reduce
the use of single-use products
and packaging; and plan for asustainable legacy transition

KPIs
A minimum of 85% (by weight) of waste
segregated into different waste streams
during construction, operation anddecommissioning to allow for diversion
from landfill

48 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

2020 PERFORMANCEof waste was diverted
from landfill91%

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSUSTAINABILITYCERTIFICATIONSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Demonstrate global leadership,
innovation, environmental stewardship,and social responsibility by achieving
high levels of third-party green building
and site certification

2020 PERFORMANCEOn track for all permanent Expo buildings

KPIs
Achieve ‘LEED Gold’ certification for all
permanent buildings at Expo 2020

As of September 2021, a total of 119 out of 123
buildings are covered by LEED Certification:

Achieve CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ certification
for permanent Expo infrastructure projects

6 Buildings - Platinum
103 Buildings - Gold
8 Buildings - Silver
2 Buildings - Certified
8 infrastructure and public realm projects achieved
CEEQUAL Excellent.

SUSTAINABILITY OPERATIONSAND REPORTINGSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Communicate sustainability progress
and achievements in a transparent andstakeholder-responsive way

2020 PERFORMANCEOn track for event time

KPIs
Achieve ISO 20121 Sustainable EventManagement certification

Publication of Sustainability Report 2019

Publish four Sustainability Reports inaccordance with the GRI Sustainability
Reporting Standards

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCARBONSUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
Ensure carbon emissions at Expo 2020are accurately measured and minimised,with unavoidable emissions managed in
responsible manner through appropriate
offsetting programmes

KPIs
Fully implement a greenhouse gas (GHG)
mitigation and off-setting strategy

2020 PERFORMANCEOn track to implement the greenhouse gas (GHG)
mitigation and off-setting strategy

Second greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report wasissued 18 December 202050 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |51

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

B
RISE GUIDELINESFOR SUSTAINABLE
OPERATIONS
1. RISE GUIDELINES: AN OVERVIEW
Aiming to be one of the mostsustainable World Exposin history, Expo 2020 has
embedded sustainability into thephysical site, the pavilion designs
and event operations. These
commitments culminate in Expo2020’s eventual transition into
its legacy project District 2020.
Expo 2020’s commitment tosetting the foundations for asustainable social, economicand environmental legacy
involves the implementation of
Expo 2020’s RISE Guidelines for
Sustainable Operations acrossall phases of the event.

RESPECTFOR THE WORKFORCEIMPACT

FOR COMMUNITIESSAFETY

Aligned with ISO 20121
Sustainable Event Management
System and commitments
stipulated to the BIE, these Expo
2020-developed operationalguidelines help suppliers
integrate sustainability into the
products and services that they
supply to Expo 2020.
Aligned with the belief that Expo2020’s sustainability
goals can only be achieved
through internal and external
stakeholder engagement, theRISE Guidelines are designed
to be practical, achievable andaspirational – helping to leavea lasting positive legacy for ourcommunity and the environment.

52 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

FOR ALLENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE RISE GUIDELINESFOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
1.

Enable and drive Expo 2020 Dubai’s sustainability commitment
through mandatory and voluntary requirements and guidelines.
Throughout the document, two criteria for compliance –Controls and Guides – have been established. Controls address
firm Expo 2020 requirements that must be followed, while
Guides are recommended, optional requirements for suppliers
to follow where possible to help Expo 2020 and its stakeholders
maximise positive impact.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

2.

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Use the RISE methodology to challenge and motivate the market, driving positive change at the
local, regional and international level. Each criterion is defined as follows:

RESPECT
Criterion covers areas such as childlabour, worker welfare, fair trade –where requirements are aimed at
guarding the conditions for local
and overseas workers – and theimportance of making facilities
physically accessible for all, including
people of determination.

IMPACT
Requirements in this area support
the wider uptake of sustainablebehaviours to influence positivesocial development. This criterion
concerns corporate social
responsibility (CSR), recognising theopportunity for organisations toactively and positively engage thecommunities in which they operate.
Traceability through the supply chain
is also included, with requirements
for local and responsible sourcing.
Suppliers are also requested to raiseawareness of their sustainability
initiatives to visitors.

SAFETY
Criterion sets expectations for
suppliers to commit to Expo 2020’s
Health & Safety (H&S) requirements.
Suppliers are reminded to comply
with national and Expo 2020 foodhygiene standards. There are also
requirements associated with the
management and control of thepotential health impacts of cleaning
and retail products.

ENVIRONMENT
Requirements cover the naturaland built environment, recognising
the need for good stewardshipand accountability. For example,
guidelines on the use of singleuse plastics and the recycling of
packaging materials are clearly
set out within the RISE Guidelines,
supporting Expo 2020’s target ofdiverting 85 per cent of waste fromlandfill. The sustainable procurementof materials such as paper is also
reinforced under the RISE Guidelines,
alongside requirements for the
reduction of green-housegas emissions, water consumption
and pollutants.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

3. Provide a detailed description of the mandatory
and voluntary standards using the RISE
methodology for Expo 2020’s sustainability
operations requirements. Each chapter is dedicatedto a specific supplier category:

CORN

FLAKES

FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Encourage suppliers to question the sourcingof their products, eliminating any risks tounsustainable environmental practices.

FURNITURE, FITTINGS,AND EQUIPMENT
Support suppliers in ensuring all furniture,
fittings and equipment used within the Expo
2020 site are designed, procured and installed
to perform sustainably.

RETAIL
Health, Safety and Environmental caution
is required and encouraged throughout the
product supply chain and life cycle, emphasising
ethical sourcing.

PACKAGING AND SINGLEUSE MATERIALSSupport suppliers to consider strategies that
each, and their supply chains, can adopt to reducepackaging and single-use materials.

54 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

LANDSCAPING
Support the reduction of chemical pesticides,
herbicides and fertilisers, and encourage theuse of eco-friendly cleaning products. The RISE
Guidelines also support the use of green waste forcomposting, as opposed to landfill, and seek toreduce the use of peat-based compost.

LOGISTICS
Advocate minimising vehicle fuel consumption,
greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption,
vehicle journeys, packaging, waste and air pollution.

CLEANING SERVICES
Encourage cleaning-product/services suppliers to
opt for environment friendly products which adhere
to relevant global environmental certifications forcleaning products.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESLEGACY OF THE RISE GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONSSPREAD BEST PRACTICE AND LEAVE ASUSTAINABLE LEGACY
By championing new behaviours and showcasing sustainable
innovations across Expo 2020, stakeholders can play a major role inpromoting best practice at the local regional and international level.

PROVIDE STAKEHOLDERS WITH A POSITIVEREPUTATIONAL ADVANTAGE
Stakeholders within Expo 2020’s supply chain will benefit fromgreater visibility as champions of positive change and responsible
decision making. This will benefit their positive influencing power
regionally and provide them with global visibility through theplatform of Expo 2020.

POSITION EXPO 2020 AS A CATALYST FORSUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE REGION
As a future model for sustainability across the region, the Expo
2020 RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations can be usedby individuals and organisations long after Expo 2020 ends –exemplifying a lasting key performance indicator that will benefit
society for generations to come.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOEXPO 2020 PLASTIC PLEDGE:
PLANET OVER PLASTIC
According to the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP), 50 per
cent of all plastics produced are
categorised as single-use, typicallysourced from fossil-fuels and partof the ‘throwaway’ problem, where
products are produced, used once
and then thrown away forever.
This disposal process degrades
plastic material into microplastics,
which in turn affects humanwelfare and ecosystems. Present
estimates indicate the volume ofplastic in our oceans will outweighthat of fish by 2050, with plastic
production patterns set to pushgreenhouse gas emission figures
to roughly 1.34 gigatons per yearby 2030.

56 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Particularly concerned with thegrowing prevalence of single-use
plastic waste and its negative
impacts on the environment, Expo
2020 has put in place an overalltarget to divert 85 per cent of all
waste from landfill – supportedby Dulsco, Expo 2020’s Official
Waste Management Partner. In
an effort to contribute to waste
reduction, Expo 2020 has also
developed the ‘Plastic Pledge’,
which encourages its stakeholders
to minimise single-use plastics attheir pavilions during the event.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESThe Plastic Pledge covers single-use plastics for packaging and single-use disposables at Expo 2020:#1

Encourage recyclable
packaging for prepackaged front-ofhouse products#2

No single-use disposable
plastic packaging forpost-packaged front-ofhouse products#3

At least 90 per cent ofany packaging for backof-house operations
must be recyclable

Through the Plastic Pledge, Expo
2020 looks to create a platform
to create responsible community
commitments, meet its 85 percent waste diversion target andincrease awareness among
stakeholders that this can beachieved at an event of this scale.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEXPERIENCING EXPO:EXPO 2020 DUBAIPAVILIONS PREMIERE
In January 2021, Expo
2020 made the decision
to open Terra – The
Sustainability Pavilion
to the public in a limited
three-month showcase.

Running from 22 January until 10 April, the Expo Pavilions Premiere wasan opportunity for the UAE community to preview one of Expo 2020’s
signature visitor experiences, providing a glimpse of what is to comewhen the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South
Asia (MEASA) region welcomes visitors from around the world from 1
October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Terra’s emotive visitor experience uncovers the hidden harmful impactsof our personal choices and seeks to empower all who visit to become
agents of change, consider how their behaviour impacts the environmentand break the cycle of consumerism.

EMBARKING ON IMMERSIVE JOURNEYS
The Terra pavilion invites visitors to venture
through a ‘forest bed’ or into the depths ofthe ‘ocean’. In the ‘Under the Ocean’ pathway,
attendees will experience the Deep Infinity Room,filled with informative and visual displays ofmarine life, along with other interactive stations
to highlight the importance of water ecosystems.
Conversely, the ‘Under the Forest’ route will takevisitors through the roots of a forest, where every
footstep affects the ‘wood-wide-web’, highlighting
the significance of land’s symbiotic network ofliving and valuable organisms.

MOTIVATING YOUNG ‘RESCUERS’At the Pavilions Premiere, young visitors from
Pirates Surf Rescue Dubai, a diverse programmethat teaches children crucial life skills, learnt
more about how they could do their part tosave the planet. The group enjoyed taking
in Terra’s futuristic design and its interactive
displays that engage and enlightened thesebudding eco-warriors.

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESA DAY TO REMEMBER AT TERRAIn the spirit of Valentine’s Day 2021, Expo 2020 was
proud to be a part of a unique marriage proposal,
featuring Terra as a stunning backdrop. Expo 2020
was eager to mobilise its team in preparation for the
memorable day and took special steps to ensurethat the newly engaged couple and their loved ones
were able to experience the unique moment safely.

TERRA – THE SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION
Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 was
designed by Grimshaw Architects as an innovativeenvironmentally-conscious building that pushes theboundaries of sustainable design. The steel central
canopy supports 8,705 m2 of photovoltaic panels
that work towards achieving net zero energy usage.
Around the landscape of Terra, 18 Energy Trees rotate
to follow the path of the sun throughout the day
capturing additional power through their 2,160 bifacialsolar panels.
Terra was designed and built around the LEED
framework to identify and implement practical andmeasurable green solutions throughout the lifecycleof the building. Keeping this in mind, aside from thenet zero energy target, Terra also aims to achieve
the net zero water usage through efficient use ofgroundwater desalination and the reuse of
blackwater and greywater to irrigate the surrounding
native landscape.
Tiles and panels made of eco-friendly terracotta line
Terra’s lobby, bathrooms and café while sustainable,
renewable and 100% biodegradable wool felt bringlife to our café and retail shop ceilings. Terrazzo andglasscrete floorings sparkle thanks to the inclusionof waste materials such as recycled glass chips,
recycled rubber and cement from construction
projects highlighting that an environmentally soundapproach to construction need not be anything shortof fabulous.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

According to Expo 2020’s
Pavilions Premiere Satisfaction
Survey, guests ranked on-site
health and safety precautions
above eight on a scale of one tonine, highlighting Expo’s readinessto safely host the world when
it opens its doors on 1 October.
Visitors were similarly impressedwith the service and cleanlinessof Expo Rider, a dedicated, freeof charge, public bus service thatferried visitors between Dubai Malland Expo 2020 every 30 minutes.
Following their visit to Terra,
more than 90 per cent of thosesurveyed also said they were60 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 202002. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

inspired to change their behaviour,from saving water to making a
conscious effort to use less plastic.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s ‘Visitor
Experience Principles’ guided
Pavilions Premiere, with guests
invited to explore, provide
feedback on their experiences,and gain from a practical learning
experience.
1. The UAE’s value system will live
and breathe across the entire
site
2. Expo embraces the spirit ofcollaboration and partnership

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

3. Expo is multinational,
multicultural and inclusive
4. Technology is an agent ofchange
5. Expo is and inspirational call toaction6. The Expo experience iscustomisable and authentic
7. The theme and subthemes
imbue every part of the site
8. Expo is fun and suprising

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESESTABLISHED HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DURING
THE EXPO PAVILIONS PREMIERE

Thermal camera
at arrival points
to check thetemperature ofvisitors prior toentry to the site

All venues andcommon areas are
regularly cleaned
and sanitised

The Pavilions Premiere
demonstrated Expo’s
commitment to the safety
and well-being of visitors
while also delivering a oneof-a-kind experience.

Visitors are
required to wear
face masks at
all times

Hand sanitiser
stations are
positioned at regularintervals throughout
the site

Outcomes of the Expo Pavilions
Premiere have led the Expo 2020
Dubai team to appreciate theimpact of generating a dynamic
environment that evolves to
respond to the changing global
climate and expectations of theaverage visitor. Integration andengagement were revealed as themost instrumental tools that holdan inherent capacity to evoke eachof Expo 2020 Dubai’s subthemes.
Training Expo 2020 Dubai’s staff
and volunteers to cater to thevarying queries and needs ofvisitors was identified as a key
undertaking to focus on in themonths leading up to the event’s
October launch.
As the Premiere drew to a close,
Expo 2020 Dubai consolidated
visitor insights and surveyed
opinions to determine wherechanges and adaptations must

Social distancing
regulations of atleast two metres
between people

Apporpriate
facilities and specialist
staff are available tomanage any potential
medical issues onsite

occur. This consolidation revealed
key observations of strengths
and needed modifications
for the event. This paved theway for Expo 2020 Dubai todevelop recommendations
to better match and exceed
visitor expectations. The Expo
Pavilions Premiere acted as anopportunity to test and gauge
audiences’ reactions and feedback
to inform how components canoperate more efficiently and how
the organisation’s theme andpromises can be most suitablypresented and relayed. The
Premiere was instrumental in
helping Expo 2020 Dubai develop
an integrated approach to the site
and understand how they can use
the Expo brand to communicate
different messages and distinct
experiences when the event
launches in October 2021.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYINTEGRATEAS TA K E H O L D E R S
A N D M AT E R I A L I T Y
Since Expo 2020’s
inaugural report in 2018,
stakeholder mapping
has guided the event’s
materiality efforts, whichhave involved close
cooperation among various
Heads of Department
and other members ofmanagement. To identify all
relevant stakeholders, Expo
2020 has categorised its
vast stakeholder
ecosystem within thefollowing parameters:

Benchmarking Expo 2020 against
previous mega-events:
This allowed organisers to identify
relevant stakeholders at similar
mega-events and help to understandhow such stakeholders have thepotential to influence Expo 2020

This includes prominent
governing bodies such as
the BIE, UAE governmentalorganisations and Expo
2020 employees

ISO 20121:
At a minimum, this frameworkoutlines the parties that are:
1. expected to be affected by Expo2020’s activities and services, and2. reasonably affected by theorganisation’s strategies andobjectives

62 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Essential recipients of Expo2020’s relevance:04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Based on this mapping, Expo 2020’s stakeholders have been
mapped into the following categories:

1. STAKEHOLDERENGAGEMENT
AND MATERIALITY

1

2
Expo 2020
Dubai LLC and
its Employees

43International
Participants

5
Local Community
and Volunteers

7

Vendors andSuppliers

6
Civil Society and
Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs)

8
Partners

Stakeholder categories
were adopted largely
under the ISO 20121:2012
framework. However,workers’ trade union
organisations were notincluded in the materiality
exercise because
expatriate workers under
UAE law are directed totake recourse with the
Ministry of Labour for all
work-related grievances.

Construction
Consultants,
Contractors
and Workers

9Youth and Schools
Programmes

Government
Authorities andEntities

Additionally, to prevent acomplete exclusion of thiscategory, material topic
discussions with internaland external stakeholders
were designed to be
inclusive of all employee
levels.

In light of the pandemic, Expo
2020 elected a different formatof conducting materiality
workshops, previously
undertaken in person, in order
to be safe yet engaging.
Taking learning cues fromprevious Expo 2020 materiality
workshops, the organisation
was able to host two virtualinternal stakeholder
materiality workshops: onefor senior management andemployees, and the other for
external stakeholders.
All sessions were carriedout online to educate
management personnel,
Expo 2020 employees andexternal stakeholders on how
sustainability is integrated
across the entirety of Expo
2020. Attendees were guided
through an interactive voting
process to measure theirperspectives of sustainability
topics related to Expo 2020.
The workshops were formatted
to allow participants to voteon 36 topics, which included
three GRI sector-specifictopics (Event Economics,
Event Product Responsibility,
and Event Sourcing) and fivenon-GRI topics (Innovation,
Accessibility, COVID-19,
Business Resilience, andAlignment with Local andNational Mandates). The topics
of Innovation and Accessibility,
deemed material in 2019,were maintained to compare
Expo 2020’s sustainability
performance year-on-year,
while COVID-19, BusinessResilience, and Alignment with
Local and National Mandates
were added because of theirunique global relevance overthe past 18 months.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

2020 MATERIALITY WORKSHOPSINTERNAL

EXTERNAL

3 March 2021

4 March 2021

Workshop 1 (Expo 2020 employees):
26 participants

7 March 2021

Workshop 2 (Expo 2020 external stakeholders):
70 participants, including representatives
from government entities and Expo 2020’s
commercial partners

Workshop 3 (Expo 2020 senior management):
15 participants

INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS WHO ATTENDED THE
MATERIALITY WORKSHOPS:
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

Accessibility and Inclusion

Control Risks

Commercial

Department of Economic Development (Dubai)

Commissioner General Office

DP World

Contracts and Procurement

Dubai Chamber

Director General OfficeDubai Health Authority

Emiratisation

Dubai Municipality

Expo Live

Dubai Tourism

Expo Pavilions & Exhibitions

DulscoExpo School Programme

Emirates

Health and Safety, and Environment

EmrillHuman Resources

EsharahInnovation and Future Technologies

Expo 2020 Volunteer Representative

Integrated Delivery Office

Jacobs Mace

International Participants

Kier International – Middle East

Moment Makers

Ministry of Community Development

Operations Support Services

Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure

Overlay

Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH)

Protocol and Guest Services

Orient Insurance

Sales, Marketing and Communications

PepsiCo

Sustainability-Real Estate

SAP

Worker Welfare

64 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

2. METHODOLOGY
The virtual workshops wereconducted using Mentimeter,
an online voting applicationthat allows users to cast theirvotes, in real time, through theirsmartphones or laptops. Aftereach topic was introduced,
the floor was then opened
to questions and discussion.
Following this, session
participants ranked each topic
using a scale between 1 and10. To avoid any response
bias, results were not shown
until after all participants had
finished casting their votes. The
ranking of topics was basedon the significance of each
topic from the point of view ofstakeholders. The scale ranged
between 1 (least significant) and
10 (most significant).

3. RESULTS AND
FINDINGS
Of the 36 sustainability topics
that were discussed withstakeholders, 21 of them wereranked as material topics in
2020, based on a set scoring
threshold. Accessibility andInnovation were ranked as
key concerns for stakeholders,
while the newly added issue of
COVID-19 earned the top spotin the exercise, reflecting broad
stakeholder interest in thistimely and impactful topic.

COMBINED RANKING FROM INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL WORKSHOP RESULTSGRI STANDARD

TOPIC

Non-GRI Standard

COVID-19

306

Waste

305

Emissions

412

Human Rights Assessment

403

Occupational Health and Safety

302

Energy307

Environmental Compliance

405

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

401

Employment

205

Anti-corruption

Non-GRI Standard

Accessibility

Non-GRI Standard

Innovation

416

Customer Health and Safety

204

Procurement Practices

406

Non-discrimination

413

Local Communities

303

Water and Effluents202

Market Presence

301

Materials

201

Economic Performance

304

Biodiversity

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |65

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

4. MATERIALITY MATRIX
Results from the 2020 Materiality Assessment
are displayed in the figure below. The graph’s
vertical axis represents results from Expo 2020’s
external stakeholder materiality workshop, while
the horizontal axis depicts findings from the twointernal stakeholder sessions.

9.5
OCCUPATIONALHEALTH AND SAFETY

EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

9.0

CUSTOMER HEALTH AND SAFETY

WASTE

8.5

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

LOCAL COMMUNITIESALIGNMENT WITH NATIONALAND LOCAL MANDATESWATER AND EFFLUENTS
MARKET PRESENCESUPPLIER ENVIRONMENTALASSESMENT

8.0

GRI EVENT ORGANISERSSECTOR SUPPLEMENT - EVENTPRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY

7.0

ACCESSIBILITY

MATERIALS

SECURITY PRACTICESGRI EVENT ORGANISERS SECTOR
SUPPLEMENT - EVENT SOURCINGANTI-CORRUPTIONINNOVATION

BUSINESS RESILIENCEINDIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACTS

7.5

COVID-19

EMISSIONSENERGYECONOMIC PERFORMANCEBIODIVERSITYGRI EVENT ORGANISERS SECTOR
SUPPLEMENT - EVENT ECONOMICSEMPLOYMENTNON-DISCRIMINATIONCHILD LABOUR

HUMAN RIGHTSASSESMENTPROCUREMENT PRACTICESDIVERSITY AND
EQUAL OPPORTUNITYFORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOUR

SUPPLIER SOCIAL ASSESSMENT
SOCIOECONOMIC COMPLIANCE

MARKETING
AND LABELLINGLABOUR/MANAGMENT RELATIONSTRAINING AND EDUCATION

6.5
6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

HIGH MATERIAL

66 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

MATERIAL

LOW MATERIAL

8.5

9.0

9.5

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |67

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYBS U S TA I N A B L E
S U P P LY C H A I N
Guided by its procurement
principles of simplicity,transparency, andinclusivity, Expo 2020 has
established a streamlined
supply chain that isdesigned to be transparent,
as well as geographicallyand demographically
inclusive. Retaining theseprinciples is imperative
as part of Expo 2020’s
ambition to extend its
sustainability vision acrossits supply chain.

COVID-19 has had an inevitable impact on Expo 2020’s supply chain.
Through robust business resilience practices, the organisation was able toproactively manage the impacts of the pandemic, ensuring the quality ofthe event will not be compromised. With this in mind, Expo 2020 sought
value-driven alliances with incumbent suppliers to develop solutions forthe diverse demands of the mega event.
As per Expo 2020’s tender process, review teams were establishedto evaluate submitted tenders for technical and commercial aspects.
Ensuring only approved members are part of the evaluation process,the tender review is supported by methodical procedures. Abiding by anagreed timescale and a predetermined scoring matrix, the Tender Review
Team, if required, consults with bidders for further clarifications to base
awarding decisions on complete and accurate information.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI’S SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN IN NUMBERS

Total number ofawards to SMEs to date:

7,493(~50% OF ALL
OUR AWARDS)
Total indirect SME
spend to date (via main
construction contractors):

AED
3.05
BILLION
Total RFx (opportunities)
published through online
procurement portals:>1,700Total number of countries
represented on supplierregistration portal:

174
68 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Total direct Expo spend
with SMEs to date:

AEDBILLION
2.1
Total spreadof awards:

93

COUNTRIES
Total number of supplierregistrations acrossprocurement portals:

30,000+04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

1. SUSTAINABLE
MATERIALS
The Expo Higher Committee
has instituted a specialised
Contracts and Tender
Committee, responsible forsupervising the procurement
and tendering process inrelation to work undertaken
for Expo 2020. The Committee
works extensively withall contractors, suppliers,
third-party delivery agents,
developers, and participants
to increase their awarenessaround sustainability issues,and it has embedded critical
Key Performance Indicators(KPIs) into their contracts.

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Expo 2020 is committed to vetting its sustainable material selection byimplementing measures such as:

Guidelines that account for embedded carbon:
Balancing performance-based and compliancebased carbon footprints, emissions shall becalculated for key construction materials

Policies to promote reused materials, those with ahigh recycled content:
Assessments shall consider the possibility anddesirability of using a mixture of materials that
support sustainable procurement

Strategies to encourage responsible and regionalsourcing of materials:
As a minimum, responsible sourcing shall alignwith Expo 2020 Dubai’s Vendor Code of Conduct

Selecting materials that do not harm indoor
environmental quality:
Lists have been developed to highlight
construction materials of unacceptable risk andpromote the selection of lower-risk materials

Adopting material KPIs and sustainability certification criteria, such as
LEED, helps Expo 2020 measure its progress towards integrating asustainable supply chain at various stages. A project team has been
designated to establish these requirements in the project-specificSustainability Management Plan, ensuring that materials for built assets
are selected for their low environmental impact.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |69

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYOVERVIEW OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR KEY MATERIALSPRODUCT

CERTIFICATIONSUBMISSION REQUIREMENT

STEEL

•

World Steel Association Climate Action
Programme (CAP) membership•

Environmental ProductDeclaration (EPD)•

CARES Sustainability Standard, BES 6001
or equivalent•

Evidence of membership•••

EPD to EN 15804•

Environmental ProductDeclaration (EPD)••

Certificate•

Chain of Custody (CoC)
certificate with codes or serial
numbers•

Copy of certificate••

Copy of certificate

CONCRETE

TIMBER

AGGREGATEPVC

ALL MATERIALS

Certified to the WBCSD
Cement Sustainability Initiative Responsible
Sourcing Scheme•

Replacement of Portland Cement with Fly Ash,
Silica Fume and/or GGBS•Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)
certification•

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification (PEFC)

Evidence of membership••

BES 6001 certification•

ACI 555R in conjunction with corresponding
ASTM standards•

Reuse based on ASTM and AASHTO standards•

ECVM Industry Charter for the Productionof VCM and PVC••

Certificate

For suppliers with more than 250 employees:

•

•
•
•

BS EN ISO 14001 accreditation

Copy of certificate and/or
management system•

Document demonstratingcompliance••

BS EN ISO 9001 accreditation

Crushed Concrete Aggregate (CCA) in concrete
production conforms to BS 8500 requirements

EMAS accreditation
Employer Approved Environmental
Management System

BS OHAS 18001 accreditation

70 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Lab test results

Product data sheet

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

2. PROMOTING LOCAL PROCUREMENT
Seeking to innovate every
aspect of its value chain,
Expo 2020 Dubai extends its
responsibility of administering
sustainability throughout
its operations by way of a
responsible procurement
strategy.
Embedding featuresof accountability andtransparency, the organisation
has embraced digitalisation
within its vending practices
by establishing an entirely
automated eSourcing platform.
Through this integration, Expo
2020 Dubai can offer efficiency
and oversight to the tendering
process, while enforcing
thorough governance and faircompetition.
In the spirit of fairness andopportunity, the procurement
portal is designed to bewelcoming to all potential
vendors and collaborators.

2020 REPORT FIGURES
Total awards

In its aspiration to generate
local and national value, theorganisation’s procurement
facilities are made accessible
and user-friendly for a medleyof businesses, spanning
regional to international,
and corporations to small
and medium enterprises(SMEs). Expo 2020 Dubai has
facilitated the development of
an SME-friendly registration
process with a built-in systemof validation that integrates
all SME members throughExpo’s official procurement
portal. Through workshops
for awareness purposes andnetworking events organisedby the Procurement
Department, Expo 2020
Dubai actively looks to bolster
local SMEs through practicalsupport and generating
equitable opportunities toenhance visibility.

AWARDS TO END OF 2020

Because of the postponement,
the postponement, Expo 2020
Dubai’s logistics network saw
slight disruptions that weresteadied by quick procurement
planning and response toembedding safety precautions
in service contracting, andmobilising procurement tosuit the needs of the delayed
launch of the mega event. By
ensuring close cooperationand correspondence withsupporting business functions,procurement managed to retain
a strong performance given
the unpredictability posed by
2020. Over 2,300 UAE-based
companies won tenders withthe organisation in 2020, while
SMEs comprised of over half ofall the vendor contracts enteredby Expo 2020 Dubai. Whilethese statistics are slightly
lower than the previous year,
extenuating circumstanceswere deemed a crucial factor
ito explain the metric.

AWARDS IN 2020 ONLY

13,000+3,200+% award to SMEs

52%

51%

% award to UAE companies

74%

74%

AWARDS TO END OF MARCH 2021
Total awards

14,000+% award to SMEs

52%

% award to UAE companies

74%

As the organisation continues to operate a supply chain built uponfairness, quality, and opportunity, it is evident that the coming phasesof the mega event will have substantial and positive ramifications in the
UAE’s logistics network.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |71

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYPRACTICING ETHICALPROCUREMENT:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
During the past year, global supply
chains were tested on their ability
to withstand the disruptions
and obstacles caused by the
pandemic. Expo 2020 focused
its procurement objectives onnavigating this unprecedented
period of disruption by leveraging
its existing collaborative vendor
systems to achieve operational
continuity. The organisation’scompetitive advantage camefrom an immensely capablecross-functional team that heldstrong business ties with Expo2020’s International Participants,
alongside a successful automatedplatform to assimilate information
on UAE procurement facilities
for participating nations.
While borders and travel weresignificantly impacted by the
pandemic, Expo 2020’s longstanding and consistent approachto digitalisation and accessibility –with the relationships it cultivatedwith its suppliers – was adifferentiating factor in its success.
The CIPS Middle East Conference
and Supply Management Awards

took place on 9 February 2021,
where Expo 2020 was awarded
top honours in a total of six
categories, including Overall
Winner. Winning accolades in thefields of Ethical Procurement, Risk
Mitigation, Supplier RelationshipManagement, Supplier Diversity,and Procurement Team of theYear, the organisation was proud
to be recognised for its processoriented approach in securing andenhancing its ambitious
value chain.

EXPO 2020’S AWARD-WINNING ACHIEVEMENTS

EthicalProcurement
Before a company
can bid to workwith Expo 2020,
it must complete
a worker welfare
questionnaire andagree to an audit,
with another audit
within threemonths of starting
work – alongsideongoing reviews.

Risk
Mitigation
Early tendering
practices within
Expo 2020 helped
expand contractor
choice, limit risk andmap supply chainsfor key spend areas,
while also reducing
risk associatedwith sustainability
outcomes.

72 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Supplier
RelationshipManagement
An official
partnership with
Jacobs Macemeant Expo 2020’s
delivery camewith high certainty
over costs.

Supplier
Diversity
Expo 2020 targets
awarding 20
per cent of themonetary valueof its contracts
to SMEs, throughits own online
procurement
portal bringing
together morethan 30,000
buyers andsuppliers in the
MENA region.

Procurement
Team of the Year
Expo 2020’s
cross-functional
procurement teamuse centralised anddecentralised systems
to segment specialists
and generalists,channelling skills into
high-value areas andsaving time for lowvalue transactions.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

3. SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPSThe true value ofpartnerships have taken on amultidimensional form in thepast year, as collaboration– representing Expo 2020’s
theme of ‘Connecting Minds,
Creating the Future’ – grows
ever more important. Expo2020’s network of partners
have displayed confidence
and innovation in helping theregion’s largest ever event
prepare to deliver a one-of-akind experience.
Expo 2020 views its
partnerships as a driving force
for innovation, significantly
directing how it will deliver awholly unique visitor experienceand legacy. The event sees
its Official Partnerships as anopportunity to spread smart
growth principles, not only in
the UAE but also on a regionaland global scale. Recognising
their invaluable ongoingsupport, Expo 2020 is proud torecognise its 12 Official PremierPartners, eight Official Partners
and eight Official Providers.

COMPANY NAMEACCENTURE

COMPANY NAME

AL AIN FARMS

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Digital Services
Partner (jointly with
Etisalat Digital)

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Dairy Provider

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Alongside Etisalat Digital, Accenture will ensure
world-class integration of various ICT systems andinnovative solutions to meet the digital needs ofvisitors, organisers and participants. Accenture will
also design, build and run solutions in areas such as
virtual assistance, business intelligence, analytics,
mobile applications and guest relations.

Founded in 1891, Al Ain Farms is a celebrated dairy
brand, known for its milk, laban and yoghurt. Througha collaboration based on the shared principles ofsustainability and innovation, Al Ain Farms will help
take Expo 2020 into millions of homes across thecountry and welcome visitors from all over the world
with its quality local products.

COMPANY NAMECANONCOMPANY NAMECHRISTIE DIGITALPARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Printing andImaging Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Projection and
Display Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

The first company to support a World Expo’s entire
printing and imaging needs, Canon will leverage its
80 years of expertise to support on-site activities tocapture Expo 2020 – including printing services for
all participants, businesses and visitors, accreditation
services and back-office operations. Canon
Professional Services will also offer camera and lens
loads, expertise, and maintenance for media on-site.

A global leader in visual technologies, Christie will
showcase its state-of-the-art digital solutions that help
create the world’s best shared experiences and enable
Expo 2020 Dubai to realise its objective of being oneof the most advanced and technologically memorable
World Expos. Christie will exhibit its breakthroughRGB pure laser projection technology, designed andbuilt using the highest environmental standards andprocesses. More than 250 of its D4K40-RGB projectors
will create life-evolving scenes on Al Wasl dome’s giant
130-metre-wide projection surface.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOCOMPANY NAMECISCOCOMPANY NAME

DEWA

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Digital
Network Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Sustainable
Energy Partner

03. THE EXPO LEGACYDESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Cisco is the worldwide leader in technology thatpowers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by
reimagining applications, securing data, transforming
infrastructure, and empowering teams for a global andinclusive future. As the Official Digital Network Partner
for Expo 2020, Cisco will provide the secure, intelligent
foundation for connectivity through its intent-based
networking solution. Its network will also help enable
visitors, exhibitors and organisers connect anywhere,
on any device – securely, reliably and seamlessly.

As the Official Sustainable Energy Partner of Expo
2020 Dubai, DEWA will deliver renewable energy,
electricity and water projects in collaboration
with Expo 2020. Through Shams Dubai, DEWA iscontributing towards energy generation from solar
arrays installed at the Expo site. DEWA has also built
three 132/11kV substations with 45 kilometres ofhigh voltage 132kV cables. The Expo site will also be
provided with electric vehicle charging stations fromthe Green Charger initiative to support the growing
electric vehicle industry in Dubai. A collaboration
between DEWA, Siemens Energy and Expo 2020
Dubai, the Green Hydrogen Project – the first of its
kind in the MENA region – at the Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park aims to demonstrate
the production of green hydrogen from solar power, as
well as the storage and re-electrification of hydrogen,turning hydrogen back into electricity.

COMPANY NAMEDIGITAL14

COMPANY NAMEDOMINO’S PIZZAPARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Cyber
Security Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Pizza Provider

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONAs Expo 2020’s Official Cyber Security Provider,
Digital14 will safeguard the digital experience of
millions of visitors using Expo 2020’s digital platform,
as well as the data and applications that run on it.
This UAE-based trusted advisor in cyber resilience
will provide a range of cutting-edge cyber security
services before, during and after the event, including
cyber security management, monitoring, risk
assessment, incident response and technical forensics.

Founded in 1960 and selling more than 500 million
pizzas worldwide annually, Domino’s has a long history
of innovation. The first company to promise delivery
within 30 minutes, it pioneered technology that allows
customers to track the progress of their order online
and is currently in the process of creating a self-driving
delivery car. Visitors seeking a great value meal willfind several Domino’s outlets across Expo 2020, eachserving delicious handcrafted pizzas, as well as aselection of sides and desserts.

74 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESCOMPANY NAMEDP WORLDCOMPANY NAMEDUBAI CHAMBERPARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Premier Global
Trade Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Business
Integration Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

DP World is one of the world’s leading logistics
solutions providers. It owns and operates 80 terminals
globally, including Jebel Ali Port, less than 10km
from the Expo 2020 site. An active supporter ofinnovation and start-up organisations, both locally andinternationally, DP World is playing a vital role in the
supply chain of Expo 2020, providing logistical support
for the participating countries, while DP World’s
FLOW Pavilion will demonstrate the connectivity andmovement of cargo across the world and highlight thevital role of smarter trade in the global economy.

As the Official Business Integration Partner of Expo
2020 Dubai, Dubai Chamber will play a pivotal role increating new connections and fostering cross-bordercollaboration. The Chamber will provide an ideal
platform for UAE companies and their internationalcounterparts to network at its dedicated on-sitefacility at Expo 2020. In addition, it will host andsupport several high-profile events during the mega
event, including the Global Business Forum Africa (GBF
Africa), GBF Latin America, GBF ASEAN, the 12th World
Chambers Congress and the 5th edition of the Global
Islamic Economy Summit.

COMPANY NAMEDULSCOCOMPANY NAMEEMAAR HOSPITALITY GROUPPARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Waste
Management Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Hotel, Hospitality
and Catering Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONAs the Official Waste Management Partner of Expo
2020 Dubai, Dulsco will help Expo achieve the target ofdiverting 85 per cent of waste from landfill as it aspires
to deliver one of the most sustainable World Expos
ever. Dulsco’s purpose built Waste2Resource facilities
will support Expo’s mission to reduce, reuse, repurpose,and recycle the waste generated from the event. This
involves initiatives such as recycling paper, cardboard
and plastic to produce useful items like coffee cup
holders and t-shirts; and upcycling glass to create
sustainable mementos.

Emaar Hospitality Group, the home-grown hospitality
brand will manage 2020 Club by Emaar, a dedicatedhospitality tower enviably located at the very heart of
the Expo 2020 site, with direct views of the stunning
Al Wasl Plaza and the UAE Pavilion. Featuring several
floors of premium lounges, event spaces, a rooftop
bar and Emaar Hospitality catering, Emaar Hospitality
Group is committed to offering the highest standardsof service and hospitality, from award-winningcuisine to world-class events. 2020 Club by Emaaris the ultimate destination for distinctive hospitality
experiences at Expo 2020.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |75

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCOMPANY NAME

EMIRATESCOMPANY NAME

EMIRATED NBDPARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Airline Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Banking Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONEmirates, an award-winning international airline witha global footprint across six continents, will play a keyrole in helping attract and bring visitors to Expo 2020.
The Emirates Pavilion will offer visitors a glimpse
into the future of commercial aviation, exploring theboundaries of innovation and emerging aviation
technologies. The Cleaner Skies installation at theEmirates Pavilion will highlight key sustainability issues
in the context of passenger growth, technologicaladvancements, and promising innovations to ensurecleaner and quieter skies.

Discover a world of financial services with Emirates
NBD Group. With Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic andLiv, the group’s partnership with Expo 2020 Dubaibrings a unique opportunity to showcase innovations
in smart technology, digital banking and global bestpractice through Emirates NBD’s site-wide presence
and its Bank of the Future.

COMPANY NAMEENOC

COMPANY NAMEESHARAH ETISALATSECURITY SOLUTIONS LLC

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Integrated
Energy Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Secure
Systems Provider

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONAs the Official Integrated Energy Partner for Expo
2020 Dubai, ENOC’s participation comprises a stateof-the-art ENOC Pavilion, designed to challenge theconventional understanding of energy; the Service
Station of the Future, the world’s first LEED platinum
certified service station; ZOOM convenience stores
located in prime locations across Expo 2020 site; andan array of services and offerings for visitors. ENOC isalso an Official Ticket Reseller for Expo 2020 through
ZOOM convenience stores across the UAE.

Esharah Etisalat Security Solutions was establishedin 2015 as a system integrator, providing state-ofthe-art-smart solutions. The group offers technology
solutions that help its clients overcome practicalchallenges and achieve the highest aspirations byfacilitating reliable, sustained communications. As aprovider of secure communications for security staff
and first responders at Expo 2020, Esharah will help toensure the safety of millions of visitors. As the Official
Secure Systems Provider, Esharah will provide a secure
mobile telecommunications network for all handheld
communications devices used at Expo 2020.

76 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESCOMPANY NAMEETISALATCOMPANY NAMEJACOBS MACE

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Programme Delivery
Management Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Telecommunications
Partner
Official Digital Services
Partner (jointly with Accenture)

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Etisalat Group, one of the world’s leading telecom
groups, provides innovative solutions and services
to 154 million subscribers in 16 countries across theMiddle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA)region. Ranked strongest brand across all categories
in MEA by Brand Finance, Etisalat is also recognised
as the fastest mobile network globally by Ooklas
Speedtest in 2020. As the Official Telecommunications
Partner and Official Digital Services Partner of Expo
2020, the latter jointly with Accenture, Etisalat will
empower Expo 2020 as one of the fastest, smartest
and most connected sites on earth – offering visitors
advanced digital and telecom services to create
unforgettable memories.

Jacobs Mace is an unincorporated joint venture
between Jacobs, a global professional services andtechnical solutions provider, and Mace, an international
consultancy and construction company, shaping
the built environment. Jacobs Mace is the official
Programme Delivery Management Partner for Expo
2020 Dubai, supporting the delivery of the entire
infrastructure on the Expo site. Working together since2014, Jacobs Mace and Expo 2020 have transformed
the 4.38 sqkm site in Dubai South. Bringing
international and local expertise in programme andproject management, Jacobs Mace is leading thedelivery programme for more than 30 individual
projects at Expo 2020, creating a lasting legacy for
the UAE.

COMPANY NAMEL’ORÉALCOMPANY NAMEMASTERCARDPARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Beauty Products
and Services Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Payment
Technology Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

L’Oréal has devoted itself to beauty for more than
100 years. As the world’s leading beauty company,
it employs 88,000 people worldwide and is present
across all distribution networks: mass market,
department stores, pharmacies, hair salons, travel retail,branded retail and e-commerce. With research andinnovation at the core of its group strategy, L’Oréal setsout ambitious sustainable development goals for 2030
and aims to empower its ecosystem to create a more
inclusive and sustainable society. By partnering with
Expo 2020 Dubai, L’Oréal aspires to share its vision ofsustainable beauty, tailor-made and powered by newtechnologies – to make beauty products and services
even more accessible, adapted and inspiring to all.

As the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo
2020, Mastercard will harness the power of innovation
to demonstrate how it can create a seamless,borderless world and connect people in simple, secureand smart ways. Mastercard is committed tomaking Expo 2020 Dubai truly priceless, offering
unforgettable experiences, extraordinary surprises andexclusive access to visitors and residents throughout
their journey.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |77

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCOMPANY NAMENISSANCOMPANY NAMEORIENT

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Automotive Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Insurance Provider

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Nissan will showcase the future of mobility at Expo
2020 Dubai with next-generation cars and advanced
technologies, all powered by Nissan Intelligent
Mobility. In addition to the regional debut of Ariya,
Nissan’s revolutionary crossover EV, Nissan will also
provide a fleet of over 600 operational vehicles to
Expo 2020 Dubai.

Orient Insurance will provide property insurance for
Expo’s iconic architecture, plus liability coverage for
operations. It will also offer services to participants,
including businesses, multilateral organisations, nongovernment organisations, educational institutions and
191 participating nations.

COMPANY NAMEPEPSICOCOMPANY NAMESAP

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Beverage andSnack Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Innovative Enterprise
Software Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Expo 2020 and PepsiCo have joined forces with ashared vision to work together towards a healthierand more sustainable future in the lead up to, during
and beyond the World Expo. Expo 2020 and PepsiCo
are working together to inspire and educate millions
on areas of critical importance including water
stewardship, sustainable packaging, agriculture andnutrition. PepsiCo will also bring its portfolio of brands,
activation and entertainment expertise.

SAP envisions unprecedented opportunities by
putting purpose and sustainability at the core ofits business, making sustainability profitable andprofitability sustainable. SAP’s expanding portfolio
leveraging a green cloud, business networks, andbusiness technology platform to enable business
transformation while embedding sustainability as a
critical measure of success.

78 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

As the Official Innovative Enterprise Software Partnerof Expo 2020, SAP provides real-time solutions to
help optimise processes for organisers, pavilions andretailers, while reducing the environmental footprintand delivering personalised experiences for millions ofvisitors from around the world.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESCOMPANY NAMESIEMENSCOMPANY NAMESWATCHPARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Provider

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Infrastructure
Digitalisation Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Timing Provider

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

Siemens is a global technology powerhouse thathas stood for engineering excellence, innovation,
quality, reliability and internationality for more than
170 years. Active around the world, the company
focuses on intelligent infrastructure for buildings
and distributed energy systems, and on automationand digitalisation in the process and manufacturingindustries. Siemens brings together the digital andphysical worlds to benefit customers and society. As
the Official Infrastructure Digitalisation Partner for
Expo 2020, Siemens is using technology to co-create
interconnected environments to develop a blueprint
for future smart cities at Expo 2020 – a city that is safe,
secure, comfortable and ready for future generations.

Swatch is a leading Swiss watchmaker and the proud
Official Timing Provider of Expo 2020. The brand’s four
on-site stores will invite visitors to learn more about
its journey of innovation with purpose – exploring
the responsible mindset of Swatch, ranging from theinnovative headquarters – designed by award-winningarchitect Shigeru Ban – to its bio-innovative materials.

COMPANY NAMETERMINUS GROUPCOMPANY NAMEUPSPARTNERSHIP TIER

Premier Partner

PARTNERSHIP TIER

Official Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Robotics Partner

CATEGORY/DESIGNATION

Official Logistics Partner

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

As one of the leading smart service providers to shape
the next generation technology, Terminus Groupwill deploy more than 150 programmable robots tointeract with visitors during Expo 2020. These robots,with features such as 5G network capability, and AIdriven object mapping and object detection, will greet
visitors and provide hospitality services. These
robots include Opti, one of the Expo 2020’s three
Official Mascots.

Global logistics leader UPS provides a broad range of
integrated logistics solutions for customers in morethan 220 countries and territories. With 543,000
employees executing its strategy (Customer first,
People led, Innovation driven), UPS moves three
per cent of the world’s GDP daily, connecting theplanet with a commitment to quality service andenvironmental sustainability. As the Official Logistics
Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, UPS will continue todeliver what matters to Expo 2020’s mission, helping
to continue moving the world forward.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |79

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYIMPACTA
E CO N O M I C
I M PAC T
As Expo 2020 Dubai
prepares to open its doors
to 191 participating nations,each with its own country
pavilion, it is important
for the organisation torecognise its role, not only
as the Arab world’s largest
event ever held and thefirst World Expo held in the
Middle East, Africa
and South Asia (MEASA)
region, but also also as along-term investment for
the UAE.

80 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

The six-month event represents
an unprecedented opportunity
for individuals, businesses of all
sizes, international organisations
and government entities fromacross the world to come together
and form new partnerships
and discover new business
opportunities, that will enablerobust business connectivity andsustainable economic growth. This
will become a significant part of
Expo’s long-term legacy, delivering
meaningful impact across theregion and beyond, and catalysing
a more diversified and resilient
global economy.
The economic impact of theevent is judged on a Direct,
Indirect, and Induced basis, with
key outputs being Gross Value
Added (GVA) and Job Years. It has
been evaluated using external,
independent consultants, withresults made publicly available forreview and analysis. The impact
report findings have been used toestimate the event’s likely impact
on the economy, in terms of time
period and sector, as well as
total value. Using this data, Expoand other interested parties canevaluate where the economy may
need support and assistance, as
well as areas that can be enhanced
through event activities.
The findings illustrate that themega event is likely to contribute
AED 122.6 billion GVA to the
UAE economy from 2013-2031– equivalent to 1.5 per centof the country’s annual Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) at its
peak, during the event. Expo 2020
and its legacy are also expected
to guarantee 49,700 full-time
equivalent (FTE) jobs per year in
the UAE between 2013-2031.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Because of the fluctuations in the local economy caused by COVID-19,
alongside the challenges in accurately forecasting both a hypothetical
non-Expo baseline and the predicted reality when Expo 2020 takes
place, the report will be updated with actual event figures and postevent analysis. These statistics will then be considered against a derived
baseline post-COVID economy to update the impact of Expo 2020 on
the economy of the UAE.

KEY DRIVERS OF IMPACTVA CA NT

PRE-EXPO

DURING EXPOLEGACYTOTAL GVA AED 37.7B

TOTAL GVA AED 22.7B

TOTAL GVA AED 62.2B

68% of the total
GVA impact istargeted towards
the construction
sector

39% of the total
GVA impact istargeted towards
the restaurant,
hotels sector

87% of the total
GVA impact is likely
to be felt in theevents organisation
and businessservices sector

An average of
37,500 jobs
maintained perannum

An average of
94,400 jobs
maintained perannum

An average of
53,800 jobs
maintained per
annum

Roughly 20% of
on-site spendingis likely to bechannelled toward
the SME sector

Roughly 20% of
on-site spendingis likely to bechannelled toward
the SME sector

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |81

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYKEY SECTORS IMPACTED BY EXPO 2020 DUBAIEXPO 2020
GVA
IMPACTSEMPLOYMENTIMPACTSWIDER NONMARKET
IMPACTSThe value of goods andservices produced in an
area, industry or sector ofan economy*

The number of Full Time
Equivalent (FTE) employees• Building relatonships

DIRECT

INDIRECTINDUCED

Benefits to Dubai and UAE
from a direct increase ineconomic activity due to
Expo 2020

Benefits to Dubai and UAEbased companies throughincreased supply chain
demand from companies
involved in Expo 2020

Benefits from increased
spending in Dubai and theUAE by the employees ofthe firms that directly andindirectly benefits from
Expo 2020• Providing new technologies• Enhancing the international
reputation of the UAE

KEY SECTORS IMPACTEDEVENTSORGANISATION AND
BUSINESS SERVICESCONSTRUCTION

TRANSPORT,STORAGE AND
COMMUNICATIONRETAILRESTAURANTS
AND HOTELSTOP SECTORS BY TOTAL GVA*EVENTS ORGANISATION AND
BUSINESS SERVICESCONSTRUCTIONRESTAURANTS
AND HOTELS

AED 68.9B

AED 27.0B

AED 11.4B

82 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

*THIS ONLY COVERSTHE TOP THREE
IMPACTED SECTORS.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

Expo 2020’s permanent
infrastructure, 80 per cent of which
will be reused and repurposed
at District 2020, contribute toan estimated value of morethan AED 40.1 billion during theevent. Alongside infrastructure,transportation is a key sector thatwill gain significantly from Expo
2020, with airports and metro
lines seeing improvements andexpansions to cater to the event.
Housing accommodations andutilities will also see growth.
Following close assessment, local
events and the business services
sector will also undergo consistentdevelopment through each phase,because of their close alignment
with the event’s workings. This
link will be most pronounced in
Expo 2020’s legacy phase, giventhat these sectors will be closely
engaged in delivering the targets
and offerings stipulated under theWorld Expo’s legacy planning.

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESGVA of AED 122.6B
is likely to be supported in the UAE by
Expo-related activity from 2013-2031.

DIRECT

AED 53.5B

INDIRECTAED 42.3B

INDUCED

AED 26.8B

TOTAL

AED 122.6B

The legacy period describes a post-event provision of Expo
2020, when more than 80 per cent of Expo 2020’s permanent
built environment is repurposed to District 2020, a sustainable
mixed-use community spanning more than four million square
metres. District 2020 is designed to serve as the model global
community for the future, using state-of-the-art innovation,science and sustainability for a cleaner, safer and healthierenvironment to live, work and play. It will be promoted to ensure
its economic value is boosted by capital activities, operational
spending and visitor expenditure for years to come.

Some examples of the long-term financial value of Expo 2020 include:

Fostering innovation
by supporting
SMEs through Expo
Live and other key
initiatives in the UAE

Increasedinternational profile ofDubai and the UAE asa place to do business,work and invest

Improved bilateral
trade relations
from connections
developed during
Expo 2020

Improvedbusiness-business
relations fromconnections
developed during
Expo 2020

Increasedinternational profile
and attractivenessof Dubai and the
UAE as a tourist
destination

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEXPO 2020 DUBAI:POSITIONING THE UAE AS
A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
DESTINATION
The first World Expo tobe held in the Middle
East, Africa, and South
Asia (MEASA) region,
Expo 2020 is prepared
to welcome millions ofvisitors from across theworld. To examine how theWorld Expo can develop
the UAE as a sustainable
tourism destination, theExpo 2020’s Sustainability
department collaborated
with the Centre for
Sustainability throughResearch and Education(CSRE) to conduct
longitudinal researchon theorising visitors’
motivations, sustainability
interests and perceptions
relating to sustainable
tourism and the UAE.
The study engaged a totalof 3,100 respondents
across 110 countries togain insights on tourists’sustainability awareness,
lifestyles and values, aswell as how travellers view
Dubai’s and Expo 2020’s
sustainability efforts.

84 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Findings on MediaSurvey results indicated that most visitors to Dubai seek guidance fromfriends and family, travel agencies, tourism fairs, and social media to plan
their trip to the city. Many of these visitors are invested in health and wellbeing practices, orienting their trip around such activities.
Findings on Responsible Travel Behaviours
Twenty-two per cent of visitors surveyed identify themselves as
responsible, sustainability-minded travellers who will reuse room linens,
use public transport, consume water sensibly, and are willing to pay morefor eco-certified products and services.
Findings on Sustainability Perceptions
Most respondents see Dubai as a sustainable tourism destination,
indicating that sustainable practices do have a strong impact on their
tourism decisions. Visitors to Dubai show significant concern for
global warming, water quality and air pollution, with more than 44 percent of those surveyed considering sustainability in dictating theirlifestyle patterns.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESRESPONSIBLE TOURISM PRACTICES
RT

SSPO

PA

50% of Dubai visitors consider
themselves as responsible,
sustainability-minded travelers
to a differing extents
They are oriented towards
experiences and will choose totravel more sustainably
Majority of Dubai visitors
would pay at least 5% more forresponsible travel
37% would pay 20% more for
eco-friendly accommodationand if the money goes to a
local charity

Through the study, it was foundthat sustainability marketing could
have a greater economic impact
if branding and promotional
messaging was more focusedon generating an enhanced
consumer experience. The financial
gains of attracting sustainable
travellers has been purported tobe significant. Research points
towards ‘Genuine responsible
tourists’ - who presently compriseof 22 per cent of Dubai’s tourist
population – spending moremoney, across all spending
segments, while in their travel
destination compared to‘Occasional responsible tourists’and ‘Conventional tourists’.

The marketing of sustainable attributes canenhance destination competitiveness andmake destinations more attractive (Fjelstul,2014). Destinations enjoy many benefits fromattracting responsible tourists, who not only
contribute to the local economy, but also takecare of the environment and help safeguard
local culture.

Consumers are concerned about the local
environments of their travel destinations andare willing to spend more on their holidays ifthey are assured that workers in the sector
are guaranteed ethical labour conditions.

Summarising guests’ pro-sustainability interests and behaviour

PRO-SUSTAINABILITY BEHAVIOURSNEVER OR RARELYVERY OFTEN

Ask for hybrid taxi

Use public transport (bus,metro, tram)

Ask for eco-certified excursion
and activity providers in Dubai

Willing to pay more for ecocertified products or services
Reuse room towels

The study reveals that promoting
Dubai as a sustainable tourism
destination is key in attracting
first-time visitors to the city. As
ecotourism grows increasingly
popular, spotlighting the region’s
unique sustainability-related
events will appeal to a range
of international travellers. Expo
2020 serves as a prime example

of an occasion capable ofcatering to this trend by creating
and sustaining global interestin responsible principles anddevelopment.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDY
DELIVERING FOOD SECURITY:PEPSICO
Since the onset of thepandemic, the PepsiCo
Foundation has invested
USD 71 million in COVID-19
relief efforts worldwide,
working with more than
250 of its partners to help
those who need it themost. PepsiCo, the Official
Beverage and Snack
Partner of Expo 2020
Dubai, has also provided
funding for personal
protective equipment(PPE) for medical workers,
testing and screening
services, vaccines, andthe distribution of millionsof nutritious meals tovulnerable populations.

PepsiCo’s ‘Millions of Meals’
programme has supported
more than 1,000 communities
and distributed more than 145
million meals worldwide. Almost
60 million meals have been
distributed in markets across
Africa, the Middle East andSouth Asia. This programmeearned PepsiCo the International
Philanthropy Award fromCAF America.

NIGERIA:The company partnered with Food
Clique and managed to distribute
1.1 million food cartons

PepsiCo and the PepsiCo
Foundation in the Middle Eastand North Africa (MENA) region
provided 10 million nutritious
meals to vulnerable communities
in Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia
and the UAE. This has beenachieved through partnerships
with food banks to distributenutritious meals and food boxes
to labour camps, quarantinedcommunities, vulnerable families
and groups at risk. In Egypt,
PepsiCo was able to provide a
total of 2.3 million meals to familiesof day labourers during the holymonth of Ramadan 2020, in
cooperation with the Egyptian
Food Bank. This was done in thegovernorates of Egypt to ensurefamilies that rely on day labourers
receive nutritious food. In SubSaharan Africa, PepsiCo enabled
the distribution of more than 19.2
million meals to vulnerable citizens
in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda
and Ethiopia.

INDIA:The team partnered with theConfederation of Indian Industries(CII) Foundation and NGOs, suchas the Smile Foundation and the
Akshaya Patra Foundation, toprovide more than 10 million meals
in 13 Indian states

SOUTH AFRICA:
PepsiCo partnered with
FoodForward South Africa and
Red Cross South Africa to provide
17.6 million meals to vulnerable
citizens across the country
86 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

ETHIOPIA:
12,000 meals were distributed inpartnership with Mekedonia
UGANDA:The Ugandan Red Cross helped
PepsiCo deliver 438,000 meals

PAKISTAN:
PepsiCo Pakistan distributed
13 million meals across thecountry with the help of nine of
the country’s most respectedcharities. PepsiCo also partneredwith the Pakistani governmentas part of the Prime Minister
Ehsaas programme aimed at
supporting marginalised people.
This programme is truly national inscope, spanning all four provincesof Pakistan and reaching themost remote communities, bethey minorities, or people withdisabilities

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESINDIANIGERIAPAKISTAN

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYB
E N V I RO N M E N TA LI M PAC T
Expo 2020 views its
environmental priorities
as a route to create
meaningful and positivechange, inspiring millionsof visitors and its
International Participants
to be mindful of thenatural environment andtheir impact upon it.

1. MANAGEMENT APPROACH
Shortly after Expo 2020 Dubai
won its bid in 2013 to hostthe World Expo in 2020, a
thorough environmental impact
assessment (EIA) took place,the results of which formed theorganisation’s environmental
approach. The Expo 2020
Health, Safety, Quality andEnvironment (HSQE) Policy
defined the minimum ecologicalstandards expected of Expo2020’s third-party associates– namely delivery agents,
developers, consultants andcontractors.
To establish a consolidated
approach to the event’s
environmental management,
Expo 2020 implements theProgramme Construction
Environmental Management
Plan (CEMP). Including
waste-handling directives,
the CEMP is regularly revised
to ensure environmental
performance protocols are
frequently updated based on
frequently conducted EIAs
and applicable legislature andguidelines. The CEMP ensurescompliance throughout Expo
2020 on environmental laws
and requirements, providing
an overarching framework
to dictate the managementof potential environmental
impacts. The plan outlines roles
and responsibilities for relevant
personnel, creating a common
awareness on environmental
issues, including a monitoring
regime to guarantee adherence.

88 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Covering the entire physicalscope of the site, the plandetails each location, theirscheduled works, subsequentenvironmental permits
mandated, and procedures tomanage environmental risks
and opportunities. Expo 2020 isable to embed the requirementsof the CEMP across theorganisation, allowing all thoseworking at Expo 2020 to moveproductively towards holistic
environmental outcomes.
Incorporating CEMP decrees
at the very start of Expo2020’s many value chains, theorganisation ensures that allawarded contracts are obliged
to communicate a complete
project-specific environmental
plan (EP) to the internal
supervision consultant for
their review and confirmation.
Placing responsibility on theorganisation’s associates
as well, contractors andconsultants are required tosubmit monthly environmental
and sustainability data logs.
These are recorded andreported by designatedConstruction Supervision
Consultants (CSCs) and arereviewed against a range of
pertinent KPIs.
Through this process, the Expo
2020 environmental teamverifies and collates data before
communicating the same toregulatory authorities. The
organisation takes special
care to ensure data accuracy
meets the expectationsof the highest standard ofenvironmental compliance.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSupporting CEMP and related internal doctrines, the ‘Environmental Assurance Standards’ provides guidanceon the following:

ENVIRONMENT
CLEARANCE
Programme-wide
Environment
Clearance (EC)
granted by Dubai
Municipality (DM).

RESOURCES
Adequate
environment
staff allocatedto ensure proper
implementation of
the CEMP and CWMP.

ECOLOGY
PROTECTION
Fauna and Floraprotection to avoid
any damage to trees
or sensitive habitats.

AIR POLLUTION
PREVENTION
Prevention of air
pollution throughproper managementof plant andequipment.

ENVIRONMENT
PLANS
Programme-wideplans (CEMP and
CWMP) to standardise
the requirements andachieve satisfactory
performance.

COMPLIANCEMONITORING
Regular Inspections
and Audits tomonitor the
implementation of
the plans and theireffectiveness.

WASTE
MANAGEMENT
Waste management
best practices toensure reduction andrecycling of waste.

DUST CONTROL
Dust control byapplying bestpractices (paved
access roads anddust suppression asneeded).

DATAMONITORING
Programme-wide
data monitoring andrecording to enable theprogramme quarterly
performance report toDubai Municipality (DM).

TRAINING
Environment
Training provided
to the supply chain
to ensure proper
understanding of
the requirements.

SPILL
PREVENTION
Spill prevention andresponse throughproper managementof materials, plant andequipment.

INCIDENTREPORTING
Environment
incident reportinginternally andexternally toauthorities, as andwhen required.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

2. SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATIONS
Expo 2020 demonstrates its commitment to environmental
performance by seeking globally recognised sustainability
certifications and accreditations.

SUSTAINABILITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LEED Certification
Expo 2020 is working towards obtaining LEED certifications for 123 of its
permanent buildings. While most of its buildings are targeting LEED-Gold
certification, Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion is designed to gain thehighest level of LEED certification, Platinum. As Expo 2020 awaits the resultsof the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) review, its partners have taken
major steps towards receiving LEED certifications for their establishments
within the boundary of the Expo 2020 site.

SUSTAINABILITYCERTIFICATIONSCEEQUAL Certification
During the reporting cycle, Expo 2020 was progressing towards recognition
from the CEEQUAL awards. In April 2021, it became the first project in the Middle Eastto earn an ‘Excellent’ CEEQUAL rating, the highest industry recognition for sustainable civil engineering.
All eight ‘Excellent’ certificates awarded to Expo 2020 highlight how the World Expo has incorporated
sustainable design principles across its buildings, infrastructure and landscaping.

Al Sa’fatIntroduced by Dubai Municipality (DM), Al Sa’fat is a green building rating agency tasked with improving
the sustainability of new establishments in Dubai. Aligned with the objectives of Vision 2021, Al Sa’faturges sustainable infrastructure as the new local norm. In accordance, Expo 2020 ensures all its buildings
are constructed and operated in complete compliance with the system.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE
The UAE has an established
Ministry of Climate Change
and Environment (MOCCAE)
to enact measures to fightclimate change and promote
the nation’s sustainability
and growth as per the Paris
Accord and the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). This entity is
supported by the UAE Council
for Climate Change andEnvironment, which fosters
international partnerships
and cooperation towards
climate solutions. To further
90 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

support these aims, the UAE
has launched an ambitious bid
to host the Council of Parties(COP28) global climate summit
in Abu Dhabi in November
2023. As COP28’s host, the UAE
would leverage its experience
as a regional and global
mediator to incite all parties toachieve the goals set out in the
Paris Agreement. Submitting
its first Nationally Determined
Contribution (NDC) in 2015,
the UAE became one of eightnations to engage in thisactivity to reflect its ambition

to achieve an economy-wide
emissions reduction target.
Through the UAE’s second
NDC, submitted in December
2020, the country built upon its
clean energy targets within thewider spectrum of its economy
and emissions profile. This task
entailed addressing Expo 2020
Dubai’s role as a sustainablemega-event, committed
to sourcing clean energy,
conserving water, managing
waste effectively, and using
sustainable building materials
responsibly.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO’S CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Based on the organisation’s sustainability strategy
and commitments to the BIE, Expo 2020 Dubai uses
a design-based approach to mitigate their carbon
emissions and an offsetting strategy to offset
unavoidable emissions. This is supported by a focus
on offering sustainable transportation, implementing

energy reduction mechanisms, water reuse solutions,
reducing carbon emissions from waste collection, andmore. Expo 2020 Dubai will look to identify carbon
impacts in line with internal strategies, such as theSustainable Materials Guidelines, and will:• Estimate the GHG emissions of the event• Implement design and construction

practices to minimise GHG emissions• Offset unavoidable emissions

a. Approach:The primary objective of the Expo Carbon Management Programme is to document the progress towards
achieving a reduction in carbon emissions from the Expo. The project accounting approach taken in line with
GHG accounting standards covers five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, andaccuracy.
Although published andwidely accepted GHG
accounting standards fromseveral international bodies
exist for many aspects of
GHG management, none
are currently a perfect fit for
the assessment of limited
duration events involving GHG
emission sources owned andcontrolled by others, such as
those related to Expo 2020
Dubai, the Olympics and othermega events. Some precedent
does exist, such as the carbon
footprint assessments fromthe 2012 London Olympics,
Milan Expo 2015, 2020 Tokyo
Olympics, and South Africa FIFA
World Cup™, however, there
are substantial differences in
the approaches taken by those
events. As a result, Expo 2020

Dubai developed a standardised
methodology to accurately
and transparently estimate
its footprint by adapting
the relevant portions fromthe standards and guidance
included in the following list:•

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Protocol initiative, led by theWorld Resources Institute(WRI) and World BusinessCouncil for Sustainable
Development (WBCSD).

•The International
Organization forStandardization (ISO).

•The Climate Registry.

•

Clean Development
Mechanism.

•

The British Standards
Institution (PAS 2080 Carbon

Management standard forinfrastructure construction
and operation).
•

Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors Standards(standards for considerationof GHG from various aspects
of infrastructure).

The WRI and ISO Project
Accounting Standards provide
a solid basis for analysing theoverall footprint of the Expo.
The standards direct project
developers to estimate all
primary and secondary impacts
associated with a defined
activity, regardless of whether
impacts are associated withsources or sinks of emissions;and regardless of who owns orcontrols the facilities, vehicles,or land in question.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

The goal is to estimate theemissions and sequestration of all
affected sources and sinks bothwithin the “project” and in theabsence of the “project”, and tocompare the two to estimate theassociated increase or decrease inemissions. This is the fundamental
basis of the Expo 2020 GHG
inventory.
Expo 2020 Dubai has designed
the inventory to capture changes
in emissions from all sources

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

irrespective of ownership orcontrol. However, in order toretain validity and relevancewithin the data recorded, scope ofthe carbon inventory eliminates
sources and emission areas thatare distantly connected to Expo
2020 Dubai’s operations, as well as
circumstances where identificationof emission change is challenging
to report.
Unlike corporate, municipal, or
national GHG emission inventories,

which involve annual assessmentsof total emissions of the entity
for the prior year, the Expoassessment accounts for thefollowing multi-year impacts:•

Construction of Expo venues
and associated infrastructure•

Hosting of the Expo•

Movement of people and goods
to and from the Expo•

Legacy impacts directly
attributable to the Expo

Periodic updates of the inventory are performed, not to conduct a
comparison of year-on-year performance, but rather to refine the carbon
inventory as new information becomes available, and to track progressagainst carbon reduction commitments.

GHG PROTOCOLPROJECT ACCOUNTING

GHG PROTOCOLCORPORATE ACCOUNTING•

Fundamental basis of theinventory••

Compare Expo emissions tobaseline:– Baseline may be zero forsome projects

PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE ACCOUNTING ANDREPORTING STANDARD•

Embodied carbon in materials•

BAU and reduced cases

Calculation approach:– Impacts from electricity
and passenger travel•

Emission Factors (EF) from agallon of diesel•

Aspects not used: Boundaries
and Scope 1, 2, and 3– Independent of ownership

INFRASTRUCTURE PROTOCOLS:
PAS 2080 AND RICS•

Scope
– Which building materials
to account for•Legacy use– How to account for
re-use of buildings andinfrastructure

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

b. Boundaries of Emission Sources:
GHG Emissions Inventory sources are organised
into distinct categories for consistency with theoverall Expo programme, as follows:• Expo Site: includes operational use of
Expo 2020 Dubai venues and associatedinfrastructure.
• Accommodations: includes energy andwater use for visitors, volunteers, andaccommodations for non-UAE residing workers
and staff.
• Transportation: includes transportation of Expo
2020 Dubai’s goods and people.
• Waste: includes waste streams and wastewater
generated during the pre-event, event and postevent phases.
• Temporal Boundary: includes impacts from 2013
to 2022 to capture construction and all major
planning activities, preparation and delivery of
the Expo, and certain post-event impacts as thesite is converted to legacy use.

c. Temporal Boundary:In addition to the establishment of GHG emission
source boundaries, the GHG inventory is evaluatedto establish a temporal boundary. While the Expoitself is a six-month long event, the planning,
construction, and pre-Expo activities commenced
years before the event, beginning in 2013.
Furthermore, the GHG emitting activities that
occur within these time periods can be different
from the GHG emitting activities during the Expo.
The temporal boundary is intended to capture all
impacts prior to, during and after the event.
The Expo GHG inventory considers the GHG
emissions and reductions from the initial phase ofplanning, starting with Dubai’s win of the hostingrights in 2013, through the post-event phase(which will omit all of the temporary construction
and overlay, and hand over the site to the legacy
development organisation at the end of 2022).

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

d. Scenario Analysis
In accordance with accepted GHG accounting
practices, the resulting footprint of the Expo can bequantified as the difference of total GHG emissions
or emission increases from sources within the
Expo boundary, and the GHG benefits created withexternal offsets or investments.
Three Expo carbon footprints are quantified:• Net Expo Carbon Footprint – these are theestimated GHG emission increases (withthe estimate eventually being based in parton actual measured parameters) from theSustainable Expo Carbon Footprint and including
the GHG emission reductions resulting fromexternal projects and carbon offset purchases.

• Business As Usual (BAU) Expo Carbon
Footprint – this is the estimated GHG emission
increases from sources of concern with the
preparations for and hosting of the Expo,
assuming commitments and efforts to minimise
energy use, construction materials, and othersustainability programs are not implemented.

Sustainable Expo
Carbon Footprint

Sustainable Expo
Carbon Footprint

94 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Baseline Total
Emissions

Sstainable Expo Total
EmissionsBAU Expo
Carbon Footprint
Baseline Total
EmissionsBAU Expo Total Emissions

GHG EMISSIONS

Based on the aforementioned approach, Expo2020’s GHG Inventory was calculated in late
2018, and updated in December 2020, and isanticipated to be updated an additional four times.
An update immediately before the start of theevent (in September 2021) will incorporate final
data from construction of venues and planning of
the event. Updates at the mid-point (December2021) and end of the event (March 2022) will
incorporate data on visitor counts and monitoringof on-site fuel and electricity use. A final update in
September 2022 will incorporate final event-timedata and impacts of decommissioning and legacy
conversion activities.

BAU Expo
Carbon Footprint

The BAU Expo Carbon Footprint and Sustainable
Expo Carbon Footprint are both the differences
between emissions from all impacted sources withand without the Expo, as illustrated in below.

• Sustainable Expo Carbon Footprint – these are
the estimated GHG emission increases (withthe estimate eventually being based in part on
actual measured parameters) from sources of

SCENARIO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

concern with preparations for and hosting of theExpo under the umbrella of a world-class energy
and sustainability program, which is underpinned
by a range of mandatory sustainability
requirements and standards such as CEEQUAL
and LEED.

CHANGE IN GHG EMISSIONS

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAISCENARIO

Current Inventory Calculation Results:
Based on an assessment of Expo, the estimatedtotal GHG footprint for the BAU scenario is
approximately 7.0 million metric tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) and for the Sustainable
Expo scenario is approximately 6.7 million tCO2e.
The BAU scenario is a best estimate of what thefootprint would be without specific elements of thesustainability programme, and the Sustainable Expo
scenario is based on estimated actual programme
elements. The scenario segmented diagrams
illustrate the estimated GHG emissions by event
phase for the BAU scenario and for the Sustainable
scenario, respectively.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESBAU = 7,015,489 tCO2eSUSTAINABLE = 6,734,419 tCO2e

50,00,000
40,00,000
30,00,000
20,00,000
10,00,0000tCO2e - Total
Pre-EventtCO2e - Total
Event TimetCO2e - Total
Post-EventtCO2e - Total
Pre-EventtCO2e - Total
Event TimetCO2e - Total
Post-Event

EC - Buildings and Infrastructure

On-site Fuel Use

Electricity

Water

Refrigerant Usage

Fire SuppressantsAccommodation Energy and Water

Transport of Goods

Local Transport of People

International Aviation

All Waste Types

Temporal boundaries comprehensively consider impacts from 2013 to 2022 to capture construction and all
major planning activities, preparation, and delivery of the Expo, and certain post-event impacts as the site isconverted to legacy use in three phases: Pre-event, Event, and Post-event.
The graph below provides the temporal split of emissions by source.

GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY SUMMARY - BAU EXPO VS. SUSTAINABLE EXPO
80,00,000
70,00,000
60,00,000
50,00,000
40,00,000
30,00,000
20,00,000
10,00,0000BAU

SUSTAINABLE

tCO2e - Total Pre-EventBAU

SUSTAINABLE

tCO2e - Total Event TimeBAU

SUSTAINABLE

tCO2e - Total Post-EventBAU

SUSTAINABLE

tCO2e - Total

EC - Buildings and Infrastructure

On-site Fuel Use

Electricity

Water

Refrigerant Usage

Fire SuppressantsAccommodation Energy and Water

Transport of Goods

Local Transport of People

International Aviation

All Waste Types

COVID-19 Delay Emissions Impact:
In May 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) ratified a
decision to postpone Expo 2020 Dubai by one year. The impact of the postponement on the carbon footprint
is approximately 145,000 tCO2e, primarily due to an additional year of electricity, fuels, and water consumption,
and waste disposal, in addition to worker transport.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYINNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER A GREENER WORLD:
UPS
Communities around theworld rely on logistics
to deliver various items
globally which leads to
the global transportation
sector emitting eight billion
tons of greenhouse gas(GHG) per year.

UPS’s pledge to be carbon
neutral in all of its operations by
2050 is a demonstration thatthe connections that its smart
global logistics network facilitates
must not be at the expense of
the communities it serves. To
address the matter, 540,000 UPS
employees pursue a strategy
that is simply formulated andpowerfully implemented:•

Customer First•

People Led•

Innovation Driven

UPS, Expo’s Official Logistics
Partner, is committed to lead thefight against climate change inthe transportation sector andinnovating quickly to develop
and deploy solutions that protect
the future. The Middle East is oneof the regions predicted to be
deeply affected by the effects ofclimate change, and UPS proudly
uses its expertise to help Middle
Eastern governments address thechallenge head-on. UPS proudly
partners with the UAE at Expo
2020 Dubai to drive climate
innovations that align with current
government investments.
The UPS innovations showcased
at Expo 2020 are the result of
dedicated UPS work around theworld. UPS is creating robust,carbon-neutral solutions forevery step of the supply chain
to revolutionise delivery. One of
the sustainable projects at UPS is
the worldwide ‘rolling laboratory’comprising of more than 12,000
cutting-edge low-carbon
vehicles which embodies UPS’s
innovative spirit.
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UPS’s carbon-neutral efforts
often entail creating solutions
that previously did not exist. UPS
refined and developed a UPS
pick-up and delivery vehicle - incooperation with the UK start-up
Arrival - and are now working on
10,000 vehicles to bring to themarket in the years to come. UPS
worked with partners at Fernhay
to develop their powered-assisted
course called eQuad, which cannavigate the narrow streets ofcities and deliver without emitting
GHG and excess traffic. It is thesecutting-edge innovations that UPS
proudly highlights as their role as
Official Logistics Partner of Expo
2020 to show how sustainablelogistics services can benefit
businesses, governments, people,
and the planet.
UPS recently demonstrated thatblue skies thinking is the pathto carbon-neutral innovation
by taking their rolling lab to theclouds. With their new electric
vertical take-off and landing(eVTOL) test aircraft, developedin conjunction with BETA
technologies, UPS can replaceshort flights of carbon-heavy
aircrafts with carbon-free eVTOL
flights delivering what mattersin a safe, robust and sustainable
way. These machines can landin compact spaces on buildings,
making them ideal for reaching
remote areas. eVTOL’s charging
systems will be compatible withthose of UPS’s access vehicles,
creating an electrical ecosystemthat can grow exponentially as
UPS addresses the climate crisis.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESUPS knows that no single
solution can tackle theexistential crisis of climatechange. Therefore, theircase study is not limited
to one innovation. Instead,they want to highlight their
entire carbon-neutral fleet,working together at every
stage of the supply chain
to eliminate emissions anddeliver what matters: a
better world.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDY
THE ECO-FRIENDLY TERMINUS
AI PARK TO BE LAUNCHED
Terminus Group, theOfficial Robotics Partnerof Expo 2020 Dubai andleading AIoT (Artificial
Intelligence and theInternet of Things) techcompany, is to launch thefirst AI PARK, a miniatureof AI CITY in Chongqing,Southwest China.

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Terminus AI PARK will serve as the first phase “pilot facility” for the entire
AI CITY “Cloud Valley” development project based in Chongqing. The park
area is equipped with various ICT features, 360-degree robotic services,
as well as AIoT-driven management centers. Various smart solutions
including smart communities, smart fire protection, smart energy
services, smart finance, and smart e-commerce are deployed onto thedigital layers operating on the AI PARK digital platform to support its
functional operations.

TERMINUS AI PARKAI PARK is built to showcase what Terminus AI CITY will look likeand to demonstrate the AI CITY eco-friendly operations. It features
Terminus-designed buildings with display rooms, office facilities, techdemonstration area, riverside area, and other amenities showcasing theactual structure and functions of the future AI CITY.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESC A S E S T U DYNISSAN CARBON
NEUTRALITY GOAL
Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Expo’s Official Automotive Partner, has set itself the goal ofachieving CO2 neutrality over the entire operation of the company and the life cycleof its products by 2050. The ‘life cycle’ includes the extraction of raw materials,
manufacture, use, and recycling or ultimately the reuse of life vehicles. As part of thiseffort, all brand-new Nissan cars in key markets - Japan, China, the United States, andEurope - will be electrified by the early 2030s.
Nissan will continue to innovate in electrical and manufacturing technology to advance the company’s
carbon-neutral goal in the following strategic areas:• Battery innovations, including solid-state and related
technologies, to develop more efficient and lessexpensive electric vehicles.

ALTERNATIVEECO• Further development of the Nissan Electric Powertrains(e-POWER) to achieve higher energy efficiency.

POWER• Development of a battery ecosystem to support

decentralised electricity generation on-site for buildings
with renewable energy sources. Nissan Expects
Increased Cooperation with Energy Sector to Support
Decarbonisation of Power Grids.

Innovations in the manufacturing
process to support higher
productivity in vehicle assembly,
starting with the Nissan Intelligent
Factory initiative. The company
will also strive to increase energy
and material efficiency to support
its long-term climate-neutral
ambitions. The company’sefforts to reduce electricity andemissions support the goals of theUnited Nations Paris Agreement
on Climate Change and global
progress towards carbon
neutrality by 2050.

reduce the carbon footprint of
its products and operations. The
company introduced the world’s
first electric vehicle, the Nissan
Leaf, and has sold more than
500,000 zero-emission vehicles
to date.

The company continues to workwith coalitions and industry
agencies to develop infrastructure
and raise public awareness of thebenefits of electric vehicles.

Nissan’s ambition also extends
previous initiatives under the
Nissan Green Program and thecompany’s ongoing work to
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
MASTERCARD LAUNCHES THE
PRICELESS PLANET COALITION
Tapping into the power ofpartnerships, Mastercard,
the Official Payment
Technology Partnerof Expo 2020 Dubai,
launched the PricelessPlanet Coalition, uniting
global efforts to restore
100 million trees by 2025

Uniting efforts through thePriceless Planet Coalition
In 2020, Mastercard formed thePriceless Planet Coalition, which
unites the efforts of consumers,
financial institutions, merchants
and cities to fight climate change.
The Coalition continues to gain
momentum globally, with morethan 50 members joining hands tosecure a greener future.
Restoring 100 million trees tomitigate climate change
Collectively, the Priceless Planet
Coalition has committed to therestoration of 100 million trees
by 2025. It aims to reinforce a
restoration model that is not only
focused on planting trees, but on
re-growing forests in geographieswith the greatest need and mostpotential for a positive climate,community and biodiversity
impact. Guided by climate scienceand forest restoration experts,
Conservation International (CI) andWorld Resources Institute (WRI),
the coalition has identified initial
restoration locations in Kenya,
Brazil and Australia.
Collaborating with Expo 2020
Dubai
Expo 2020 Dubai has joined
the Priceless Planet Coalition,building on its commitment tosustainability. As the Official
Payment Technology Partnerof Expo 2020, Mastercard also
welcomed to the coalition Expo2020’s Official Banking Partnerand regional sustainability
champion Emirates NBD. Together
with other partners, including
payments leader Network
International, the Priceless

100 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Planet Coalition is empowering
consumers to take action for theenvironment and support thesereforestation efforts.

We created the Priceless Planet
Coalition to not only inspirechange, but to also pursue
innovation, rebuilding a betterworld that’s more inclusive andmore sustainable - together.
KRISTINA KLOBERDANZ
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER,MASTERCARD
Equipping its global network
to be a positive force for theenvironment
Mastercard continues to support
its customers and partners inoffering more sustainable options
to environmentally-conscious
consumers through a range of
products and programmes, suchas cards made from sustainable
materials to reduce plastic waste.
Supporting sustainability acrossthe business
Mastercard has pledged to reachnet-zero emissions by 2050,
building on existing commitments
to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions aligned with 1.5°C. In
addition, Mastercard has issued
a USD 600 million sustainability
bond and announced changes to
its executive compensation modelto help accelerate progress aroundthree global Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG)
goals: carbon neutrality, financial
inclusion and gender pay parity.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Building a sustainable and inclusive digital economy
Mastercard believes in “doing well by doing good”, andhas embedded inclusion, sustainability, and decency
into the heart of its business – blending purpose andprofit. By bringing innovation, insights, and ingenuity
to the table, along with philanthropy, the payment
technology company is leading efforts to advancefinancial inclusion and inclusive growth around theworld. To this extent, Mastercard has expanded its

global pledge to connect one billion people tothe digital economy by 2025, including 50 million
small businesses, with a direct focus on 25 million
female entrepreneurs.
Learn more at https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/
vision/corp-responsibility/priceless-planet.html andjoin the conversation on social media here.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH
A GLOBAL STRATEGY: L’ORÉAL
For more than 20 years,
L’Oréal, Expo 2020
Dubai’s Official Beauty
Products and Services
Partner, has worked toreduce the carbon dioxide
emissions associated with
its industrial activity. To
achieve this, L’Oréal has
improved the energy
efficiency of all of its
systems (buildings,
devices, etc.), increased
the use of local renewableenergies where possible
and achieved site-specificgoals without climate
protection projects.
L’Oréal has developed its
renewable energy strategy
according to the local
potential of industrial sites
in the different countries
in which L’Oréal operates:in most of their CO2
reduction projects, L’Oréal
has used locally generated
renewable energy or has
its renewable energy
directly generated.

In 2017, L’Oréal was among the first 100 companies to set Approved
Science Based Targets (SBT). Its overarching climate protection goal for2030 is to adjust greenhouse gas emissions to the + 1.5°C scenario, whichmeans that L’Oréal will reduce all greenhouse gas emissions (bands 1, 2,
and 3) by 50 per cent for each end-product. To achieve this, L’Oréal has
set itself digital goals for every aspect of its activities, which encompass
not only its production and sales locations, but also the raw material
supply chain and the spill over associated with the use of its products by
the end consumer.

L’ORÉAL’S TARGETS
By 2025, all its locations will have achieved carbon
neutrality by improving energy efficiency and using
100 per cent renewable energy.
By 2030, L’Oréal will be innovative to enable its
consumers to reduce the CO2 emissions from theuse of its products by 25 per cent on average and per
product compared to 2016.
By 2030, L’Oréal will reduce the greenhouse gas
emissions associated with the transport of its
products by an average of 50 per cent per finishedproduct compared to 2016.
By 2030, its strategic suppliers will reduce its directemissions (volume 1 and 2) by 50 per cent in absoluteterms compared to 2016.

WHAT L’ORÉAL HAS ACHIEVED SO FAR
Since 2005, L’Oréal has reduced the CO2 emissionsof its factories and distribution centres by 78 percent in absolute terms compared to 2005, increasing
production by 37 per cent over the same period.
At the end of 2019, L’Oréal had 51 carbon-neutral
sites (i.e. using 100 per cent renewable energy),
including 14 factories.

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

To reduce its carbon footprint,
L’Oréal is taking a two-pronged
approach. First, by reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in its
factories and distribution centres,using renewable energies andimproving energy efficiencies,
the group reduced emissionsat its industrial sites by 78 percent compared to 2005. During
the same period, production
volume increased by 37 per cent,confirming L’Oréal’s ability to
combine commercial successwith its commitment to ambitious
climate action.
With major projects using
technologies adapted to thegeographical location of the sites(biomass, bioconversion, solar
panels, etc.) and renewable gas

05. G RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

and electricity purchases, 69 percent of the needs of L’Oréal’s
factories and distribution centres
are now powered by energy
supplied from renewable sources.
By the end of 2019, 35 L’Oréal
industrial sites were carbon
neutral, including 14 factories.
In addition, L’Oréal is committed
to offsetting the remaining
emissions related to its industrial
and logistics activities by 2020 bysaving carbon from sustainable
delivery activities. In cooperation
with its suppliers, NGOs or local
experts, the group develops
projects that improve the lives of
producers, preserve biodiversity
and intercept or avoid CO2
emissions in three ways:•

Improving energy efficiency•

Promote low-carbon farming
practices, including agroforestry•

Managing forests sustainably

This innovative programme,called Carbon Balanced, waslaunched in 2015 and covers the
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissionsof L’Oréal locations (i.e. emissionsof all its locations), as well as the
Scope 3 emissions in connection
with the final transport of its
products (about carbon dioxideannually). The eight energy andforestry projects implemented
since 2015 have generated CO2
gains of up to 116,720 tonnes ofcarbon dioxide equivalent.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

4. ENERGY
Expo 2020 Dubai’s strategic
objective with respect toenergy aims to promoteenergy reduction, renewableenergy, and infrastructuraldesign to support energy
efficient technologies andsystems. By retaining anapproach that prioritises andmaximises passive design
solutions as critical tools toachieve energy efficiency, Expo
2020 Dubai boasts effective
environmental outcomesthat are realised throughcomprehensive energy savings.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION
During 2020 and Q1 of 2021, Expo 2020 Dubai’s key source of energy
consumption was grid-powered electricity via the Dubai Electricity andWater Authority (DEWA) as an increasing proportion of the site was
gradually connected to the Dubai central electricity grid.
The majority of diesel and biodiesel was used in power generation by
on-site generators. The proportion of their contribution to the energy mix
steadily decreased as more of the site was gradually connected to thecentral electricity grid.
The table below provides total energy consumption data in kilowatthours (KWh). Diesel and biodiesel energy density factors are based oncommonly used conversion factors.

TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY TYPE (KWH)

PRESENTING AN ENERGYEFFICIENT EXPO 2020
DUBAI IS ACHIEVED BY:
Measuring the energy
consumption associatedwith hosting the EventTaking actions to reduce
the energy consumption
to the extent practicableby using proven andcommercially available
technologies andprocesses
Implementing off-siteand on-site renewableenergy solutions

104 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Year

DieselBiodiesel

DEWA

Total

2019

20,830,141

993,852

32,557,671

54,381,664

2020

17,057,649

660,918

72,128,631

89,847,197

2021 (Q1)

1,979,326

64,73019,100,484

21,144,540

Petrol was primarily used for on-site vehicles and is a relatively small
proportion of the energy mix. Consumption is relatively steady in 2020 and
2021, but may fluctuate as event time nears. Moreover, with the increase of
Electric Vehicle (EV) use at the Expo site, a total of 68 EV charging stations
were installed across the site. These include 8 charging points at the main
office, 20 charging points in the Opportunity car park, 20 charging points in
the Sustainability car park and 20 charging points in the Mobility car park.

Year

Petrol Consumed (Litres)

2019

128,3132020

141,4582021 -Q1

18,521

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESENERGY REDUCTION
Expo 2020 Dubai models its
energy management with theassistance of ASHRAE 90.1,
an internationally recognised
standard for building efficiency,
used to measure performanceagainst energy KPIs and to support

the requirements for LEED-Gold
Certification, a requirement for
all permanent buildings at Expo
2020 Dubai. The standard lends
to the organisation’s energyreduction design planning, toensure that annual site-wide

energy consumption is reduced.
The graphic below illustrates
the methodology pertaining
to the organisation’s energy
reduction design’s inputs and thecorresponding processes elected
for their management.

ENERGY REDUCTION DESIGN PROCESSINPUTPROCESS•

Project-level KPI Target•

Design intent

Identification of key design
measures and systems that
could deliver targets

INPUT

PROCESS•

Passive design measures•

Active design measures

Energy modelling to demonstratecompliance with KPIs•

Technological solutions•

Renewable energy solutions

INPUT
•

Passive design building
performance•

Energy efficient systems
technologies•

Cooling strategy•

Renewable energy
technologies

INPUT
•

Energy model outputs•

Energy report•

Programme Management
Consultant (PMC)
agreement to proceed

Based on modelledenergy usage, Expo 2020
Dubai was able to reduce
annual site-wide energy
consumption by

33%

PROCESS
Complete energy systems
verification and selection

PROCESS
Material Procurement,
Installation and Documentation
within sustainability reporting

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPORENEWABLE ENERGY
Expo 2020 Dubai aims to address the future of
responsible energy generation by introducing
renewable solutions and processes to enhance
economic diversity and to promote the long-term
vision of the UAE, as identified in mandates suchas the UAE Vision 2021, 2030 Dubai Integrated
Energy Strategy, and the National Renewable Energy
Programme. By establishing on-site renewableenergy capacities, the organisation will offset a
portion of the operational energy demand during the
Event and its Legacy phase. In the interest of longterm energy value, all permanent buildings within themain Expo 2020 Dubai site will contain renewableenergy systems to support the on-site generationof renewable energy sources. Expo 2020 generates
a combined total capacity of 5.5 Megawatts, that’s
enough energy to go approximately 180,000 roundtrips from Downtown Dubai to the Corniche in Abu
Dhabi. Renewable. Renewable energy installations at
Expo 2020 Dubai, include:•

12,000 sqm of photovoltaic (PV) surfaces acrossthe Sustainability Pavilion’s roof and solar trees,
resulting in a “net-zero” energy building in the
Legacy phase•

Rooftop solar PV panels on permanent buildings,
providing approximately 22% of the energy
required to operate the buildings in the Legacy
phase.

•The installation of renewable energy assets,
including educational elements in two schools
in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi that were selected
through the Expo 2020’s Sustainability Champions
programme.

“All permanent buildings within themain Expo site have renewableenergy systems to support the onsite generation of renewable energy
sources”

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
REIMAGINING ENERGY:
ENOC
Emirates National Oil
Company Limited (ENOC),
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Official
Integrated Energy Partner,
is a leading integrated
global oil and gas company,
operating throughout
the energy sector value
chain. Wholly owned by
the Government of Dubai,
ENOC was establishedin 1993.
For more than two
decades, ENOC has
been working steadily
to meet the nation’senergy requirements andtransform the energy
sector through integrated
operations and innovative
service delivery. The
ENOC Pavilion at Expo
2020 Dubai showcases
an immersive experiencethat not only challenges
traditional understandingof energy, but also
demonstrates the group’scommitment
to sustainability.

Under the slogan ‘Reimagine
Energy’, the ENOC Pavilion
covers a plot of 2,060 square
metres and is built using 700
tonnes of steel to reduce waste
and environmental impacts andpromote sustainability. The use ofsteel will also allow the pavilion
buildings to be reused and returnthe site to its original condition
when the exhibition is over.
Other sustainability features of
the ENOC Pavilion include theinstallation of a Hybrid Functional
HVAC design that reduces its
energy consumption by 20.1 percent below the ASHRAE 90.1
standard assessment. In addition,
the pavilion achieved a 30 per
cent reduction in the demandfor drinking water in accordancewith DEWA guidelines. Keeping
sustainability at the core of its
practice, ENOC recently unveiled
its Service Station of the Futureon the Expo 2020 site. The station
will support the logistical needs ofthe Expo 2020 fleet and serve thegeneral public in District 2020 asa stepping stone into a new era offuel retailing.
ENOC’s Service Station of the
Future is one of the few stations
to be LEED-Platinum certified. It isalso the first stations in the region
to incorporate grid-connected
wind turbines to generate
electricity and carbon fibre toconstruct its canopy.
More than 43,000 square metres(37 tonnes) of carbon fibre – alightweight and easy-to-use
material three times stronger

108 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020and five times lighter than steel –was used to build the 133 multilayered canopy structure. The
frame structure has a transparent
ethylene tetrafluoroethylene(ETFE) canopy.
To integrate renewable energy forelectricity generation and enable
the plant to be energy efficient,
283 photovoltaic solar panels
were installed to generate 143
megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

energy per year and a 25-metre
wind turbine will generate 12.7
MWh of clean energy annually.
Service station systems have been
deployed to promoteenergy conservation, such as
the use of carbon filtration
technologies to reuse andrecycle grey water for irrigation,
significantly reducing outdoor
water consumption. The plant

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

is also equipped with heated airunits that use ozone technologies
to convert water molecules frommoisture in the air to potablewater for personnel on-site.

its pavilion and gas station at Expo
2020, ENOC strives to inspire theworld to reimagine energy.

As the Official Energy Partnerof Expo 2020 Dubai, ENOC isdetermined to represent theenergy industry and the UAE on
the global stage. Incorporating
sustainability into every aspect of

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |109

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
GREEN HYDROGEN: CORNERSTONE OF A SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY FUTURE
GREEN HYDROGEN PROJECT, DUBAI
In the coming decades, theworld faces the complex
challenge of maintaining
economic growth while
simultaneously reducing
and mitigating theeffects of CO2 and othergreenhouse gas emissions.
To avoid a climate
catastrophe, the global
economy can only emit
approximately another 700
GtCO2 until 2100, which
effectively means weneed to achieve “net zero”
emissions by 2050. The
transition to a sustainableenergy system will need
to be achieved amid thetwin challenges of a rising
global population and an
expanding middle class inemerging markets adding
to energy consumption.

110 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

A number of countries havealready embarked on a path
towards a full-scale energy
transition by creating market
incentives for renewableenergy, fostering research anddevelopment, and adopting othermeasures and policies aimed
at increasing the share of clean
energy in their energy mixes.
Investment in renewables is now
driven mostly by private capital,and stands at about USD 330
billion per year. However, thefull potential of renewables has
yet to be unleashed by creating
more storage capacity, reducing
reliance on fossil fuels and making
distributed energy systems more
flexible and resilient.
Faced with these challenges,
engineers and policymakers are
increasingly looking to the use ofhydrogen as a potential gamechanging technology. Hydrogenis a highly efficient energy carrier,and upon combustion, the only
by-product of this zero-emissions
fuel is water. This makes it an
ideal medium for electrificationand the substitution of fossil
fuels in industrial processes andother applications. As a meansof high-capacity energy storage,
it facilitates fast response forprimary frequency reserve service,
opening up new avenues for
sector coupling (curtailment, peakshaving in countries where thismay be needed, etc.). As such, theopportunities offered by synthetic
H2 produced with renewableenergy, also known as “greenhydrogen”, could help overcome

several obstacles on the path
toward a full-fledged revolution ofenergy systems.
The UAE, similar to other nations
around the world, has embarked
on a path towards a moresustainable energy system. The
decision to chart a new course
was prompted by several globally
prevalent dynamics, including
a steady increase of energy
consumption, together with highpopulation growth. The UAE
Energy Strategy 2050 aims toincrease the contribution of clean
energy in the total energy mix
from 25 per cent to 50 per centby 2050.
In line with Dubai and the UAE’s
efforts to build a greener, moresustainable economy, DEWA,
Expo 2020 and Siemens Energy
cooperated to develop the Green
Hydrogen Project in Dubai, thefirst industrial-scale, solarpowered green hydrogenproducing facility in the Middle
East and North Africa region.
An integrated megawatt-scale
plant, the facility is designed to
produce hydrogen using solar
panels, store the gas and thendeploy it for re-electrification.
The Green Hydrogen Project
has been built to accommodate
future applications beyond there-electrification scheme as new
options for producing, storing,
distributing and deploying H2
are implemented across diverse
sectors including power, mobility
and industry.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

5. WATER AND EFFLUENTS
To ensure Expo 2020’s sustainability approach is implemented across its
buildings and infrastructure, the organisation applies a water efficiency
hierarchy for the selection of functional landscapes to lower water demand by
applying. Through design and construction, there is the opportunity to deliver
water-sensitive sustainable solutions across the event’s operations.

By electing approaches to tackle water demand and to establish measures for water conservation, Expo 2020
Dubai is engaging in the following actions:

DEMAND
REDUCTION

DEMANDSUBSTITUTION

WATER RESOURCEPROTECTION

For indoor water, consumption is
managed through:Expo 2020 identifies moresustainable sources of water for:• Low-flush toilets• Irrigation

Protection of water resources
is critical to the delivery of asustainable construction project.
To this end, Expo 2020:• Low-flow or waterless urinals• Water features• Flow restrictors, infra-red
sensors or percussion stylemechanisms that automaticallyturn off after use• Cooling equipment including
district cooling distribution• Low-flow showers• Water efficient appliances
For outdoor water, consumption
is limited through design
considerations for:• Local rainfall patterns• Plant selection• Soil water-retention properties• Irrigation equipment andscheduling technologies, suchas incorporating underground
drip irrigation systems tominimise water loss throughevapotranspiration• Toilet flushing
A water balance model must
be prepared for each project
to consider the benefits ofthe capture, treatment andreuse of Expo 2020’s many
water streams. Solutions are
determined by a designatedproject management team that
conducts in-depth examinationof each option’s feasibility andcomprehensive lifecycle.

• Manages storm water andgroundwater drainage• Considers seasonal andpermanent surface water flows
in its designs• Prevents pollution• Controls construction water
During construction, water
demands can be high andhighly variable. Managing water
demand through construction,
Expo 2020 applies its learnings
to plan present and forthcoming
phases of the event – embedding
procedures at strategic and taskspecific levels.

• Planting schedules andestablishment periods

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |111

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

To create an aesthetic environment within the site,planning for Expo 2020’s legacy considers efforts toensure all on-site watercourses remain clean fromwaste and storm-water remnants. Similarly, microclimatic variables in the form of water features will beplaced within the organisation’s site for temperature
modification, as well as appearance.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

Through an integrative systems approach, Expo 2020
conducts a water balance audit and implements awater efficiency programme that addresses wateringneeds, irrigation methods to minimise water loss, andcollection of water run-off.

WATER CONSUMPTION
Expo 2020 Dubai categorises its water consumption into three types:•

GROUNDWATER:
Sourced from external
dewatering activities andgroundwater supplying
agencies, groundwater istransported to the Expo 2020
Dubai site by third-party
service providers and is used
for dust suppression, roadlevelling, soil levelling andon-site construction work. It
is also extracted from on-sitebore wells, after obtaining thenecessary permits, and is used
for construction work.

•

POTABLE WATER:
Obtained from the Dubai

Electricity and Water Authority(DEWA).

•

TREATED SEWERAGE:
Obtained from external sources,
on-site sewage treatment units
and contractor facilities, suchas worker accommodation
facilities.

TOTAL WATER CONSUMPTION BY TYPE (LITRES)Year

Groundwater

Potable Water

Treated Sewage
Effluents (TSE)

TOTAL

2019

335,685

360,821261,305

957,811

2020

66,669302,605

364,640

733,9142021 (Q1)

17,18640,49761,853

119,535

Relative to 2019, this reporting
cycle, encompassing of 2020 and
Q1 of 2021, noted an approximate
decrease of 11% in total water
consumption. The most significant
change in reported metrics is seenin groundwater, which is a resultof Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on
replacing the use of groundwater,
as well as potable water, in favourof Treated Sewage Effluents(TSE). The reduced groundwater
figures noted in 2020 and Q1of 2021 are also explained by
the decommissioning of on-site
borewells in Q4 of 2019, further

112 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

inhibiting groundwater usage.
Expo 2020 Dubai aims to continue
this trajectory as it enacts a variety
of water monitoring technologies
and water replacement solutions.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

6. MATERIALS
the sustainability criteria has tobe evidenced through a formal
Material Approval Request
process, with each selectedmaterial requiring approval
from Expo Dubai 2020.

the large number of built assets
created for the event site.

Expo 2020 Dubai developed
its Sustainable Materials
Guidelines to focus on reducing
the negative environmental,social and economic impacts ofall materials procured as partof the programme. Per theseguidelines, 90% of materials
procured must adhere to arobust and comprehensive setof sustainability criteria.

The designers involved
in developing buildings
and infrastructure havebeen required to identify
the key materials on theirprojects, and demonstrate
their environmental impact
reduction. Efforts have been
focused on using the mostsustainable materials.

These include parameterssurrounding embodied carbon
content, recycling content,
responsible sourcing, regional
procurement and healthimpact guidelines. This has
been a major achievement todate, particularly considering

Each project has beenrequired to submit monthly
materials data logs whichstate the overall complianceof the materials used against
a set of Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs). This has
enabled Expo Dubai 2020 toprogressively track sustainable
materials performance on the
programme.

Similarly, contractors havebeen required to carefully
follow through the designers’
sustainability specifications
in materials procurement andinstallation. The achievement of

Examples of criteria for sustainable materials selection in the programme••

Embodied CO2
The Sustainable Materials
Guidelines provide establishedmethodologies for carbon
footprint measurement.
Projects are required to
select materials with reduced
embodied carbon. The
designers must adhere tothese guidelines and provide
quantitative metrics todemonstrate the carbon
footprint of their chosenmaterials.
Concrete, Steel and Aggregate
Specific technical criteria must
be met for these three highvolume materials. For concreteand steel, the demonstrationof sustainability compliancecomes from independently
verified Environmental
Performance Declarations,which are now well establishedin the construction industry forquantifying the Global Warming

Potential of materials. For thesustainable use of construction
aggregates, several wellrecognised technicalperformance specifications
are listed to encourage theuse of recycled aggregatesin both bound and unboundconstruction applications.

••

TimberAll timber used on site isrequired to carry sustainable
forestry certification. Acceptedcertifications are theForestry StewardshipCouncil (FSC) certificationand the Programme for theEndorsement of Forestry
Certification (PEFC).
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Where Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
is required for performancebased reasons, the suppliermust demonstrate thatany PVC supplied has been

manufactured in accordancewith the European Council ofVinyl Manufacturers (ECVM)
Industry Charter.

•

Reused and Recycled Materials
The project teams are
required to identify
opportunities to use recycledcontent or products. A rangeof supporting information isprovided within the Sustainable
Materials Guidelines.

•

Low Emissions Materials
Expo Dubai 2020 setsquantitative limits on thequantity of Volatile Organic
Chemicals used in the
manufacture of materials.
For composite wood there
is a particular requirement
to select products with low
formaldehyde content.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |113

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

MATERIALS USED BY TYPE (TONNES)
Year

Concrete

Steel

Timber / Wood

TOTAL

2019

1,235,387

100,369

3,434

1,339,190

2020

1,116,419

96,2884,321

1,217,0282021 – Q1

372,140

32,096

1,440

405,676

Expo 2020 Dubai has experienced
a 21 per cent increase in totalmaterials used between 2019
and the first quarter of 2021.
This increase in materials used
is attributed to the increase ofmaterial requirements as weapproach the event opening datein October 2021. Additionally, thetwelve-month reporting periodof 2019 is being compared to thelonger fifteen-month reporting
period of 2020 – 2021 Q1.

Expo 2020 adopts the following
waste management hierarchy tominimise waste production during
the design, construction andoperational phases:•

REDUCE
strategies for the minimisationof waste production across allphases of the work from design
through construction, and into
operational decisions

•

REUSE
guidance on material reusethroughout event planningand construction processes,
including the innovative useof demolition materials where
technical specifications allow•

RECYCLE
approaches to recycling
including segregation facilities
and storage spaces forrecyclable materials

114 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020•

RECOVERthe use of a state of the art
Materials Recovery Facility
in Dubai, in collaboration
with Expo 2020’s waste
management partner Dulsco

Waste management practices
throughout the organisation are
directed by the RISE Guidelines
for Sustainable Operations. The
Guidelines play a fundamentalrole in highlighting obligations andresponsibilities of stakeholders,such as suppliers in avoiding
single-use plastics, considering
biodegradable products, reductionof food waste, and mitigation of
packaging materials. Through thismechanism, Expo 2020 is able tocharacterise waste streams andmonitor their complete lifecycles.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

7. WASTE
Expo 2020 requires that aminimum of 85 per cent of all
waste is diverted from landfill.
This covers all waste streams
arising from construction
activities and during theoperation of the event. A Key
Performance Indicator (KPI)
has been set to drive thesegregation and recyclingof both construction andoperational waste to enable its
diversion from landfill.
For both pre-event andevent phases, programme
level Construction Waste
Management Plans (CWMPs)
were developed. These containsustainable waste management
objectives and standards forthe collection, segregation,transportation, recycling anddisposal of wastes. Record
keeping and waste tracking
processes are also defined. The
CWMPs apply to all entities
working at the

Expo 2020 site, including
employers, design consultants,
supervision consultants,
contractors and subcontractors.
Expo 2020 adopts thefollowing waste management
hierarchy to minimise waste
production during the design,
construction and operational
phases:••REDUCE
strategies for theminimisation of waste
production across all phasesof the work from design
through construction, andinto operational decisions
REUSE
guidance on material
reuse throughout event
planning and construction
processes, including theinnovative use of demolitionmaterials where technicalspecifications allow•

RECYCLE
approaches to recycling
including segregation
facilities and storage spaces
for recyclable materials•

RECOVERthe use of a state of theart Materials Recovery
Facility in Dubai, in
collaboration with Expo2020’s waste management
partner Dulsco

Waste management practices
throughout the organisation are
directed by the RISE Guidelines
for Sustainable Operations. The
Guidelines play a fundamentalrole in highlighting obligations andresponsibilities of stakeholders,such as suppliers in avoiding
single-use plastics, considering
biodegradable products, reductionof food waste, and mitigation of
packaging materials. Through thismechanism, Expo 2020 is able tocharacterise waste streams andmonitor their complete lifecycles.

NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE
During this reporting period,
Expo 2020’s waste was largely
comprised of construction waste,such as concrete, steel and metals,
timber and asphalt. Other waste
types such as plastic, food waste,
paper and cardboard, as well as
general waste, constituted for asmall percentage of the overall
waste. However, as the operational
event phase gears up, the waste
composition will change accordingly.
In order to understand and predictwaste types and quantities, aMaterial Flow Model (MFM) was
developed, allowing Expo 2020 theability to analyse different waste
scenarios, predict operational risks
and mitigate issues that may arise
during the event.

In terms of the current
accounting period,
Expo 2020 is currently
tracking at a cumulative
performance rate of

91 per cent waste
diversion fromlandfill.
This includes processed andstockpiled excavation waste thatwill be used post-event. Waste
that was recycled/reused isapproximately 70 per cent. This isdue to the transition towards fitout activities in the latter stages of
the construction programme.

Approximately 95 per cent of theconcrete waste was recycled,
while all asphalt waste generated
was used on-site by contractors
for the construction of temporary
access roads and pavements.
Recyclable waste was either
reused on-site or sent to aregistered recycling facility – suchas timber (97%), plastic (99%),
paper and cardboard (97%),
steel & metal (99.8%), glass (100%).
E-waste comprising mainly of
printer cartridges was collected
and taken to the integrated facility
management company Imdaad.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACYTOTAL WASTE GENERATED FOR WASTE STREAMS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND FIT-OUT AT
THE EXPO SITE IN 2020 AND 2021 Q1
GENERATED(T)

RECYCLED/
REUSED (T)DISPOSED AT
LANDFILL (T)STORED AT AL
BAYADA (T)CONCRETE

51,232

48,697251

2,370

STEEL &METALS

2,406

2,403

2

0

GLASS

43

43

0

0

TIMBER

5,042

4,896

145

0

270

246

24

0

ASPHALT

6,491

5,664

827

0

ORGANIC

3,091

0

3,091

0

PLASTIC

441

440

1

0

GENERAL

19,6590

19,6590

FIT-OUT

456

31

424

0

TOTAL 2021 (TONNES)

89,13162,42024,4242,370

70.00%

27.40%

3%

TYPE

PAPER &CARDBOARDDISPOSAL PERCENTAGE
116 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESHAZARDOUS WASTE
Expo 2020 Dubai deals withthe following four categories ofhazardous waste:
Oil-based
This is sent for recycling to Cyclo
Oil, a Dubai based company thatowns and operates a lube oil
refining plant.
Water-based
This is disposed of at the Jebel
Ali Hazardous Waste Treatment
Facility (JAHWTF).
Solid Hazardous
This is either disposed of at
JAHWTF via a Dubai Municipality
registered service providers or
sent to Emirates Environmental
Group (EEG) and Ecyclex
International Recycling LLC
company for recycling.
Other
Hazardous waste that does not
fall under the above three
categories, such as medical waste,
is disposed of at JAHWTF via
Dubai Municipality-registeredservice providers.

Hazardous waste generation
increased by 79 per centcompared to the previous GRI
report. The reasons for thisincrease include:•

A longer reporting cycle•

International Participants were
included in reporting for the
first time•

Biomedical hazardous waste
increased as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic

TOTAL HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATED (TONNES)
60

49

46
40

38

40

23

21

20

13
1

0

Oil Based
2019

2

1

Water Based

Solid

2020

20

18
6
Others2
BioMed2021-Q1

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Expo 2020 Dubai classifies generated wastewater into three main categories, handled in the following ways:•

BLACKWATER:
Wastewater from bathrooms, generated fromcontractors’ premises, is stored in the septic tanks
of toilet cabins in various rest areas on the Exposite; it is transported by Dubai Municipality to
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Jebel Ali, Dubai
Sports City and Al Aweer.

•

GREYWATER:
Wastewater from sinks and washing utilities isstored and transported by the same method.

•

CONDENSATE:
Water that originates from air washers, air-coolingcoils, condensing appliances, overflow from
evaporative coolers and similar water-supplied
equipment or air-conditioning equipment; inthe reporting cycle maintained in this report, nocondensate was produced by Expo’s operations or
activities.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |117

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

A notable development within this report’s reporting cycle, withrespect to wastewater management, is the updated treatment practiceassociated with wastewater, influenced by changing treatment
practices enforced by Expo 2020 Dubai. Within the reporting cycle,
the organisation updated its protocols to treat wastewater off-site inaccordance with best-practices and established standards.

TOTAL WASTEWATER GENERATION BY TYPE (M3)
Year

Sewage/Black Water

Grey Water

Condensate

TOTAL

2019

227,85836

0

227,8942020

330,79495

0

330,8882021 – Q1

48,9550048,955

Although the methodology
elected in the previous year
excludes International Participantsfrom tabulations due to theirminimal impacts, this reporting
cycle includes impacts from all
International Participants, thus
substantiating an increase in total
wastewater generated. In addition,
Expo 2020 Dubai considers its
total wastewater generation
increase as a result of operational
disruptions caused by COVID-19
as well as continued construction
activities in preparation for the
event’s launch.

SPILLAGE
Expo 2020 Dubai mandates that all site contractors develop a Spill
Response Procedure to be included in their Environment Plan, inclusive of
all methods of monitoring, prevention, and mitigation in the event of an
on-ground spill. Examples of controls include:•

Training all site personnel on contamination and spills•

Taking inventory of onsite spill response equipment•

Evaluating and reporting all incidents related to the spillage ofhazardous chemicals•

Review of any follow-up preventative action•

Storage of hazardous chemicals used on-site in well-ventilated andilluminated chemical storage areas or rooms; all storage areas areprovided with an impervious floor surface, a secondary containment
with 110% capacity, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and fire
extinguishers and spill response equipment in the immediate vicinity

To foster diligence in managing waste streams, Expo 2020 Dubai equips
all areas where dangerous goods are stored, used, and handled, withspill kits and other forms of emergency controls and conducts frequent
emergency response drills. During this reporting cycle, 221 environmental
incidents have been recorded, with 12 classified as serious and 209
deemed minor.

118 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENTS BY TYPE
(CUMULATIVE UNTIL THE END OF Q1-2021)

9

Other

75

Concrete
Management

59

Hazadous
Materials/Spills

78

Wastewater
Management

Expo 2020 Dubai continues to categorise theseincidents based on four categories:•

Hazardous materials/ spills•

Wastewater management•

Concrete management•

Other, including potable water pipe leakage
and incidents related to smoke emissions fromgenerators or vehicles

As shown, wastewater-related incidents compriseof the largest portion of all environmental incidents,
making up 35 per cent of the total cumulativeenvironmental incidents during the reporting cycle.
Concrete-related incidents are the second mostsignificant source of environmental incidents at 34
per cent, resulting in Expo 2020 Dubai taking steps
to ensure that all contractors minimise, if not entirely
prevent, incident recurrences.

A high-level summary of the significant spills that have been recorded in 2020 and Q1 of 2021 and mitigation
measures taken
DATE

SPILL DETAILSRESPONSEPREVENTATIVE ACTIONS

18 February 2020

An unauthorised concrete
washout was reported onsite. The initial investigation
revealed that the driverof the concrete mixer
cleaned the chute on an
undesignated area.

Immediate containmentand removal of the concrete
spill using backhoe loader.
The contaminated soil was
removed and stored in heavy
duty hazardous waste bags
for further disposal.

A non-conformance report
was issued to the concrete
batching plant. Awareness/refresher training provided to
all concrete truck drivers toensure strict compliance withthe on-site requirements
and facilities provided for
concrete washing.

7 January 2020

A major sewage overflow
was reported from a septictank bunding facility. The
initial investigation revealed
delay in arrival of the sewage
tanker which led to theoverflow of sewage from thebund into the ground.

The waste service provider
was called immediately. The
contaminated areas werecovered with loose soil andthe soil was shoveled to clear
the contamination and thecontaminated soil wasstored in the designatedwaste storage area forfurther disposal.

Regular inspection ofbunds for any leakages
to be conducted. The
contaminated soil, aroundthe tank, will be excavated,removed, and disposed ofand an additional tank is tobe placed to contain theoverflowing water.

15 November 2020

A major sewage overflow
was reported from a
toilet facility. The initialinvestigation revealed thatthe pipe connected to theinlet of a sewage tank got
disconnected.

The loose pipe connection
was repaired and the leak
was immediately stopped.
The contaminated area
was cleaned and thecontaminated soil wascollected and stored in thehazardous waste bin forfurther disposal at a landfill
facility by an approved waste
service provider.

Leak tests of septic tanks
to be conducted whenever
new fittings or connections
are made. Regular inspection
and proper repairing will
supplement.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |11901. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
TRANSFORMING WASTE:
DULSCO
As one of the mostexperienced UAE
companies, with a history
dating back 86 years,
Dulsco’s focused efforts
to adopt and apply
appropriate technologies
to reduce, reuse andrecycle resources over theyears have made it oneof the leading solution
providers in environmental
sustainability.

Last year, despite the pandemic causing global disruptions in numerous
industries, Dulsco, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Official Waste Management
Partner, successfully launched a Paper Pulp Moulding Facility, the first of
its kind in the region. This initiative was realised after a thorough market
study of the waste cycle and in line with the need for such a solution tomeet the sustainability goals of the UAE.
Commencing its waste transportation and disposal operations more than
two decades ago, Dulsco is a trusted local partner in waste management.
But its role does not stop at waste collection and management. In linewith UAE’s Circular Economy Policy, Dulsco is consciously investing inseveral waste-to-resource projects in the UAE. The recycled paper pulp
moulding facility is yet another addition to the line of such investments
by Dulsco.
The recyclables collected from across the UAE are transported to
Dulsco’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for further segregation. One of
the streams recovered is paper and cardboard, which is sent to the Paper
Pulp Moulding Facility in Dubai Industrial City for upcycling into various
durable materials and value-added products.
Products manufactured in this facility include, but are notlimited to:•

Cup holders for the hospitality industry•

Meat trays for the food industry•

Egg trays for the poultry sector•

Bed pans and kidney trays for the medical sector•

Seed pots for the agricultural sector

Food packaging products are tested as per international standards andmeet the food contact requirements. Biodegradable medical products
also meet the BS standards. By reducing the use of plastics currently usedin market, while offering an environmentally friendly and biodegradable
alternative.
With these products, organisations can drive end-users and communities
to switch from plastic products to more durable, biodegradable productsthat are proudly manufactured in the UAE.
The ‘Paper Pulp’ initiative generates local value in helping to achieve
the UAE’s vision of sustainability, while contributing to the Sustainable
Development Goals and efforts to grow the circular economy.
This project will also contribute to Dulsco’s commitment to Expo 2020
to deliver a sustainable, efficient waste management agenda, with someof its products, such as coffee cup holders, food trays and seed pots, tofeature on the Expo 2020 site.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
LEVERAGING THE VALUE OF WASTE:
SAP
Waste to wages:
technology is a gamechanger in Ghana’s fightagainst plastic pollution
Drains, illegal dumps
and beaches are chokedwith discarded bottles
and plastic packaging,but waste pickers aremaking an impact. A new
multistakeholder pilot
aims to increase visibility
within the supply chain
and bring benefits topeople, companies and theenvironment.

The impact.
The race to recycle is gaining momentum in Ghana.
Throughout the West African country, informal workers known as waste
pickers clean up communities and natural areas. Their work is vital, but
the country has big plans to improve conditions in the industry andmodernise. A pilot project between the World Economic Forum, theGlobal Plastic Action Partnership and technology giant SAP, Expo 2020
Dubai’s Official Innovative Enterprise Software Partner, is creating acohesive group of more than 2,000 waste pickers and measuring thequantities and types of plastic that they collect. This data is then analysed
alongside the prices that are paid throughout the value chain by buyers in
Ghana and internationally.
By bringing transparency to the value chain, the project will benefit
all stakeholders. Socially responsible companies will pay a premiumfor social plastics, which will benefit the end consumer and protect
communities and the environment. Waste pickers themselves will also
benefit by earning fairer wages. Policy-makers will also use this data to
decide where to build recycling plants.
What’s the challenge?
A total of 8 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the ocean each year.
By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean if we do not takeurgent, collective action.
Ghana generates approximately 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste per
year and approximately 5% of that is collected for recycling.
The system of waste pickers operates “below the radar” without
formalised standards and processes. This puts stakeholders throughout
the value chain at risk and also limits the way in which larger institutions
can engage.
Our approach.
The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) harnesses the convening
power of the World Economic Forum to bring together government,
business and civil society to translate commitments into meaningfulaction at global and national levels. Public-private partnerships toadvance national efforts to fight plastic pollution are now active inIndonesia, Ghana, Nigeria and Viet Nam.
The Forum played an instrumental role in bringing SAP and Ghana NPAP
together. This relationship led to further connections throughout theplastics chain, including local waste picker organisations in Ghana; micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises; multinational companies and local
authorities. Together, this group is co-designing a software solution thatconnects waste pickers with potential buyers and recyclers.
Source: World Economic Forum122 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY#ANHOURWITHTHECLEANER:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
The desert is home to anumber of native floraand fauna that represent
Emirati heritage andbountiful lands. As it
becomes an increasingly
popular destination forpeople to flock to in thepleasant seasons, thedesert incurs some ‘wear
and tear’.

To do its part to protect and preserve the natural beauty of thenation’s landscape, an Expo 2020 Dubai team of employee volunteers
contributed their time to a desert clean-up at Al Qudra, held by the DM.
The programme, called #AnHourWithTheCleaner, invited conscious
members of society to give back to the environment. As a prime exampleof how Expo 2020 imbues the truest qualities of conservation andcommunity action, departments worked together, alongside DM and
Dulsco, to foster tangible change.
With Dulsco’s support, Expo has calculated a breakdown of waste
collected, categorised as per the following:
BREAKDOWN OF WASTE COLLECTED (T)

27%
Tyre

10%

Cardboard

18%
Plastic

32%
Wood

13%
Metal

Within an area of 100,000 square
metres, 299 kilograms of total
waste was collected. Thirtythree kilograms of this material
will be repurposed for an art
project showcased during Expo2020’s launch and operation.
The outcomes of the cleanup amounted to a total of 269
kilograms of mixed recyclable
waste, with 30.4 kilograms
materials going to landfill – a
90 per cent diversion rate fromlandfill.

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8. BIODIVERSITY
Expo 2020 orients its
biodiversity strategy towards
meeting the following
objectives:••

Ensure Expo 2020’s
development will enhance
ecosystem management
and the naturalenvironment through thepreservation of existing
resources and the creationof new urban and nonurban natural areas.
Protect all existing areasof ecological value inand outside of the Expo
2020 site by maximisinglandscaping with native/
adaptive species andminimising the planting ofinvasive species.

•

Ensure 95 per cent of thelandscape area is managedwithout the use of chemical
pesticides, herbicides, or
fertilisers.
The event site will include
Arab-style vistas, including
palm groves, jasmine
trees, wadi figs and desert
scenery. Aiming to keep
visitors cool, shaded
canopies will be provided
by the national tree of theUAE, the ghaf tree. The
megaproject’s 4.38 sqkm
site includes 22ha for anursery, in cooperation with
Dubai Municipality, thatwill cultivate 12,157 trees,
including palm trees, morethan 256,000 shrubs andthousands of flowering
plants and herbs.

The organisation reflects on
its ecological performancethrough documents, suchas the Terrestrial Ecology
Drive Report, the Expo
2020 Tree Preservation
Report, and the Reptile andSmall Mammal Relocation
Project Report. The resultsof these efforts illustratethat sightings of animals
occur sporadically on
Expo 2020 Dubai’s sites
due to the movement ofreported species between
neighbouring premises. The
CEMP lays out protocols
to best manage terrestrial
flora and fauna, which Expo
2020 and its third-party
agencies are required toadhere to.

In the reporting cycle, several incidents of biodiversity interactions were noted, some of which arehighlighted below:

In February 2020, a falcon was found stuck
on a balcony in Expo Village, unable to fly due
to tied feet. Dubai Municipality (DM) wildlife
experts promptly responded to the rescue andreunited the falcon with its owner.

In collaboration with DM-Veterinary Section
and through its appointed service provider,
Expo adopts the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
technique whereby any feral cat spotted
on-site is humanely contained, neutered andreturned to the same location where it
was found.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

Upon spotting a wild dog on the Expo 2020
site, the Expo 2020 team immediately took thecanine to the veterinary for a check-up. In early
2021, the dog has successfully been placed in a
new home.

Several beehives were spotted on-sitethroughout the year, the majority of which areformed by Dwarf Arabian Honeybees. Greateffort has ensured all nests on Expo 2020 site
are protected with installed warning signs andincreasing awareness among the workforce.
Based on necessity, the nests are relocated toa safer part of the site by an Expo-appointed
service provider that is trained in the relocationof bees’ nests.

In March 2021, two young Arabian Gazelles(Gazella arabica) were found running on site.
Upon inspection, one of them was found to be
injured. Immediate action was taken to transfer
the Gazelles to a DM conservation site.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
OCEAN CONSERVATION AND
CLEAN-UP PROGRAMME: EMIRATES NBDEmirates NBD, Expo
2020 Dubai’s official
banking partner, highlights
its commitment toprotecting marine andcoastal ecosystems from
pollution under its ‘Keep
the Creek Clean’ marine
conservation programme.
The programme aligns
with the Group’s Social
Investment Strategy, under
the Environment pillar,
the Exchanger Employee
Volunteer Programme andSustainable Development
Goal (SDG) 14, ‘Life
Below Water’.

Introduced by the Private Banking and CSR teams in 2018, theprogramme aims to help preserve and clean up the UAE’s waterways,
specifically the Dubai Creek, through education, awareness and action.
Since inception, the programme has trained more than 50 Emirates
NBD Group employees to obtain their PADI Open Water Dive license –
joining 66 already-trained scuba divers at Emirates NBD to participate inscuba diving clean-ups. The programme has removed and responsibly
disposed of 11,899 kilograms of waste from marine and coastal areas,in collaboration with several government and private sector partners,
through scuba diving, kayak and beach clean-ups.
In addition to scuba diving clean-ups, the programme also aims to
educate volunteers on the importance of protecting our marine
environment. In collaboration with PADI’s Project AWARE’s flagship citizen
science programme ‘Dive Against Debris’, volunteers are taught to safely
remove marine debris from the ocean and report data back to PADI on
the quantity, location and materials collected.
The new Private Banking welcome pack is also made from 100 per centrecycled plastic bottles and paper.

FROM OCTOBER 2018 - MARCH 2020

VOLUNTEER

CLEAN-UPS

3,009

50

WASTE REMOVED

STAFF TRAINED IN
PADI OW

11,899 KG

50

VOLUNTEER SCUBA
DIVERS

66

128 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESGO PAPERLESS PROGRAMME
Streamlining Printers
The bank reduced the number of printers to
discourage employees from printing; 70-plus printerswere removed.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates
NBD used technology to upgrade our products andservices to be fully digital. In February 2020, Emirates
NBD launched the Go Paperless Sustainability
Programme. The first initiative under the programmewas ‘Identification and implementation of policies andprocesses to reduce paper consumption’, an initiative
focused on using paper responsibly, saving trees andreducing our carbon footprint. Since February, theGroup has:•

Implemented 78 initiatives•

Saved 23 million sheets of paper•

Saved 2,875 trees•

CO2 reduction of 575 metric tonnes (MT)Discontinuing Printing of Documents from Docsafe
Printing access for approximately 910 users has
been removed.
Discontinuing Printing of Denomination Pages
Denomination details are generated using a menu
option in Finacle, meaning employees do not need toprint them.
Work-from-Home Initiatives
Employees working from home developed
approximately 130 new paperless processes, such as
creating shared folders or approvals being given
via email.

The bank’s top five initiatives:
Digital Authentication & Archival
Employees at the bank’s Deira Branch no longer needto print End-of-Day Reports. They can download,
check, sign and archive.

Through the use of digital and online platforms forbanking products and services, the bank’s carbon
emissions drastically reduced.

Total Open orProcessed

Open ThroughTablets

Penetration

Sheets of Paper
Saved
Approximately

Accounts

65,88937,813

57%

302,504

Credit Cards

60,49815,623

26%

124,984

Personal Loan

17,046

15,37390%

245,968

2020 BASELINE VS. SAVINGS (PAPER SHEETS IN MILLIONS)Paper Sheets (Mn)

50

43

40
30

21.5
20

21
17.8

10.5

10

6.2

9

4.5

5.5

0
Emirates NBD

2019 Baseline

Emirates Islamic

2020 Target

Tanfeeth

2020 Savings
EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |129

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
HARVESTING HONEY:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Expo 2020 Dubai takes
great care to preserve
gentle ecosystems itinteracts with.

In 2019, the organisation came across a colony of honeybees present on
the event’s site. The Expo Sustainability team acted quickly to relocate
the hive safely and productively in collaboration with the Beekeepers
Association. Given that honeybees are crucial pollinators, holding acentral role in agricultural production globally, this joint effort contributed
to an initiative called ‘Adopt a Beehive’. The colony was ethically moved
to the Beekeepers Association’s Bee Garden at The Sustainability Cityin Dubai.
In early 2021, a small group from Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability teamvisited the garden for the second year in a row. Like previous annual
trips, it was commemorated by helping to harvest and bottle the honeyinto 100 specially designed Expo 2020 Dubai jars. The hive’s rescue andrelocation depict the range of considerations that Expo 2020 Dubai takes
to protect biodiversity across the 4.38 sqkm site.
As bee populations continue to disappear, their conservation has become
a global priority to ensure the safety of the environment, food supplies
and human life.
Through directed policies and a robust sustainability strategy, Expo 2020
ensures all biodiversity targets are tracked, monitored and transparently
reported. All workers are also advised to alert Expo 2020’s environmental
team when they find any animals on-site, helping to ensure Expo 2020
will be one of the most sustainable World Expos in history.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Electing a precautionary principle of its environmental
disclosure, Expo 2020 looks to reflect its
environmental performance through an institutionalframework and applicable environmental legislation.
Abiding by the Dubai Municipality Environment
Department (DMED), Expo 2020 ensures compliancewith all set environmental regulations, approvals
and guidance.
Responsibility is placed on the organisation to liaise
with Dubai Municipality and other stakeholders
regarding its priorities and expectations forenvironmental compliance and applicable permits,

guidelines, standards etc., as applicable for Dubai
and the event’s operations. Securing support fromsenior management allows the organisation to
manage environmental compliance risks, issues andobligations.
Expo 2020 complies with all relevant environmental
regulations as set forth by the UAE Federal
Government and Dubai Municipality. To date,the organisation has not been in violation of any
environmental regulations, nor has it received any
complaints relating to environmental matters.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TRAVEL:EMIRATESAs Expo 2020 Dubai’s
Official Airline Partner,
Emirates’ environmental
framework and strategy
focuses resources on
three key areas: emissions
reduction, responsible
consumption, and wildlife
and habitat conservation.

REDUCING EMISSIONSEmirates continually explores
and implements initiatives toimprove fuel efficiency and reduce
emissions across its operations.
Some of its most significant
initiatives in this field include:•

Its long-standing operationof flexible routings inpartnership with air navigation
service providers to create themost efficient flight plan foreach flight•

The use of advanced data
analytics, machine learning
and AI in its fuel monitoring
and aircraft weight
management programmes.

Emirates received its first A380
powered by sustainable aviationfuel (SAF) in December 2020,
after uplifting 32 tonnes of SAF
for its flights from Stockholm
in August with the support of
Swedavia’s Biofuel Incentive
Programme. Flights from Oslo alsobegan operating on SAF under
the Norwegian government SAF
mandate policy shortly after.
Emirates is also a member of theWorld Economic Forum’s Clean
Skies for Tomorrow coalition,
which is supporting a transition to
SAF as part of a pathway towards
carbon-neutral flying.
The airline believes that a wellmaintained aircraft contributes toefficient flight operations. Emirates
uses a dry-wash technique toclean its aircraft, a method thatsaves 11 million litres of water
annually and keeps its aircraft
cleaner for longer – thus reducing

132 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

fuel consumption and the numberof times the aircraft has to be
washed annually.
Emirates is one of the first airlines
to utilise GE’s 360 Foam Wash
system for its engines. Since 2017,
more than 200 engines havebeen washed with this innovative
system, delivering fuel savings andan estimated reduction of CO2
emissions by 61,400 tonnes.
Having completed its first audited
annual emissions report for the
Carbon Offsetting and Reduction
Scheme for International
Aviation (CORSIA), covering all its
international emissions for theyear 2019, Emirates is finalising theaudited report for 2020. CORSIA
is an integral part of the aviationindustry’s global approach to
reducing emissions, alongsidetechnology, sustainable aviation
fuel, infrastructure enhancements,and operational efficiency.
Emirates complies with all
regulatory obligations, including
CORSIA, the European Union
Emissions Trading System (EUETS), Swiss ETS, and UK ETS.
However, Emirates strongly
advocates that there should be nooverlap between these andother schemes or charges
addressing emissions frominternational aviation.

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Consuming responsibly

Wildlife and habitat conservation

Efforts to reduce single-use plastics across Emirates’
operations remains an area of focus for the medium
to longer term.

Aiming to protect our planet’s biodiversity for future
generations, Emirates is a long-standing supporterand partner in the conservation of wildlife
and habitats.

In 2020, COVID-19 accelerated the digitisation ofprocesses at customer touchpoints and reducing
paper consumption and waste within the business.
Significant investments were made in new technology,
including Emirates Flight Catering’s latest food waste
management system, which leverages artificial
intelligence and machine learning to monitor andcontrol food waste and meet its target of reducing
food waste by 35 per cent.

The airline has funded and supported the Dubai
Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) since 2003,
and heritage and conservation programmes at the
Wolgan Valley in Australia’s Blue Mountains since2009. Emirates is also an active participant in global
anti-wildlife trafficking initiatives, including with The
Royal Foundation on the United for Wildlife initiative
since 2016.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
CHAMPIONING SUSTAINABILITY:
DUBAI CHAMBER
A recently publishedreport from the Centre
for Responsible Businessof the Dubai Chamber,
Expo 2020 Dubai’s official
business integration
partner, revealed that
the Chamber attained anumber of milestones in
its sustainability mission
in 2020, as it served asa leading model for thebusiness community in
Dubai. As part of its efforts
to promote responsible
business practices,
the Dubai Chamber
continues to improve its
sustainability performance
while encouraging
like-minded changes
among its members
and suppliers in four key
areas: namely community,
the environment, theworkplace, and themarketplace.

134 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS
In 2020, the Chamber retained LEED Platinum
certification for its headquarters and University ofDubai campus.

To support eco-awareness, the organisation organised
six environmental workshops for companies,
authorities, and universities.

The Chamber has reduced 91% of its potablewater consumption and 63% of its energy
consumption since 1998, saving more than 27.7
million dirhams as a result of these efforts.

Facilitating green infrastructure is an utmost priority,
therefore the organisation has recently completed asustainable parking project and has published threepublications focusing on the modernisation of buildings,
best practices, and case studies in green buildings.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSOCIAL MILESTONES
In the past year, the Dubai Chamber conducted 53 awareness and internal trainings on
corporate social responsibility and well-being for Dubai Chamber employees, covering awide range of topics such as work environment, support for people with determinationand fitness.

Free annual health checks and discounted health club membership packages are offered to
all Dubai Chamber employees. More than 220 participants from 153 companies participatedin public webinars on business resilience under COVID-19.

The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Week 2020 campaign on employee health and wellbeing attracted more than 57,500 participants from 272 organisations and included morethan 400 projects, activities and events. The campaign, entitled Let’s Create a Healthy andHappy Workplace, raised awareness of employee health and happiness, and emphasised
the need for senior management to advocate for employee health and well-being and tolead with compassion and empathy during the pandemic.

In 2020, a total of 18 companies joined the Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network, bringing
the number of members to 69. The network was founded in 2010 as a platform for thebusiness world to identify, share and provide solutions for CSR and sustainability challenges.
It has initiated several initiatives to promote the introduction of sustainable practices in thelocal business world.

The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network organised 19 knowledge sharing eventsin 2020, including virtual seminars and campaigns on topics affecting businesses,
responding to the challenges of Covid-19 and adapting to the new normal. These events
attracted more than 10,000 attendees from a variety of industries and addressed
key issues such as employee health, wellbeing and safety, engagement of young
talent, resilience of the supply chain, safe disposal of PPE and e-waste, green building,
localisation, and remote participation of determined people through assistive technology.

The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network, founded by the Chamber’s Centre for
Responsible Business (CRB), offers local companies the opportunity to network, learn, shareexperiences, and shape CSR leaders.

The Centre for Responsible Business, for its part, plays a very important role in guiding
companies to understand the commercial, social, and environmental value of sustainable
practices and how to apply them.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC A S E S T U DY
DELIVERING A HOLISTIC SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE:CANON
Following half a century
of operations, Canon,
Expo 2020 Dubai’s
official printing andimaging provider, adopted‘kyosei’ as its corporate
philosophy in 1988, asa clear expression of
the company’s firm
commitment towards
working with stakeholders
across the globe, while itpursues the developmentof a sustainable global
society based on thephilosophy. ‘Kyosei’
dictates the aspiration tocreate a society in which
all people, regardless ofrace, language, or culture,
live and work together inperfect harmony.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTION:
Canon focuses its circular economy within its internal corporate
processes, seeking to make a purposeful change at a personal level.
Along with recycling and refurbishing its IT assets, for example the EQ80
series at factories in Giessen, Germany, Canon operates a toner cartridge
recycling program in Canon Brittany, France, and an inkjet cartridge
recycling program in Germany.

•

Since 2008, they have extracted 37,917 tons of plastic from products
used for recycling as raw materials, and another 30,690 tons of
products and parts directly reused.

•

Canon operates its range of used toner cartridges in 23 countries andregions (total collection volume of about 424,000 tons at the end of2019) for recycling in four plants, in Japan, USA, France and China (USrecycling area where the product is located).

•

Due to recycling initiatives, Canon has achieved a cumulative reduction
in new resource use of around 296,000 tons since 2019.

•

Canon has been collecting and recycling used toner cartridges since1996. At the end of 2019, Canon’s collection program was active in
35 countries and regions around the world, with 2,395 tons of tonercartridges collected by the end of 2019.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION:
To help build a sustainable community, Canon EMEA developed theCanon Young People Program (YPP). Building on the foundations of theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in collaboration withlocal partners, the program gives disadvantaged youth a voice to help
create a better and more sustainable future for all. Through the powerof positive visual narratives, Canon EMEA helps disadvantaged young
people understand and overcome the challenges that affect their lives,with confidence and a solution-oriented disposition.
The program is enacted in the form of workshops focusing on threemain themes - inspiration, education, and empowerment. Since its
launch in 2015, the YPP has supported more than 4,750 young people
through creative workshops in over 18 different countries. In 2020, as
many educational facilities were forced to close due to the COVID-19
pandemic, YPP held online and in-person workshops in many countries,
including the UK, Spain, Poland, and South Africa.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESAs an example of the impact of YPP in Africa, CanonSouth Africa provided equipment and training
support to Wild Shots Outreach (WSO) a non-profit
organisation that aims to raise awareness of nature
conservation and educate young people about
wildlife preservation. To date, over 600 young people
have participated in the WSO Project. Outcomes haveshown that participating youth are empowered withknowledge of their natural heritage, as they seek
occupations within conservation and encourage
positive change in impoverished rural communities.

Graduates are given the opportunity to secure
jobs, grants, and awards, including the “Best
Environmental Photographer of the Year 2019” prize
given to Neville Ngoman.
2021 provides new opportunities to deliver hybrid
workshops with unique partnerships and activities
across Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Canon is proud
to be exhibiting its innovation at this year’s Dubai
World Expo and joining in with the spirit of teamwork.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC
SOCIALI M PAC T
Expo 2020 has always been committed to making a positive, long-lasting impact on its
stakeholders and surroundings. Although the pandemic has presented many hurdles,
especially with respect to pushing the social agenda through human interactions, Expo
2020 has been able to adapt – tailoring its social-impact models and methods tochanging circumstances. By embracing novel tools and instruments to drive innovation
during these unprecedented times, Expo 2020 has enhanced its strategies to deliver
more resilient solutions for the community, during and after the event.

CASE STUDYEDUCATING FUTURE VISIONARIES:THE EXPO SCHOOL PROGRAMME
To provide students withmeaningful learning experiences,the Expo School Programme looks
to reinvent traditional teaching
to explore global sustainability
and leadership, in and out of theclassroom. Offering a variety ofopportunities to study and interact

with the communities within
which the UAE’s youth inhabit,
the programme urges students
and educators to make use of
several diverse teaching resources,
valuable excursions and culturalexperiences to enhance Expo2020’s commitment to bettering

education in the UAE. Providing
online and in-person facilities, Expo
2020 will continue to develop its
initiatives under this banner bycollaborating with schools acrossthe country to build a lasting legacy
for generations to come.

SOME OF ITS EXISTING ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED BELOW:EXPO CHAMPIONSRE-LAUNCH

500+

CHALLENGES

Downloaded

Expo 2020 Dubai Champions programme is an excellent opportunity
for students to be involved in the journey to Expo 2020. The initiative
aims to empower students to build leadership skills, to communicate
their vision for Expo 2020 and be inspired by the UAE’s efforts tobuild a better future for everyone.
The organisation levelled up with new and exciting challenges forstudents, with the re-launched Expo Champions initiative welcoming
students from across the UAE to promote Expo 2020 within theirschools, while inspiring and educating young minds. Every month
until the opening of Expo 2020 on 1 October, a new challenge will be
unlocked. Participating students are encouraged to complete
the challenge and share their submission to move ahead on the“Road to Expo”.
https://schools.expo2020dubai.com/en/initiatives-for-schools/expo2020-dubai-champions

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSUMMER EXPLORERS

3,000+STUDENTS

RSVP’d fromacross the UAE and Internationally.

LEARNING RESOURCES

10,000+During summer 2020, Expo wanted to ensure children aremeaningfully engaged and entertained from the comfort of their own
homes. The organisation introduced Expo 2020 Summer Explorers,
an online camp made for children between the ages of 7 and 16.
Between 26 July to 6 August, it welcomed more than 3,000 children
to six diverse workshops, each jam-packed with interactive lessons,fun activities and DIY tutorials.
This initiative provided families with an online fun and educational
event during the lockdown and school holidays.

As the pandemic forced schools to move to distanced learning, Expo
2020 developed learning resources that engage young minds andspark curiosity. These resources were extremely useful for school
teachers, as they provided ready materials, such as a presentation,
lesson plan, and handouts, for their students.

DOWNLOADS

Resources can be accessed on Expo 2020’s website
https://schools.expo2020dubai.com

EXPO PAVILIONSPREMIERE VISITOver five weeks, the Expo School Programme invited educational
government authorities, including the Knowledge and Human
Development Authority (KHDA), Ministry of Education (MOE), and the
Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) to experience Terra – The
Sustainability Pavilion during the Expo Pavilions Premiere.

JAN 202,000+REGISTRATIONS

registered to attend theExpo Pavilions Premiere

This visit allowed government authorities and principals to get a
glimpse of the educational experience at Expo 2020, and what a
students’ journey would look like with COVID-19 prevention measuresin place.

250 VISITORSACROSS 88

More than

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYEXPO SCHOOL PROGRAMMEONLINE WORKSHOPS

In light of distance learning, the Expo School Programme no longer
had the option of presenting classroom workshops or conducting thesessions in Expo 2020’s Visitor Centre. Therefore, the organisation
brought important topics and learning objectives to students throughvirtual workshops, where themes related to academics and the Expo
2020 experience were discussed.

276 SCHOOLSSpace Week

3,037

REGISTRATIONS

Expo 2020 looked to the stars as it hosted Expo Space Week on 5
and 6 October 2020, asking the question: “How do we safely andproductively explore new frontiers?”
The virtual event, aligned with World Space Week, featured experts
pondering cutting-edge topics, such as space tourism, international
cooperation between nations and Mars exploration.
The Expo School Programme hosted a 30-minute session on 5
October 2020, sharing details of its schools journeys, specifically ‘The
Universe in Motion’ journey, among other space-related subjects with
Expo family and partners.

161 SCHOOLS

Hayyakum Online Workshop

1,174

Students took a sneak peek into Expo 2020 Dubai, discovering its
wonderful themes and sub-themes through interactive games, virtual
tours and more. It served as an introduction and overview of what toexpect at Expo 2020.

235 SCHOOLSMusic to My World Workshop

REGISTRATIONS

3,251

REGISTRATIONS

The online session explored music as humanity’s shared language –how it can bring people of different cultures together, help celebrate
similarities and differences, and inspire individuals and communities
to change for the better.
The workshop also highlighted special Expo School Programme
musical initiatives that students can enjoy during Expo 2020,
alongside popular musical instruments showcased and introduced at
previous World Expos.

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESONLINE PARTNERSWORKSHOPS

To deliver on its promise to bring learning outside of the classroom,
Expo 2020 provided students the opportunity to participate in theirpartner workshops. The sessions revolved around popular topics
that resonate with the student community, allowing students toexperience them from the comfort of their classrooms or home.
These workshops included:(G4T) More thanMastercard Girls4Tech (G4T) Workshop

from across the UAE participatedYoung girls uncovered science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) principles through inquiry-based activities and real-world
challenges. They had the opportunity to play the roles of several
Mastercard STEM professionals.

236 SCHOOLS(DEWA) One of our most successful
workshops to date, with over

DEWA Robotics Workshop

participating

Hosted during the Spring Break, the workshop taught the students
about the innovative world of robots as they explored various types
that exist, to understand how they work and to discover some
programming skills along the way. DEWA also introduced students to
its advanced robot called Spot.

(CANON) More thanCanon Juniors Academy – Expo Young Storytellers Workshop

SCHOOLS

Conducted during the Spring Break, the academy encouraged
students to develop their photography skills as they learnt how tobring their stories to life through mood, composition, and lighting.

260 SCHOOLS

170 DIFFERENT
participating in this very
successful session

TEACHER
WORKSHOPS

More thanBecause of the sudden distance-learning requirements, manyteachers found themselves looking for resources online. Expo 2020’s
learning resources provided them with a lesson plan and ready-togo PowerPoint presentations and activities. This allowed schools andteachers to attend an Expo session without travelling or missing class.

1,500

REGISTRATIONS;
all sessions were fully booked

180 SCHOOLS

schools from across all seven emirates
engaged with these workshops

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |141

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIRAMADAN 2020 CAMPAIGN

1 MILLION
unique reach

158,000

VIDEO VIEWS

2,000+ENGAGEMENTS

142 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 202002. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

As part of a month-long initiative, Expo 2020 mascots Rashid and
Latifa travelled virtually to different countries, showing students theirunique Ramadan traditions. This was followed by an activity wherestudents were asked to create something inspired by the visitedcountry’s Ramadan tradition.
Additionally, Expo 2020 launched a 30-day calendar where students
were encouraged to carry out a ‘daily good deed’ and record thesame on social media.
Expo 2020 focused its campaign on virtual travel as this initiative
was introduced early in the pandemic. All engaging activities were
all designed to be done at home to respect social distancing and thestay-home order.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEXPO TALKS:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Expo 2020 recognises the need for online social events amid the pandemic to ensure
the safety of its communities, while continuing to engage and inform the public onbuilding a better present and future.
As part of its pre-event programme, Expo 2020 launched its virtual initiative ‘Expo Talks’.
Comprised of a series of panel discussions and dialogues, Expo Talks were structured
to encourage the exchange of thought-provoking and new perspectives on spotlighted
global trends. Inspiring audiences to contemplate topics ranging from sustainablefinance to space exploration, the programme brought together Expo 2020’s capableminds, valued partners and industry experts to shed light on some of the world’s mostpressing issues and challenges.

10 EVENTS

90 HOURS OF CONTENT

16 DAYS OVER 6 MONTHSREPRESENTATIVES FROM
120+ PARTICIPANTS,
PARTNERS AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE EXPO FAMILYThis inspiring series of talks had a worldwide reach with thousands of views and over a million impressions.

715K

5.6M

VIDEO VIEWS

156K

IMPRESSIONS

5.9K

MENTIONS

144 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

ENGAGEMENT

69K

LIVE STREAMS

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEach session was broadcasted
through live streaming platforms,
bringing each forum to audiencesin real-time. Panels were tasked
with addressing key questions
relevant to the topic at hand,
while considering complementing
trends that serve to enhanceinternational sustainability, suchas the problem-solving potentialof digitalisation and the role of
the regulatory frameworks tofoster positive change. Expo Talks
invited more than 200 subject
matter specialists, International
Participants, Official Partners

and more to offer a plethora ofthoughts and ideas on a global,
public platform. To extend ideas
beyond Expo 2020’s existing
network, many International
Participants also hosted their own‘talks’ on their own channels.

HIS EXCELLENCY HUSSAIN BIN
IBRAHIM AL HAMMADIHER EXCELLENCY SARAH
AL AMIRIHER EXCELLENCY MARIAM
ALMHEIRI

Minister of Education

Minister of State for Advanced
Technology

Minister of State for Food andWater Security

Chairwoman, UAE Space Agency

HIS EXCELLENCY ABDULLA
NASSER LOOTAHHER EXCELLENCY RAZANAL MUBARAKHIS EXCELLENCY SULTAN AHMED
BIN SULAYEM

Director General, Prime Minister’s Office

Managing Director, Mohamed bin Zayed
Species Conservation FundGroup Chairman and CEO, DP WorldHIS EXCELLENCY ENG. DAWOODABDULRAHMAN AL-HAJRIHIS EXCELLENCY DR. TARIQ
AL GURGDAME JANE GOODALL

Director General of Dubai Municipality

CEO and Member of Board of Directors,
Dubai Cares

Primatologist, Anthropologist, Founder,
Jane Goodall InstituteVice Chair, National Committee on
the SDGs

Member of the Expo 2020 Dubai
Higher Committee

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

DR. SYLVIA EARLE

DR. JAMES L. GREENHIS SERENE HIGHNESSPRINCE ALBERT II

Oceanographer, Ocean Elder, Founder,
Mission Blue

Chief Scientist, NASA

Head of State, Principality of Monaco,
Ocean ElderHER EXCELLENCYKERSTI KALJULAIDDAVID BEASLEY

RICHARD CURTIS

President of Estonia

Executive Director, World Food
Programme

Writer, Director and SDG Advocate

MAIMUNAH MOHD SHARIF

Executive Director, UN-Habitat

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10 TALKS ON DIFFERENT TOPICS WERE CONDUCTED WITH MORE THAN 90 HOURS OF
CONTENT, INCLUDING 120-PLUS INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, PRACTITIONERS AND
THOUGHT LEADERS.
Details on these talks are mentioned below:

EXPO TALKS

BRIEFExpo 2020 looked at how the Emirates Mars Missions is helping to create
a better understanding of space and our universe – using the explorationof space to understand Earth and its finite resources.
SPACE

CLIMATE AND
BIODIVERSITY

Expo 2020 showcased how communities and the global population canwork together to better manage climate change and protect biodiversity– offering glimpses and insight of current and future Expo 2020 projects
that highlight the importance of biodiversity.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Expo 2020 shone a light on the importance of health and wellness,
especially amid a pandemic, and explained how it will ensure the safetyof all participants, while preserving an extraordinary visitor experience.
The event also touched on how governments, subnational actors andinternational organisations can transform the way communities accesshealthcare and avert and mitigate outbreaks of disease.

TRAVEL AND
CONNECTIVITY

Expo 2020 examined both physical and digital connectivity, asking thebest way to balance the impact of the expansion of our digital world
into our physical reality – escaping the limits of today to embrace theopportunities of tomorrow. Expo looked at the importance of being more
efficient and more effective in energy consumption, and travelling safer,smarter, and more responsibly.

URBAN AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT

Expo 2020 expanded on the way habitats, whether urban or rural, formal
or informal, are designed and managed – to draft a blueprint that will
ensure access to safe and affordable living conditions is a fundamental
right. Speakers stressed the need to balance the building of theinfrastructure of the nation, both physical and human, with the need topreserve and respect the inhabited land.

TOLERANCE AND
INCLUSIVITY

FOOD, AGRICULTURE,
AND LIVELIHOODS

Expo 2020 speakers reflected on the importance of tolerance andinclusivity in the UAE and how it has been the foundation of success andadvancements through its inclusivity of all genders, cultures and religions.

Expo 2020 dove into how the growing global population can be fed in a
way that is clean, healthy, and sustainable. The event brought together avariety of stakeholders, including producers, facilitators, and consumers,
to ‘learn global and practice local’, overcoming shared challenges throughintelligent and transferable solutions.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAITALK NAMEGLOBAL GOALSKNOWLEDGE AND
LEARNING

WATER

BRIEF
Expo 2020 investigated what we need to do today to achieve a better,more prosperous world for us all in 2030. With COVID-19 currently
presenting challenges, Expo 2020 strives to highlight the possibilitiesof building a better world, offering hope, and spotlighting the efforts ofextraordinary change-makers.

Education is the cornerstone of the development strategy of the UAE,
underpinning policies and institutions that are leading the way in the
global development space. This event reflected how communities can use
what they know today to change how they learn in the future. Expo 2020
believes that integrating innovation within education is a priority.

Expo 2020 described the challenge of protecting water, the planet’s mostprecious resource today, for future generations. The event explained thatwater is the lifeblood of civilisations and sustenance, shaping economies,
cultures, and religious beliefs as demand soars and supply demand slows.
Through the discussion, Expo 2020 Dubai reinforced its commitment to
exploring the different ways that the global water crisis can be tackled.

‘Expo Talks’ acts as one of themany elements of Expo 2020’s
framework in its contribution to
the development of humanity.
During Expo 2020, the Programme
for People and Planet will take theplace of Expo Talks, galvanisingcollective action through five
tracks – each of which explore a
distinct feature of culture, society,economy, futurism, and theenvironment.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI’S PROGRAMMEFOR PEOPLE AND PLANETBUILD BRIDGESCULTURAL TRACK

Through this targeted series of
events, products, and experiences,
Expo 2020 will operate 10 themed
weeks designed to encourage
public participation within therespective track – spanning thelaunch of new apps, internationaldays and business forums, among
many other offerings.

LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TRACKLIVE IN BALANCESUSTAINABILITY TRACKTHRIVE TOGETHER
BUSINESS TRACK

148 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACYUAE VISION 2071
CENTENNIAL TRACK

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYINSPIREAEXPO’S COMMITMENT
TO P E O P L E
Honouring its theme,‘Connecting Minds,
Creating the Future’, Expo
2020 builds on its purpose
through its commitment
to its workforce.
Taking precautions tosafeguard the rights
of its stakeholders andempowering them tocontribute to the event,
Expo 2020 seizes every
opportunity to deliver
value to its people.

150 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

RESPECTING PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
To fulfil its commitments to
its stakeholders, Expo 2020
has developed an integrated
framework for its outreachthat aligns with the event’s key
subthemes of Opportunity,
Mobility and Sustainability.
As per the framework, Expo
2020 has developed a Worker
Welfare Policy that applies to any
organisation that supports thedelivery of Expo 2020 throughout
the event’s lifecycle and phases.
The requirements, supported by
the Worker Welfare AssuranceStandards, are available on the
Expo Portal. The policy andstandards have been structured
to improve the working, living
conditions and general welfare
of workers, while stressing on

the preservation of the rights ofworkers in a variety of capacities,
including recruitment, mobilisation,
working and living conditions.
The Worker Welfare Policy is basedon the following fundamental
principles. Employers must:•

Ensure fair and free recruitment.

•

Ensure employees understandthe terms and conditions of
their employment.

•

Treat employees equally andwithout discrimination.

•

Protect and preserve thedignity of employees and not
tolerate harassment or abuse of
any kind.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES•

Respect the right of employees to retain their
documents, including workpapers and passports.

•

Pay employees’ wages and benefits on timeand in full.

•

Allow employees the freedom to exercise their incountry legal rights without fear of reprisal.

•

Provide a safe and healthy working andliving environment.

•

Provide access to grievance mechanisms
and remediation.

•

Ensure bonded, indentured, forced or child labour is
not employed.

By providing an agreed-upon framework to ensure
their compliance, Expo 2020 expects the highest levelof adherence to the policy from all participants andtheir contractors. This can be achieved by ensuring
compliance to the following:•

Contractually binding their supply chain into theWorker Welfare Policy and Assurance Standards.

•

Appointing a Worker Welfare representative/
monitor to ensure the Expo 2020 Dubai Worker
Welfare Policy and Assurance Standards are met.

•

Auditing their contractors/manpower providers toensure the compliance regulations are in place; ona monthly basis, they are expected to monitor anddisclose their performance in a report that is to beshared with Expo 2020.

•

Providing the Expo 2020 Dubai Worker Welfare
team with access to monitoring activities at any
given time.

•Compiling a Worker Welfare Management plan thatis event specific.

•

Establishing a Worker Welfare committee with theirpavilion staff and workers.

•

Maintaining a Worker Outreach programme for any
contractor and/or workers.

•

Attending Expo 2020 Dubai’s Worker Welfare
sessions, forums, and auditor training.

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES CONDUCTEDAMONG EXPO 2020’S CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANT,AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

2020

Q1 2021

No. of compliance audits, prequalification audits, risk assessment audits

170

50

No. of attendees for auditor training

154

16

No. of attendees for worker welfare forums

356

40

9

1

No. of new companies

Expo 2020 has had no negative impact to the local community as a result of its event planning or construction
activities. There were no incidents of human rights violations reported in 2020.
Employee and worker welfare are further managed through Expo 2020’s Code of Conduct, which emphasises
treating co-workers with respect and in a non-discriminatory manner.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYNON-DISCRIMINATION
Expo 2020 Dubai is proud of its host nation’s
principles of multiculturalism and inclusivity. Whenthese principles are achieved, it allows for therecognition and respect of common human values,
alongside the appreciation of differences and thewonderful diversity of its peoples, cultures, and thenatural environment. Expo 2020 has pledged tocreate a positive social impact on all its stakeholders,starting from within its own ranks. For its workforce,it wants people with talent, exceptional skills and astrong drive. Expo 2020 does not tolerate any sortof discrimination, recognising the advantages of adiverse team and the need to attract such capabilities
from across the world.
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), gender
discrimination costs the MENA region roughly USD
575 billion per year. Expo 2020, as the first World
Expo ever held in the MEASA region, helps foster apositive environment for gender equality, prioritising
women’s leadership and working to guarantee equal
opportunities for participation, regardless of gender.
During the reporting cycle, there were no reported
incidents of discrimination at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Expo 2020 works with federal entities to advanceworker welfare standards and is committed to thehealth, safety, welfare and dignity of all workers –continuously reviewing the policies, procedures andstandards that were put in place from the start ofits journey. Directing the organisation to treat its
employees equally and without discrimination, its
Worker Welfare Policy applies to all organisations
working to deliver the World Expo.

ANTI-CORRUPTION
Expo 2020 adopts a zero-tolerance approachto any malpractice or fraudulent act that could
affect the integrity of the organisation. Throughinternal directives and compliance regulations,the organisation provides its management andemployees with adequate responsibility to observehigh standards of business and personal ethics when
conducting their tasks.
The Expo 2020 Dubai Employee Conflict of Interest
Policy guides all employees to report observed or
perceived interests that can adversely impact theorganisation and its operations; it also lays forth that
all recorded cases of non-compliance will be subject
to disciplinary action. Applicable to all Expo 2020152 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Dubai vendors, the Supplier Conflict of Interest Policy
specifies suppliers’ responsibilities, such as avoiding
engaging in business relationships or situations thatcan compromise their contractual commitments
towards Expo 2020 Dubai.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Whistleblowing Policy, whichapplies to all employees (including seconded andoutsourced employees), volunteers, consultants andother people working within Expo, encourages thereporting of any malpractice or fraudulent activities
across the supply chain. This policy empowers
the reporting of all violations and illegal practices
and prohibits intimidation or retaliation towards
the whistle-blower – providing multiple avenuesof possible reporting, such as direct meetings,
phone calls or emails. Expo 2020 is committed toinvestigating all reported violations, while maintaining
the strictest confidence to protect the rights of any
party subject to investigation.
During the reporting cycle, Expo 2020 notedzero incidents of corruption, cases of disciplinary
action towards employees due to corruption, or
confirmed situations when contracts with businesses
were terminated or not renewed due to corruptionrelated breaches.

ACCESSIBILITYFor Expo 2020 Dubai to truly be an ‘Expo for
Everyone’, the organisation understands that its
experiences, facilities and premises must be wholly
available to all visitors, irrespective of age or physical/
sensory, and/or psychological impairments. Ensuring
people of determination can enjoy all facets of Expo
2020 is one of the event’s foremost priorities – onethat the organisation expects to be incorporated
within the actions and strategies of its partners.
Guided by the UAE’s National Policy for
Empowering People with Special Needs, the American
Disability Act (ADA), and the Dubai Universal Design
Code (DUDC), Expo 2020 embeds the principlesof equity, dignity, functionality and independence
through every stage of development, concept, design,build and operations. It seeks to match its innovation
and attention towards collaboration with the visionof Dubai’s visionary leadership. In doing so, Expo
2020 serves to contribute to a longstanding legacy
of infrastructure that can be used and enjoyed byeveryone.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Following these guidelines, Expo 2020 has planned and implemented a variety of provisions to assist peopleof determination. Some examples of these are detailed below:

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTThe UAE aims to create an inclusive, barrier-free, rights-based society that instils in its people theimportance of promoting, protecting and empowering people of determination and their families.
Following in the nation’s footsteps, the organisation looks to embed values of acceptance,
aptitude, and awareness amongst society. By endorsing artistic programmes to allow people ofdetermination to unleash their creativity, Expo 2020 takes active steps to promote platforms
to allow people of determination to express themselves in a safe, welcoming space. In addition,members of the Expo 2020 team have delivered talks on the importance of accessibility andinclusion, communicating Expo 2020’s sentiment to a wider audience. Partnering with academic
institutions and SMEs, the organisation has engaged in accessibility forums and disability
awareness campaigns to draw attention to the need for comprehensive solutions and a deeper
understanding of people of determination.

TRAINING
Through focused teaching, Expo 2020 empowers its workforce with practical skills to help
them deliver high-quality services for people of determination whatever their individual needs
may be i.e. visual, mobility, sensory, hearing etc. With training teams to ensure its website ismade accessible, Expo 2020 is committed to making sure all factors of its operations are madeuniversally user-friendly. To cultivate a personal touch when serving people of determination,
Expo 2020 operated several awareness trainings, covering topics such as accessibility at Expo
2020 and interactive assistance to help people of determination navigate their way around theExpo 2020 site.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTWith the support of its partners, suppliers, International Participants and other key stakeholders,Expo 2020 has been able to extend the potential and reach of its offerings for people ofdetermination. From delivering inclusive playgrounds to designing specific pavilion events forpeople of determination and participating in global meets to discuss COVID-19’s impact on
people of determination, Expo 2020 makes use of its varied allies to deliver targeted impact
across a wide spectrum of areas. As talks continue to implement and integrate additional efforts,
the organisation will lean on the support of its peers to support and enhance these efforts.

DELIVERABLES
Conducting accessibility site audits, enforcing an accessibility and inclusion policy, and authorising
the construction of infrastructure to support people of determination, Expo 2020 looks inwards
to examine how it can make a lasting change – dedicating resources towards designing andconstructing Quiet Rooms for de-stimulation, service dog relief areas, first-aid posts, hearing
enhancement systems, accessible restrooms and Changing Places to ensure the Expo 2020
experience is as comfortable as possible.

As Expo 2020 prepares to welcome the world, it
invites people of determination to visit the World Expo
free of charge, while providing a 50 per cent discountfor one companion. By continuing to participate invarious awareness programs, Expo 2020 aims
to actively engage with people of determination toensure an inclusive Expo 2020 experience for
all attendees.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEMBRACING DIFFERENCES:EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Expo 2020 provisions
for accessibility
combine infrastructuralenhancements withdigitalised solutions,an approach further
complemented byservices that ensure
people of determination
are appropriately guided
through experiences
at Expo 2020. The
organisation aims tocultivate its initiatives
related to accessibility as alever to enforce accessible
spaces and a cultureof empathy. Notable
initiatives that have been
put in place include:

QUIET ROOMS
Expo 2020 supports visitors with
autism or sensory inhibitions
through the installation of four
Quiet Rooms, which feature
innovative equipment such as asensory pod, sensory corner, and a
projection machine for each room.
These rooms aim to provide asafe refuge for those experiencing
sensory or emotional challenges
while visiting Expo 2020.
Additionally, headphones andsunglasses can be borrowed
from the information centres toreduce sound and visual impacts.
The Sunflower Lanyard, which isincreasingly being used in airports
and in other public venues acrossNorth America, the UK, Europe andAustralia, will be made available
at Expo 2020. The lanyard is adiscreet way for visitors to indicate
to Expo 2020 staff that they havea hidden impairment and might
require some assistance.
To raise further awareness of theneeds of the autism community,
an Autism Awareness and Sensory
Accessibility module and First
Responder Toolkit have beendeveloped. Furthermore, staff at
Expo 2020 are undergoingtraining on supporting visitorswith sensory needs and how
to proceed if an autistic visitor
is reported missing on site.
Social narratives have also beendeveloped to provide information
about the visitor journey
experiences of Expo 2020’s
flagship pavilions and attractions.

154 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

COMMUNITY ANDSTAKEHOLDERENGAGEMENTTo engage with people ofdetermination, the Accessibility
and Inclusion team has organised
virtual accessibility forums
intended to understand thecommunity’s expectations
and recommendations to feel
supported at Expo 2020. The
forums are also intended for
the Accessibility and Inclusion
team to share information onvarious provisions and featuresthat will be in place to support
people of determination. Several
organisations participate in theseforums, including the Emirates
Association for the Visually
Impaired, Zayed University Student
Accessibility Services, along with
their students of determinationand families.
To understand what COVID-19
responses are required tosupport people of determination,
senior citizens and other at-risk
communities, the Accessibility
and Inclusion team has also
participated in events organisedby various community andinternational stakeholders. These
include visiting the Dubai Autism
Centre, attending several webinars
on accessibility hosted by Zayed
University, visiting Zayed Higher
Organisation in Abu Dhabi, andparticipating in several webinars
hosted and supported by World
Enabled, Cities4All and the UN.

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05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESIn February 2020, the team also attended theWorld Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. Presentations by
UN-Habitat, the UN Special Envoy for People with
Disabilities, United Cities Local Governments (UCLG),
World Blind Union, World Enabled and Cities4All werepart of the sessions.
Furthermore, collaboration with Dubai Airports andEmirates allowed the Accessibility and Inclusion teamto share their provisions, recommending projects at
airports and within the airline that support a seamless
journey for people of determination on arrival anddeparture from Dubai.
Finally, the team hosted and moderated a panel ofinternational experts on accessibility and inclusion
during Expo Talks: Tolerance and Inclusivity, which
included a panellist from Israel and the CEO of The
Valuable 500. As an outcome of the panel, Expo 2020
was invited to join The Valuable 500, committing to
the further inclusion of people of determination within
its workforce and volunteers’ team – now and during
the 182 days of the event.

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal #8‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’, the Accessibility
and Inclusion team strives to align its procurement
needs with organisations that employ people ofdetermination. To date, this includes:•

the procurement of hearing induction loops andFrequency Modulation (FM) systems from a UKbased company whose workforce comprises
90 per cent of people of determination, including
its owner;•

the procurement of the Sunflower Lanyards,
which are sold as not-for-profit resources toorganisations that are required to issue them freeof charge to people of determination.

CHANGING PLACES TOILETSAs an essential provision for visitors with limited
mobility, four Changing Places toilets have been
installed on site. This is not just a first for any World
Expo, but the Middle East more generally (outsideof hospitals).

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEMPLOYING A SMARTSUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY:DP WORLD
DP World, Expo’s official premier global trade partner, enables smarter trade to bringabout economic prosperity and create a better world for everyone. Guiding its every
step is its ‘Our World, Our Future’ sustainability and impact strategy. This strategy
helps DP World act responsibly, enabling them to prioritise sustainable and inclusive
economic growth while leaving a positive impact on the people, communities, and theenvironments in which the company operates.

Publication of their first Human Rights
Policy and Statement.

2050

HIGHLIGHTSAND MAJORACHIEVEMENTS
IN 2020Developed a long-term decarbonisation
strategy with the aim of reaching statedgoals by 2050.

Established new partnerships with key
organisations, including the ZoologicalSociety of London (ZSL) and The Earthshot
Prize with Expo 2020 Dubai.

Invested over $1.6 million to support
communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

156 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSHUMAN RIGHTS POLICYIn July 2020, DP World issued
their Group Human Rights Policyand Human Rights Statement,
endorsed by Group Chairman andCEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
The policy applies to all entities
under the operational controlof the DP World Group and to
all its employees. Additionally,
DP World expects its suppliersand contractors to uphold thepolicy’s key principles and adopt
similar policies of their own. It also
provides a framework for actions
that DP World will implement
through its commitment to humanrights, set out its position on thesubject for its stakeholders, anddefines the business practices that
support these principles. DP World
believes that human rights are
inherent to all human beings.

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO PARTNERSHIPSIn 2020, DP World established two new partnerships in addition to
Expo 2020 Dubai:

The Zoological Society of London(ZSL) to drive meaningful global actionthat has a tangible impact on theconservation of animals and habitats toprotect the planet.

Becoming a founding partner of
The Earthshot Prize to help His RoyalHighness Prince William catalyseworldwide change through a decade ofaction to repair our planet.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT DURING THE PANDEMIC
DECARBONISATIONSTRATEGY
DP World is committed to a net
zero carbon future by 2050.
Developing a long-term carbon
and energy strategy has enabled
them to set ambitious goals
and define action plans todecarbonise their operations
through workable reduction
measures driven by technical,
economic, and regulatory
feasibility. This includes carbon
compensation through blue
carbon initiatives as part ofDP World’s Ocean Restoration
Programme, as well as
tailor-made reduction measuresfor each division.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DP World’s business units helped
government agencies and charities distribute medical supplies and foodaid. They provided students with tools to help them continue studying
from home and equipped hospitals and patients with medical provisions
and equipment. The organisation also ran COVID-19 awarenesscampaigns in rural communities. DP World spent more than $1.6 million
across their 30 business units in 2020, helping more than 350,000 people
during the pandemic.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |157

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYWOMEN’S PAVILION
On 9 March 2021, Expo 2020 announced the
Women’s Pavilion, in collaboration with Cartier, is tobe built within Expo 2020’s Sustainability District.

The Women’s Pavilion will feature five structureswith different narratives located on the ground floor
to offer a comprehensive experience:•

Introduction – expressing the purpose of
the pavilion•

Achievements – shining a light on women’s impact
on the world•

Challenges – acknowledging what is holding
women back•Solutions – highlighting the initiatives enabling
women to thrive•

Tribute – encouraging women to becomechampions of gender equality and women’s
empowerment and take the journey forward

A space designed to commemorate

Expo 2020’s commitment togender equality and women’s
empowerment, the pavilion will
honour the achievements andmilestones of women throughout
history.
Through varied programming and exhibits, theWomen’s Pavilion is geared to showcase thefollowing during Expo 2020:•

The New Perspectives Exhibition: An installation
focused on deconstructing misconceptions andinequalities of women’s roles in society andhighlighting efforts that contribute to gender
empowerment and equity.

•

A multi-sensory artistic journey: The pavilion
will invite a diverse community of creators andartists contributing both to its design and curation,
including Lebanese actress and Oscar-nominateddirector Nadine Labaki; French actress, filmmaker,
singer and pianist Mélanie Laurent; French interiorarchitect Laura Gonzalez; Dubai-born artist
Kholoud Sharafi; French light designer Pauline
David; and international multi-disciplinary artist eL
Seed.

•

The Women’s World Majlis: This dialogue will
spotlight the role of women in fostering a clean
and healthy future for humanity.

•

The Women in Arabia Series: The programmes will
discuss true stories of female pioneers to inspireaudiences to reach new heights.

•

A global forum: Expo 2020 and Cartier will
convene to celebrate International Women’s Day
on 8 March 2022 by hosting a global forum under
the theme of ‘Creating New Perspectives’.

158 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |159

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACYB
PEOPLE
OF EXPO
Expo 2020 considers its people to be its greatest asset
and is committed to developing a highly skilled worldclass workforce with a strong sense of responsibility andcommitment built on a performance-driven culture.

EMPLOYEE DIVERSITY
Expo 2020 welcomes talented professionals with exceptional skills into the workforce. Presently, theorganisation’s labour force is represented by over 30,000 people from more than 40 countries. The Employee
Integration Programme inducts all Expo 2020 Dubai employees into the organisation, by virtual means.

GENDER2020

Q1 2021

Total number of female employees in the workforce

580

635

Total number of male employees in the workforce

510

547

Total number of employees in the workforce

1,090

1,182

The year 2020 allowed Expo 2020 to re-evaluate its hiring policies to reflect the gender diversity andEmiratisation they wanted to achieve. As such, 2020 showed a ratio of 580 female employees to 510 male
employees, and the present reporting cycle observed a further increase to 634 female employees and 547
male employees.

DATA POINTS

2020

Q1 2021% of women in the workforce

53

53% of women in senior management positions

7.70

7.36

% of women in middle management positions

29

29

HIRE BY AGE GROUPNUMBER OF HIRES

Expo 2020 Dubai is committed toincreasing female representation
across its workforce andincreasing the percentage ofwomen in middle and senior
management positions.

738

800

782

600
400

280 318

200

70

79

0
Under 30

30-49
AGE GROUP

2020
160 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 20202021-Q1

50 and above04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESNATIONALITY

2020

Q1 2021

Countries of origin (diversity by nationality)

71

73

PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION

2020

Q1 2021

Employees with special needs

4

4

EMIRATISATION

2020

Q1 2021% of Emiratisation

29

30.50

Number of employed Emirati women

221

250

Expo 2020 is proud to employ a team made up
of professionals from various nationalities andbackgrounds. With a team of individuals from over 40
countries, the organisation saw a 7 per cent increase in
the nationalities reflected in its workforce during the past
year and retained four staff members with special needs.

The organisation is gradually
growing its human capital, withmore than 90 new hires totallingto 1,182 total employees. This
includes 17 employees under

Emiratisation at Expo 2020 Dubai
has been progressing positively
with a 2.5 per cent increase,inclusive of 250 Emirati female
team members by the end of thereporting cycle.

CONTRACT TYPE

2020

Q1 2021

Full time contract employees

1,082

1,165

Part time contract employees

00Temporary contract employees

8

17

Total

1,090

1,182

temporary contracts. With theExpo 2020 team growing, theorganisation will continuously
focus on diversificationand inclusivity.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |161

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEMIRATISATIONPROGRAMME
Expo 2020 seeks to cement its position as a central source of progress, added value andinnovation. One of the primary objectives of 182 days of Expo is to showcase its hostcity Dubai as a pillar of futurism, sustainability, and teamwork, achieved by incorporating
local minds and talent into the event. Its Emiratisation strategy is open to UAE Nationalsof all ages, focusing particularly on youth. It is intended to ensure UAE citizens play a
key part in delivering an outstanding World Expo, while securing Expo 2020’s legacy bybuilding a world-class pool of national talent for future generations. The Emiratisation
strategy is backed by several programmes introduced by Expo 2020.

THE EXPO GENERATION PROGRAMMEEVENT-TIME TRAINING

Formerly known as the ‘Expo 2020 Academy’, theExpo Generation Programme is tasked with recruiting,training and mobilising more than 300 Englishspeaking Emirati high-school graduates, diploma or
Bachelor’s degree holders aged 18 to 35. Although
in a reduced recruitment environment because of
COVID-19, Expo 2020 continues to operate theprogramme, targeting a total of 102 participating
UAE Nationals.

This training ensures all staff with operational roles
receive general event training, role-specific training
and operational-specific training to ensure their
preparedness for Expo 2020’s 1 October 2021
opening date.

SITE CONNECT PROGRAMMEThis programme has provided opportunities for
UAE Nationals under its previous Expo Generation
Programme to get practical experience in a training
programme, focused on operational delivery andattended by 50 UAE Nationals.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME
Expo 2020 has enhanced its skills development
programme for UAE Nationals with the Leadership
Training Programme, attended by more than 25 UAE
Nationals. This aims to identify UAE Nationals forleadership roles within the operations functions.

162 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

EXPO 2020 DUBAI OUTPLACEMENTPROGRAMMEThis programme will assist all Expo 2020 employees
in securing future career opportunities. Within thisprogramme, there is a UAE National-specific streamthat is focused on leveraging their close relationships
with UAE Government partners, sponsors, andaffiliated organisations to maximise the career
potential of their UAE staff.

MEYDAF
Expo 2020 is working to introduce its outsourced
manpower providers in an initiative called ‘Meydaf’,
which aims to encourage UAE Nationals to participate
in Dubai’s tourism industry. These efforts reflect Expo2020’s commitment to leveraging existing UAE talent.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

Expo 2020 acknowledges its
responsibility to ensure its senior
management includes the Emirati
demographic to foster a positivemarket presence and deliver
meaning and benefit to thenational community.

PERCENTAGE OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT HIRED
FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
21.00%

19.00%

Having local representation inleadership roles, a key componentof Expo 2020’s Emiratisation
strategy, also forms parts of theevent’s legacy, helping to build aworld-class pool of national talent
for generations to come.
Expo 2020 welcomed an 18
per cent increase in Emirati
representation in senior
management positions throughout
2020. While this figure has
dipped slightly in Q1 of 2021, theorganisation continues on an
upward trajectory of providing
ample job opportunities to citizens
within senior management
operations, while embracing its

20%

17.00%

18%
16.86%

15.00%
20192020

ability to deliver on the event’s
promises. Expo 2020 looks
forward to developing professional
learning and development
programmes to support Emirati
occupational needs throughout
the organisation. To this end, Expo2020’s Chief Human Resources
Officer presently holds regularmeetings with UAE Nationals tomonitor their progress and issues.

2021-Q1

The focus on developing
UAE Nationals in senior event
management positions has
resulted in the targeted
appointment of UAE Nationals insenior positions within Expo2020’s Operations division. The
following table depicts
the targeted number of
appointments across different
levels of work experience.

TOTAL
HEADCOUNTUAE
NATIONALS% UAE
NATIONALS

All roles

408

171

42%

Manager and above

228

67

29%

Lead Manager and above

107

37

35%

Deputy Zone/Operations Manager and above*

42

14

33%

*Appointments are not yet complete for these roles

Another initiative introduced during 2020 by Expo 2020 was thedevelopment of a reporting dashboard that records details pertaining
to employed UAE Nationals within the organisation. This dashboard will
enable Expo 2020 leaders to more effectively access trending
information that can ultimately assist them in the day-to-day managementof their teams.
As with many organisations across the globe, COVID-19 has impacted
recruitment volumes at Expo 2020. However, the organisation’s latest
initiative confirms an interview opportunity for every UAE National
candidate who meets the skill requirements for any vacancy within
the organisation.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYEXPOVOLUNTEERS
Expo 2020 has held various events to engage the global community in the build-up to
the event, taking steps to allow the participation of local volunteers in a World Expo.
Achievements under the Expo 2020 Volunteers Programme include:•

Received more than 170,000
volunteer applications.

The Expo 2020 Volunteers Programme had great success with therecruitment of volunteers from across the UAE:•

Registered more than 30,000
successful volunteers.

Successful volunteers include more than•Celebrated the House of
Volunteers’ second anniversary.

•

Announced application closureon 31 March 2021.

•

Engaged with Government
entities and partners to show
their support and participation
towards the programme.

•

Integrated with universities
across the UAE.

•

Promoted diversity by providing
an opportunity for roughly
1,200 Community Volunteers
to extend their volunteeringexperience to six weeks.

•

More than 170 volunteers
featured across the threemonths of the Expo 2020
Pavilions Premiere in thefollowing Functional Areas:•

Site Operations•

Workforce•

Protocol•Guest Services•

Pavilions•Exhibitions Operations

164 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

135 nationalities
85% are younger than 40, with 15% either 40 or above
53% female
47% male
46% are UAE Nationals
54% are other nationalities

VolunteDuring the pandemic, event restrictions made it difficult to engage
and connect volunteers with Expo 2020. Nonetheless, the programme
conducted House of Volunteers (HOV) interviewer nights virtually to stayconnected with volunteers. Both nights succeeded in creating an avenue
for interviewers to connect with volunteers and engage collectively on avariety of topics, such as well-being during the pandemic. To recognise
the achievements of volunteer interviewers and enhance a sense ofcommunity, the events named and awarded top performers for theirefforts – honouring their continued, persistent commitment in conducting
frequent and productive interviews through the week.
Volunteers also assisted across the site during Expo Pavilions Premiere(EPP), which welcomed more than 100,000 local guests to preview
Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion under a limited three-month ticketedshowcase. Volunteer roles under the event were mainly on-groundsupport, such as guiding visitors, explaining key facts and figures related
to the exhibitions and checking-in guests.
During these engagements, the Expo 2020 team ensured that if
volunteers were ever needed on-site for any requests, such as filming
or taking part in events such as the EPP, they were placed in a safe
environment that followed all COVID-19 safety measures.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEVENTS THAT VOLUNTEERS TOOK PART IN INCLUDE:
THE WORLD’S GREATESTSHOW IN THE MAKING
TOUR – 2ND EDITION

85

VOLUNTEERS“The World’s Greatest Show in the Making Tour” is a community
engagement activity fostering excitement, national pride andeducation about Expo 2020.

32

WORLD FUTURE
ENERGY SUMMITSOCIAL IMPACTASSESSMENT – SCHOOLSSURVEYVOLUNTEERS
The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is an annual event,dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean
technologies. It is a global industry platform connecting businessand innovation in energy, clean technology and efficiency for asustainable future. Expo 2020 will have a stand at the summit
during the World Expo’s 182-day run, managed, and supported byExpo volunteers.

2

VOLUNTEERS
Expo 2020 conducted an assessment to understand the social
impact of the Expo School Programme, an initiative that invites
schools from across the UAE to come to the Expo 2020 offices
to learn more about the event, its subthemes and key messages.
On behalf of Expo 2020, Ernst & Young (EY) has developed a shortsurvey that was conducted with students who visit Expo 2020
through its Visitor Centre.

2

MEET THE BUYER

VOLUNTEERS
Local SME suppliers were invited to present upcoming projects with
Expo 2020. This was followed by a networking session titled “Meetthe Buyer” conducted in the Visitor Centre.

EXPO 2020
CRICKET TOURNAMENT –FINAL MATCH

44

VOLUNTEERS
Held on the 31st of January 2020, the Expo 2020 Dubai Cricket
Tournament final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium wasattended by roughly 10,000 spectators from Expo 2020’s
contractor workforce.
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

92

NATIONAL SERVICEINTERVIEW WEEKVOLUNTEERS
Involving the UAE National Service Cadets in Expo 2020’s
activities, the Expo 2020 Volunteers Programme hosted a five-day
interview week with a group of recruits. Volunteers assisted theExpo team in conducting interviews, alongside other aspects ofevent management and operations.

2

OPERA WORKSHOPSVOLUNTEERS
Visitor Centre Journey and specially designed accessible workshops
for primary school students brought the magical world of opera tolife for children and teachers across the UAE.

5EXPO LIVE INNOVATIONIMPACT GRANT PROGRAMMEVOLUNTEERS
As part of its selection and evaluation process for its Innovation
Impact Grant Programme, Expo Live held the fifth cycle of Expo
Live Presentations to allow 34 shortlisted applicants to present
their projects and answer an Evaluation Committee’s clarificationquestions. The event saw a combination of presentations, interviews
and meetings.

2

MY URBAN FREEJ:
WORKSHOP #5

166 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

VOLUNTEERSMy Urban Freej is a series of commissioned art installations, recognising
the value of public art in enhancing the quality of the built environment
and the sense of place within the community. The concept stems fromthe juxtaposition between the contemporary connotations of ‘urban’and the traditional ones of ‘freej’, which inherently reflect the two facetsof the UAE – the developed urban city and the authentic traditional
neighbourhood. It also highlights the multiculturalism and bilingualism of
the UAE in the use of English (My Urban) and Arabic (Freej).

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |167

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCLIFE
AT E X P O
In attracting and retaining the best talent, Expo 2020
aspires to provide a memorable experience for all
involved in planning the event.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITSOver the past 18 months, Expo 2020 sought tooffer a methodical and communicative approachto employee management. This entailed closely
enforcing a robust code of conduct, a professional
rating system, comprehensive benefits, andgenerous leave.
Expo 2020 continued to use present policies andfacilities pertaining to employees and employment,
including its confidential grievance and complaints
committee, disciplinary routes, and Conflict of Interest
principles to avoid allegations of impropriety. Throughthese means, Expo 2020 was able to contributestability and reliability to its workforce, offering
consistency in changing times.
Taking these active steps to protect its people, Expo
2020 adopted new styles of working into its businessmodel – administering a remote working policy
to ensure optimal balance between worker safety

and organisational efficiency. The policy considered
employee conditions, such as having young children,
specific health conditions, pregnancy or residing inan area where movement had been limited becauseof the pandemic. Similarly, Expo 2020 understoodthat any employees who do not fit these categories
still held roles that could be performed effectively
remotely. Upon returning to the workplace, the policy
outlined social distancing and quarantining protocols
that employees must follow.
In accordance with internal policies, Expo 2020 Dubai
offers a variety of benefits to their employees tocover many entitlements and privileges. Establishedby thorough frameworks, Expo 2020 offers medical
benefits to all employees and their dependents,
payment for occupational sickness or accident andmaternity/paternity leave for expatriates and UAE
Nationals. UAE Nationals are given an added benefitof a pension scheme.

BENEFITS PROVIDED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

2020

Q1 2021

Number of full-time employees provided with life insurance benefits

1,090

1,182

Number of full-time employees provided with healthcare benefits

1,090

1,182

Number of full-time employees provided with disability and invalidity(Workmen's Compensation) benefits

1,090

1,182

Number of full-time employees provided with parental leave benefits

1,090

1,182

Number of full-time employees provided with retirement provisional benefits

321

360

168 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESPARENTAL LEAVE
Expo 2020 ensures its staff have adequate paid leave
for the birth of their children. While the retention rate
for male and female employees taking parental leavestood at 100 per cent and 88.24 per cent respectively
in 2019, the total percentage of women and men
returning to work in 2020 stood at 91 per cent and71 per cent respectively. Nonetheless, Q1 in 2021 saw

100 per cent of women and men returning to theorganisation after parental leave. Expo 2020 noted
higher numbers of male employees taking paternity
leave in 2020 and Q1 2021 than in previous years. As
Expo 2020 enters its busiest phase of operation, it iscommitted to making sure 100 per cent return-towork rate is encouraged internally.

BENEFITS PROVIDED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

2020

Q1 2021

Total number of employees entitled to parental leave (maternal and paternal)

1,090

1,182

Total number of women who took parental leave – maternity

32

14

Total number of men who took parental leave – paternity

24

4% of women returning after parental leave

91%

100%

% of men returning after parental leave

71%

100%

Total number of women employed 12 months after returning from maternity leave

29

N/A

Total number of men employed 12 months after returning from paternity leave

17

N/A

Return-to-work rate

82%

100%

Retention rate

82%

N/A

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |169

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYTRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Expo 2020 is committed to the learning anddevelopment of all its employees. In 2020, theorganisation continued with its training plan, withthe focus of various sessions shifting to align with
the Event-Time Training Strategy – providing morepractical learnings to allow employees to succeed intheir roles during Expo 2020. The impact of COVID-19

saw the reduction of a number of training courses ortheir replacement with online training opportunities.
Furthermore, all Expo employees have access to an
online performance management and development
system, where regular performance and careerdevelopment reviews are conducted.

COURSE NAMECOURSE DESCRIPTION

NO. OFATTENDEES

General Training

This is an e-learning programme comprising of 10 interactive
modules, which provide foundational knowledge for all Expo 2020
staff, volunteers and contractors. Content is designed to give ahigh-level overview of Expo 2020, with topics including but notlimited to the History of World Expos, Visitor Experience, Safety
and Security, and Health and Safety.

Ongoing – up
to c.100k

Induction

This programme is designed to help new joiners understand theExpo 2020 Dubai organisation as a whole, and how the different
departments and functional areas work collectively to achieve theExpo mission of delivering an exceptional event and creating alasting legacy.

157

CourseraThis is a global online learning platform, where employees canaccess more than 1,000 online courses and degrees across a wide
range of topics from world-class universities. Participants are able
to sign up to courses of varying lengths, completing them at theirown pace.

198

Fire Safety

This course is designed to provide attendees with simple safety
tips that will help prevent fires at home and in the workplace andeducate them on the proper usage of fire extinguishers.

39

First Aid

This course will help attendees recognise emergencies andidentify hazardous conditions in their environment. It also aims tohelp people make quick, appropriate decisions that could
save lives.

52

Expo
Leadership
Development
Programme

This programme has been designed to efficiently develop the
potential, skills and knowledge of Expo employees, through aseries of workshops individually focused on a specific set ofleadership skills and behaviours, as they continue their Expo 2020
journey and beyond.

31Commercial Level RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System)
Training Certification: This was given to members of the Expo
Protocol team to receive a commercial license to become a legal
drone operator.

3

Living Lab Course: District 2020 is setting up a ‘Living Lab’ –aimed to enable multi-stakeholder co-creation and innovation –as part of its innovation ecosystem. Knowledge from this course
will help design the living lab and will facilitate networking withother living labs.

1

External
Training

170 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING
Expo 2020 is responsible for and committed toactively promoting and ensuring wellness among our
employees, ensuring an engaged and collaborative
culture, monitoring our organisational pulse andfacilitating a range of initiatives to ensure employees
are fully supported during their time at Expo.
Our Wellness Strategy is focused on creating a
sense of well-being and community by inspiring
positive connections within one’s self, and amongst
colleagues, family members, and friends. Goals under
the strategy include:

Educating and empowering
employees in six areas of well-being:
nutritional, physical, emotional, social,environmental and intellectual.

Providing opportunities for employees
to engage in ‘intentional activities’ that
increase happinessHelping transform Expo 2020
into a Tribe by fostering a positive,
collaborative culture throughteam-building and social activities.

Promoting and encouraging an ‘Expo
Hearts’ culture in the lead up to event
time, coming together ‘as one’ todeliver an incredible World Expo.

Expo 2020’s Wellness Strategy focuses on:•

Providing Expo employees with the adequate
tools and techniques to manage their mental
and physical health. These include health andfitness tips, wellness events, awareness sessions, a
dedicated weekly wellness newsletter, professional
guest speakers to advise on specific health topics
and a wide range of guides to support wellbeing.

•

Providing dedicated fitness events on-site andonline, including weekly yoga sessions and biweekly meditation sessions.

•

Increasing awareness of the benefits of staying
healthy and well by introducing fitness apps suchas Steppi and sleep-monitoring technology suchas Whoop, alongside a range of additional freewellness apps to support positive mental andphysical health.

•The provision of awareness sessions to explain thebenefits of the Expo 2020 medical insurance policy
and how to access services.

•

The provision of a dedicated counselling service,free of charge for all employees.

•

Providing routine opportunities to feedback via a
range of surveys, including an annual Employee
Engagement Survey.

In addition, the organisation has provided dedicated,ongoing support to all employees throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of an
employee COVID-19 hotline; a dedicated vaccination
programme; PCR testing centre at the Expo 2020 site;
and a wide range of supporting communications toensure our employees stay safe, healthy and well.
Ahead of 1 October 2021, Expo 2020 will also launcha ‘Beyond Expo 2020’ outplacement programme,
designed to provide employees with the support andtools to help facilitate a smooth career transition at
the end of Expo 2020, minimising career stresses
during event time.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYD
H E A LT H A N D
SA F E T Y
Expo 2020 is committed tothe health and safety of its
people and surroundings, acommitment central to its
operations. It is expectedthat all stakeholders
involved in the deliveryof Expo 2020 embrace
this commitment andensure that activities arecarried out safely, while
not placing its visitors,
workforce or others at risk.

HEALTH AND SAFETY STRATEGYAND MANAGEMENT
Expo 2020 has developed and implemented an integrated strategy andpolicy for Health, Safety, Quality, and Environment (HSQE). The HSQE
policy applies to all employees, partners and organisations involved in thedelivery of Expo 2020. Expo 2020’s ‘Better Together’ strategy is basedon three core values – Care, Respect and Pride – linked to the three
disciplines of Health and Safety, Environment and Quality.
We care for others, and for ourselves, ensuring
we go home in a safe and healthy condition everyday. We take worker health and well-being just as
seriously as occupational safety.

We respect the environment andpromote sustainable practices. We look foropportunities for our work to have a positive
impact on the environment.

We take pride in the work that we do and strive forexcellence in quality. We focus on getting it rightfirst time, reducing defects and the needfor rework.

Expo 2020 adopts an integrated approach to the management of health and safety through the ‘Better
Together’ strategy, which is underpinned by the following six strategic pillars:

LEADERSHIPCOMMUNICATIONCOMPETENCY

Demonstrating
visible leadershipand setting apersonal example

Communicating ashared vision andbuilding a cultureof trust

Improvingcompetence andsupporting thedevelopment ofothersENGAGEMENTREWARD AND
RECOGNITIONCONTINUALIMPROVEMENT

Focusing
on positive
reinforcement
and rewarding
excellence

Driving continual
improvement andinnovation

Encouraging
participation,
ownership andempowerment

172 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESThe ‘Better Together’ strategy includes the following:•

The HSQE Policy is signed by Her Excellency Reem
Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International
Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020
Dubai, and is based around six strategic pillars•

The Expo Commitments are aligned to strategicpillars but with a greater focus on measures to be
put in place; they encourage a systematic approachto HSQE and Worker Welfare management•

As a means to achieve an outstanding
performance, Expo’s health and safety goals are
based on leading indicators, known as enablers,rather than the traditional lagging indicators•

Health and safety roles and responsibilities areclearly defined in the Expo Assurance Standards•

The number of required health and safety
resources for each Project is outlined in the Expo
Assurance Standards•

Workers can raise any health and safetyconcerns or other related issues through a 24/7
worker hotline or through the Worker Connect
mobile application

Throughout 2020, and despite the COVID-19
pandemic, Expo 2020 continued to deliver a worldclass health and safety programme. This has included
monthly campaigns, project-wide health and safety
stand-downs, the production of visual standards,
participation in global health and safety days suchas World Mental Health Day, and an annual worker
cricket tournament.

In April 2019, a high-level HSQE (and Worker Welfare)Commitments document was published, outlining
Expo 2020’s ‘Better Together’ vision and values alongwith key expectations linked to the six strategic pillars.
There is no statutory requirement in Dubai fororganisations to implement an occupational healthand safety management system. However, Expo
2020 has opted to follow requirements detailed
in the Dubai Municipality Code of Construction
Practice for Consultants and Contractors toestablish and implement health and safety plans.
All organisations working on Expo 2020 must comply
with local legislation and requirements from Expo
2020. As a minimum, operations must be performedin compliance with:•

Federal laws of the UAE•

Dubai Municipality local laws andministerial decrees•

Dubai Municipality Codes and Technical Guidelines•

UAE Ministry of Human Resources andEmiratisation requirements•

Expo 2020 HSQE Polices and Assurance Standards•

Contractually specified international standards andcodes of practice•

Relevant manufacturer’s instructions
and guidelines.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |173

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYRISK ASSESSMENT, HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, AND MITIGATIONTo ensure every task has
appropriate controls in place,management arrangements
must be implemented, including
production of risk assessments
and method statements. Risk
assessments must not be limited
to task assessments, but also
include area risk assessments,
hazardous substance assessments
and manual handling assessments.
Key controls from risk
assessments are incorporated
into method statements and an
activity briefing must be provided
to the workforce in an appropriate
format to ensure work methods
and controls are known andunderstood. For high-hazard
activities, Expo 2020 requires
a permit-to-work system be
implemented.
The risk control process isreviewed and approved bySupervision Consultants. Key
personnel from these consultants
are assessed against a matrix of
required qualifications and relevant
experience before an interview by
Expo 2020’s representative andfinal approval.
Risk assessments are reviewed
on a periodic basis, or after
an incident, to ensure the risk
assessment is suitable andsufficient for the task to be carriedout safely.
To develop a ‘health and safetyconscious’ culture, Expo 2020
has implemented an Observe,
Engage, Improve (OEI) process
aimed at creating an environmentof awareness and openness,while enabling people to have theconfidence to challenge unsafe
acts and conditions. As part ofthe daily pre-task briefing, allworkers are informed that they
have the right to walk away from174 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

any unsafe conditions and areencouraged to use the confidential
hotline and the Worker Connect
mobile application to report healthand safety concerns without
fear of reprisal. This is monitored
closely by the Assurance team toensure no inappropriate action
is taken against personnel who
report unsafe conditions.
Open and transparent reportingof all site incidents, including nearmisses, is a prerequisite acrossall projects. Incidents must bereported on Expo 2020’s online
reporting system, with contractors
required to report all events andnear misses to the Supervision
Consultant as soon as they takeplace. Serious events must bereported within one hour of theiroccurrence at the latest. Regular
updates are required throughout
any incident until the outcomes are
known. For serious incidents, an
initial report and action plan must
be provided within 24 hours of
their occurrence with a full reportand corrective action plan within
five days. For any serious incident,
a safety alert and/or lessons
learned must be developed forprogramme-wide distribution
and learning.
The Expo 2020 ‘Significant
Hazards’ were identified as partof a multi-organisational working
group set up in 2018 to identify
the 10 most common and serious
construction hazards in the region.
The working group included
health and safety professionals,
as well as operations personnel
from organisations across the
programme, including Expo 2020’s
Official Programme Delivery
Management Provider Jacobs
Mace, and Construction Supervision
Consultants and Contractors.

Promises books, posters andvideos in nine languages were
produced to support the
campaign, with the Significant
Hazard and Promises campaign
officially launched in January
2019. The campaign is also
supported by the Expo 2020 suiteof training courses.

THE FOLLOWINGSIGNIFICANT HAZARDSARE GIVEN ATTENTION:
Work at Height
Mobile Plant andEquipment
Lifting
Breaking Ground andExcavations
Driving
Hot Works
Energised Systems
Confined Spaces
Temporary Works
Working in the Heat

THE ADDITIONAL TWO
PROMISES THAT WERE
ADDED IN 2020 ARE:
Fire Safety
COVID-19

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES‘Work at Height’ continues to be afocus area during the final stagesof construction and into the event
stage. As such, focused audits
have been developed to tackle
the topic, along with carefully
formulated fall-prevention plans
and rescue. All similar activities
conducted at Expo 2020 must
only be undertaken if there isan approved ‘safe system of
work’ in place, which must follow
the hierarchy of control. The
audit process also covers theimplementation and managementof related works at sites. Expo
2020 has further developed a setof key behaviours forfront-line workers who workat height. These are known as“Promises”, with posters andvideos in multiple languages
available. They are also madeavailable on the Expo Worker
Connect mobile application.
Mobile Plant and Equipment
also presents a significant
hazard across the Expo 2020
programme. The Expo AssuranceStandards require all mobile plantand equipment to be fitted, as aminimum, with flashing amberbeacons, reversing alarms and360-degree vision capability –Better Together
Health & Safety Visual Standards

allowing the operator to identify
a one-metre-high object at a
distance of one metre from thevehicle. Furthermore, Expo 2020
has conducted mobile plant
training for operators.
Alternative forms ofcommunication used by Expo
2020 include the Visual Standards,
produced to help communicate
the safe way to carry out
construction-related activities.
Four Visual Standards have been
produced for Excavations andUnderground Services, with 14
produced for Working at Height.

Better Together
Health & Safety Visual Standards

Better Together
Health & Safety Visual Standards

Working at Height

Loading or Unloading Vehicles

ü

Avoiding Underground Services

Working at Height

Breaking Ground and Excavation

Exclusion Zones

Access to Excavationûü

1. Plan for safe unloading or loading of materials
2. Select appropriate handling equipment to avoid access on to vehicles
3. Provide equipment to prevent fallsü

4. Provide equipment to minimize the harm from a fallû

1. Exclusion zones are required where overhead works present a risk to others below
2. The height and construction of the barriers determined according to the risk
3. Exclusion zones controlled to prevent unuathorised access
4. Warning signage posted at regular intervals along the exclusion perimeter zone

Along with the
Visual Standards,
Expo 2020 uses its
success stories andincidents as learning
tools; it has created
six new knowledge
shares that havebeen distributed
programme wide.

Better Together
Health & Safety Visual Standards

Breaking Ground and Excavation

ü

1. A permit to break ground must be in placeü

2. Use a cable avoidance tool to detect buried services
3. Dig trial holes using suitable hand tools (preferably those with curved edges) to confirm
the position of any buried service
4. All services should be assumed live until disconnected and proven safeû

1. Safe means of access and egress using steps, ladders or ramps
2. Inspected before and after every shift
3. Even treads and rises with handrails where practical

Health & Safety
Knowledge Share

Fire inWaste Skip
A pick-up driver noticed smoke coming from a waste skip in a project
laydown area. He rushed to the office and alerted site management of
the fire. The Contractor’s response team then proceeded to extinguish
the fire with CO2 & dry powder extinguishers as well as water from ahose. Expo team arrived at the scene and alerted Dubai Civil Defence who
attended the area to confirm the fire was extinguished.
Key Points
1. Lack of planning and consideration of fire risks when setting up laydown areas.
2. Smoking area was established next to waste skips. This was not identified on theinitial fire risk assessment.
3. Civil Defence was notified by Expo, not by the Contractor.
Recommendations
1. Review of laydown area and relocation of potential fire sources i.e. smoking areas,
fuel storage areas.
2. Review of fire risk assessment to ensure laydown areas as well as site activities
are covered.
3. Ensure there are adequate numbers and types of fire-fighting appliances and a suitablemeans of raising the alarm across sites and laydown areas.
4. Review and communicate emergency notification procedures.
5. Ensure regular audits are conducted on fire safety.

Health & Safety
Knowledge Share

Rigger Entanglementwith Tagline
During the lifting of a palletized load, the rigger became entangledwith the tagline which had coiled around his leg. The load had been
hoisted around 2.5m into the air when the crane operator noticed therigger attached to the tagline and immediately lowered the load and rigger
back to the ground. No one was injured as a result of the incident.
Key Points
1. The rigger remained in the exclusion zone when signalling the crane to lift.
2. The pick up area had enclosed sides which meant the lift was a blind lift.
3. Blind lifting procedures were not correctly implemented.
4. The crane operator had continued to hook up despite a loss of continuous
radio communication.
5. Incorrect method of lifting a palletised load.
Recommendations
1. Riggers and crane operators to be instructed that continuous radio communication
during a lift is to be maintained. Where radio silence of over 3 seconds occurs, crane
operators are to stop operations.
2. Ensure that the blind lifting procedure is followed with crane supervisor present and an
additional rigger available in the eyeline of the crane operator and other rigger.
3. Review Lifting Management Plans and associated documentation.
4. Ensure regular communication and briefings to all riggers and crane operators on lifting
procedures.

Health & Safety
Knowledge Share

Falling Scaffold
Tube
A specialist scaffolding team was dismantling a scaffold, which
involved passing each component, hand-to-hand, down to the level
below. Whilst passing a scaffold tube between the fifth and fourth levels
it was dropped, subsequently striking one of the scaffold team who wasstood at ground level. The tube hit the front of the scaffolder’s hard hat,which resulted in a laceration to his forehead. An ambulance was called andthe injured person transported to hospital.
Key Points
1. Scaffold dismantling and the passing of components was taking place on theexternal face of the scaffold and there was no protection for the operative on the
ground level.
2. Although the hard hat did offer some protection, the date on the hard hat had
expired and therefore should not have been in use.
3. The on site team reported correctly by calling the Emergency Services followed by
the Expo Emergency number.
Recommendations
1. Scaffold dismantling methodology should be undertaken in such a way to reduce therisk of this type of occurrence. Three (3) possible methodologies could be used;– The operative on the ground should remain within the scaffolding structure as thecomponents are passed down the external face.
– The materials could be passed down the internal face between the building andthe scaffold.
– Install a crash deck above the operative on the ground floor.
2. Hard hats are to be reviewed to ensure they are within their expiry dates.
3. Exclusion zones need to be clearly demarcated with access controlled.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |175

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Expo 2020 leads call campaigns regarding the safety
and welfare of their workers too. These campaigns
are issued monthly and help increase awareness forthe following topics:•

Driver Safety•

Mobile Plant & Equipment•

Hot Works•

Observing a Safe Ramadan•

Working in the Heat•

Control the Risk•

Finish Better•

Electrical Safety•

Fire Safety•

Working at Height – two campaigns

Expo 2020 uses international health and safety days
as an opportunity to engage workers and educate
them on mental and physical health awareness. WorldDay for Safety and Health at Work was recognised
on 28 April 2020 with the launch of Expo 2020
Dubai’s guidance and visual standards for managing
COVID-19. World Mental Health Day took place on
10 October where Expo 2020’s ‘CARE to talk Mental
Health Strategy’ was reinforced. A ‘Your Mind Matters’
virtual session was also delivered by Lighthouse
Arabia, a leading centre for well-being in Dubai thatprovides outpatient mental health services.
Expo 2020 made 26 updates from 2019 to enhancetheir health and safety protocols to build a safer
environment for their workers.
Expo 2020 has further set forth communication
pillars for contractors and employees to voice
any concerns:

Expo 2020 uses various communication methods
to build upon its safety culture, which includes
programme-wide stand-downs. Three stand-downs
have been held throughout 2020 – two were Fire
Safety-related, with a third highlighting the need to
avoid complacency and finish better.

Expo's Promises campaign has beenbroadened to include a new set of
behaviours on fire safety.
Please ensure that thesebehaviours arecommunicatedeffectively acrossall projects.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY•

Providing regular information to raise awareness ofExpo 2020’s policies, commitments and standards•

Simplifying communication and ensuring
information is understood•

Adopting a transparent and open approach•

Utilising a range of mechanisms tocommunicate requirements•

Holding regular meetings to communicate
developments and lessons learned•

Supporting the implementation of Expo 2020’s
campaigns and initiatives

I will follow the Promises for Hot
Works and Energized Systems forrelevant activities.
I will return gas cylinders andflammable substances todesignated storage areas after use.
I will keep my work
area tidy and regularly
remove waste.
I will not misuse or
overload electricalsystems or equipment.
I will follow instructions
from fire wardens in theevent of an evacuation.
I will only
smoke indesignatedareas.
I willimmediately
raise thealarm if I see
a fire.

Fire PROJECT
SafetySWEEP

Finally, Expo 2020 requires a range of measures tobe implemented to mitigate health and safety risks
associated with its activities, including:

I will not moveor tamper with
firefighting
equipment.

I will not block fireescape routes or
emergency exits.

Poor standards ofhousekeeping are amajor
I will report fire safetycontributor to fires.concerns
In to mySupervisor or Manager.
addition, accumulationofrubbish and wastematerials can attract
pests and create slip andtrip hazards.

Fitness to Work:
Contractors are required to carry out basic healthchecks of their personnel (in addition to thoserequired for visa purposes) at least once a year.

For more information, contact the HSQE team on
hsqe@expo2020.ae

Follow these guidelines to maintain high standards of housekeeping on your site.

Storage areas
Designate storage areasfor plant, materials,
waste and flammable
substances.

Deliveries
Plan deliveries to keep
the amount on materials
on site to a minimum.

Flammable materials
Ensure packing for materials
is removed and cleared away.
Store flammable material
safely and protect themfrom ignition soures.

Work Areas
Make clearing wastea priority for everyone.
Hold people to accountfor the waste they create.

Waste within buildings
Consider the need forwheeled bins to enablewaste to be removed
safely.

Skips
Allow sufficient spacefor waste skips and bins.
Plan their position andhow often they need tobe collected.
As we complete main construction works, it is essential that we maintain leadership andcommitment to health and safety. Expo's Better Together strategy includes 6 strategicpillars which must continue to be integrated within our site delivery activities.

Leadership

Communication

Competency

Engagement

Reward andRecognition

Continual
Improvement

Demonstrate
visibleleadershipand set a
personal
exampleCommunicate
a sharedvision andbuild acultureof trust

Improvecompetence
and support
thedevelopmentof others

Encourage
participation,
ownershipandempowerment

Focus onpositive
reinforcement
and reward
excellence

Drivecontinual
improvement
andinnovation

For more information, contact the HSQE team on
hsqe@expo2020.ae

Policies and Assurance Standards
Legislation

For more information, contact the HSQE team on
hsqe@expo2020.ae

176 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Safety-critical Roles:
Where the ill health of an individual may compromise
their ability to undertake a critical safety task,
additional checks must be undertaken to manage
this risk. Personnel undertaking safety-critical tasks
include plant operators, crane operators, mobile

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

machine drivers, drivers, scaffolders, slingers/
signallers, traffic marshals, steel erectors, confined
space workers, or those working at height.
Additional checks must be identified through risk
assessments or with appropriate guidance.
Medical Surveillance:
Occupational health monitoring of operatives
exposed to high-risk operations, such as noise,manual handling, and hand-arm vibration, shouldbe performed.
Well-being:
Each contractor must have an ongoing programmeof health awareness to educate their workforce.
Hygiene:Arrangements are required to educate and ensure
workers adopt good hygiene practices, such as
personal hygiene standards, protection against
dermatitis and the correct use of PPE. Contractors
are required to ensure appropriate health risks
are recognised through risk assessments, andcontrols are identified and implemented to mitigate
these risks.

COMPETENCY
Expo 2020 has defined clear training
requirements for (1) leaders, managers andsupervisors who are either related to or are
involved in construction, and (2) operatives using
various equipment, as referenced in Expo’s Healthand Safety Assurance Standards. These Standards
also require management competencies to beextended throughout the supply chain.
The competency pillar commitments to Expo
2020 Dubai are:•Setting and assessing competency levels.

•

Delivering training programmes to enhancecompetency.

•

Shaping attitudes and behaviours to promote a
positive culture.

•

Appointing competent personnel to assist incomplying with Expo’s policies, commitments,and standards.

•

Delivering induction programmes toraise awareness.

•

Attending Expo’s training programmes.

All organisations working on the Expo 2020 sitemust take responsibility to ensure all individuals
possess the skills, experience and training
mandated, as per Expo 2020 Dubai standards.
Every organisation is required to have its own
set of training plans that have been approvedby the Supervision Consultant. Expo 2020
delivers a range of health and safety training
courses on-site, available free of charge to allorganisations working on the programme. Expo
2020 encourages the use of these programmes
to enhance the abilities of the workers. These
courses include:
Health and Safety Leadership:
Senior managers, directors and others inleadership positions at Expo 2020 takes thiscourse which focuses on executing the Expo 2020
Dubai HSQE strategy and behaviours that define
transformational leadership in health and safety.
This course is four hours long, with 378 people
completing the Health and Safety Leadershiptraining module in 2020.
Construction Safety Awareness for Managers(concluded in 2020):
90 people completed Construction Safety
Awareness Training in 2020. This training was only
for managers and was intended to build
the training capability for other construction
safety topics.
Significant Hazard Awareness Training(new in 2020):
A four-hour session that involved eight different
subject matter experts covering 11 significant
hazards, this training superseded the Construction
Safety Awareness for Managers. Seven of thesesessions were delivered in 2020 with 182 people
completing the course.
Supervisors Activity Briefing:A three-hour course intended for those whoare responsible for putting people to work, it
introduces the Expo Activity Briefing process that
ensures that significant hazards are prioritised andthat key safe behaviours are communicated tothose who are performing the work. Supervisorsthat successfully complete the course areawarded an Expo 2020-branded Black Hat. Nine
hundred people completed the supervisor training
during the reporting period.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |177

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOSupervisor Activity Briefing “Train the Trainer”(new in 2020):
This training enables consultants and contractors
to deliver activity briefing trainings. Four of thesesessions were delivered in 2020, creating 20 new
trainers for Expo 2020. Forty-three completed
Supervisor Activity Briefing “Train the Trainer”
Training in 2020.
Visual Impact Training:This training is delivered in Hindi and is designed
for frontline workers that have been given the
responsibility to fulfil the Expo 2020 Health and
Safety Assurance Standards. The Visual Impact
Training is available for the following significant
hazards: working at height, lifting, mobile
plant and equipment, underground services
and excavations, confined spaces, hot works,
working in the heat, and energised systems. Each
60-minute session involves the use of theatricalperformances to highlight the importanceof health and safety and enable workers tovisualise unsafe and safe practices; 12,593 people
completed Visual Impact Training modules during
the reporting period.

ENGAGEMENTOCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES•

All Expo 2020 contractors must ensure theirworkers possess an occupational healthcard for medical examinations at a Dubai
Municipality-approved clinic. Additionally, theymust provide free professional counselling
services for workers that require treatment foremotional, traumatic, and mental health issues.

•

Expo 2020 has a 24/7 medical facility on site;
operated by a team of Dubai Health Authority(DHA) doctors and nurses, the clinic offers
workers free medical services at all times. Expo
2020 has also facilitated regular health andwell-being campaigns in conjunction with DHA.

•

Expo 2020 Dubai has also implemented a‘worker wearable’ solution (Whoop) thatmonitors the health and well-being of frontline workers. Approximately five thousand
units have been deployed across the
programme and monitor workers sleep
patterns, heart rate, strain levels, respiratory
rates, and levels of recovery.

178 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

WORKER PARTICIPATION AND
CONSULTATIONAll Expo 2020 consultants and contractors areencouraged to conduct regular discussions
with workers on occupational health and safety.
These sessions enable two-way communication
between workers, contractors, and consultants,
encouraging workers to speak up and raise
concerns, or suggest improvements relating totheir workplace health and safety. Expo 2020
Dubai Health and Safety Assurance Standards
require contractors to conduct monthly meetings
to ensure consultations with the workforce on
health and safety, as well as worker welfarerelated topics.
Expo 2020 has also established various forums
where contractors and Supervision Consultants
can raise any concerns or queries related toworkplace health and safety. Where decisions andguidance are required, health and safety matterscan be escalated to existing forums, including
the quarterly Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
meeting and the Programme Safety Leadership
meeting held monthly. Expo 2020 held 12 Healthand Safety Leadership meetings, four Site Delivery
and Service Providers forums, and seven Healthand Safety Practitioner forums in 2020.
Expo 2020 has established a schedule ofprogramme-wide senior leadership healthand safety tours to ensure direct engagement
between the Expo 2020 leadership, project
teams and the workforce. When selected, thecontractor and Supervision Consultant are
expected to host the tour and actively contribute– as a part of a joint commitment – to the delivery
of exceptional health and safety performanceacross the event’s premises.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESREWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Expo 2020 has issued 23 different awards fororganisational and individual excellence in health andsafety in 2020, supporting more than 100 project-level awards and recognition ceremonies.
The awards aim to:•

Recognise positive behaviour at anorganisational and individual level;

HSE PERFORMANCE WITHIN KEY INDICATORS•

Reward behaviours that exemplify
Expo 2020’s values;

INDICATIVE LEVEL OF•

Look for opportunities
for positive reinforcement
and public recognitionof behaviours;

WELL-BEING

20%

CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT40%

ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY STRUCTURE

60%

RISK MANAGEMENT

80%
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Focus on leading indicators whenrecognising teams and individuals,
nominating individuals for Expo2020’s monthly awards and its
annual ‘Better Together’ awards.

100%

LEADERSHIP•BEST PRACTICE (92%)

95.28%

87.67%

96.06%

94.21%

71.66%

0%94.72%EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |179

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYCONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT
Continual improvements at
Expo 2020 include conducting
periodic performance reviews,
which takes subcontractors
and sub-consultants into
consideration, maintaining aneffective management systemand conducting regular audits toassess its implementation.

strategic reviews of policies andprocedures. One review was
carried out in January 2020,
with three visits planned for 2021
and 2022.

Moreover, Expo 2020 has anagreement in place with the UK
Health and Safety Executive to
conduct regular independent
monitoring visits of the Expo
programme. Every visit lasts
five days and sees three UK HSE
Inspectors carry out reviews ofpotential high-risk activities or

Key health and safety performance highlights for 2020 include:

2019

2020

Q1 2021

Employee number and rateof fatalities as a result ofwork-related injury

0

0

0

Employee number and rate ofhigh-consequence work-related
injuries (excluding fatalities)

0

0

0

Employee number and rate ofrecordable work-related injuries

0

0

0

Employee total numberof hours worked

1,710,000(approximatedbased on 950
Expo employees
over a 45-weekperiod)N/A due to COVID-19
work-from-home
restrictions

831,600

Worker number and rateof fatalities as a result ofwork-related injury

0

Number 1,
Rate = 0.002

Number 0,
Rate = 0.00

Worker number and rate ofhigh-consequence work-related
injuries (excluding fatalities)

Number 23,
Rate = 0.03

Number 21,
Rate = 0.03

Number 2,
Rate = 0.02

Worker number and rateof recordable
work-related injuries

Number 980,
Rate = 1.07

Number 476,
Rate = 0.72

Number 29,
Rate = 0.35

Worker total number ofhours worked

90,651,911

66,236,718

8,191,429*The accident frequency rates have been calculated using 100,000 hours worked.

Between 2019 and 2020, Expo
2020 witnessed a decrease in
the number of high-consequencework-related injuries. Recordable
work-related injuries in the sametime period fell roughly by half.
180 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

This can be attributed to continual
improvement, enhanced byincreased awareness aroundhealth and safety because of
the pandemic, alongside theimplementation of stricter safetymeasures. Hand and finger injuries
continue to be the main type ofwork-related injury, mirroring
findings from 2019.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESVISITOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
Expo 2020 continues its efforts towards ensuring visitor health and safety. In light of the current
pandemic, Expo 2020 aims to deliver a safe and responsible event to ensure the risk of contagion isminimial when visitors enter the Expo 2020 site. Expo 2020 is proud to report that no incidents of
non-compliance have been observed during this reporting cycle.

EXPO 2020 IS IN THE PROCESSOF DEVELOPING AN EXPO 2020
COVID-19 GUIDE THAT:

Keeps Guests Safe
Takes Care of the Workforce
Maintains Safe Operations

The purpose of this guide is to outline the measures
implemented during Expo 2020 to manage therisks from COVID-19. The guide details site-widearrangements established by Expo 2020 and the
responsibilities of event operators, workforce, andvisitors to ensure the health, safety and well-being of
everyone at Expo 2020.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |181

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYE
I N N OVAT I O N
Expo 2020 will spotlight
breakthrough ideas,
innovations andtechnologies that areshaping the future of
the planet. A total of 191
participating nations willbuild on and create newcollaborations that could
spark the next generationof technology.
As the largest event ever held in
the region, Expo 2020 will be oneof the world’s most connectedsites, powered by advanced 5G
networks, artificial intelligence andthe Internet of Things (IoT) with thehelp of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Premierand Official technology partners,
including Accenture, Cisco, Etisalat,
Siemens, SAP and Terminus Group.
Expo 2020 will communicate
its core themes by immersing
visitors in digital experiences,harnessing technologies such as
robotics, artificial intelligence, andaugmented reality. Cutting-edge
digital navigation will help visitors,
participants, volunteers, andemployees quickly find their way
around the site, with hundreds of
4K screens delivering a wide
range of multimedia content
across the site.
The Expo 2020 site is a showcaseof breakthrough design and acelebration of the rich culture
and architectural traditions of theregion. A selection of the world’s
top ‘starchitects’ have designed
the buildings and public areas
throughout the site.

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Examples of cutting-edge technologies that will set the visitor
experience apart include:

AL WASL DOMEAt the heart of the site stands the iconic Al Wasl dome, the interiorof which doubles as a three-dimensional projection surface, equippedwith more than 250 projectors and an advanced sound system tocreate a unique 360-degree fully immersive audio-visual experienceinside the dome.
A total of 252 projectors, supplied by Christie, the Official Projection and
Display Partner of Expo 2020, are housed in 42 projector pods aroundthe inside perimeter of the dome. Each pod, large enough to hold acompact car, has a glass front and air-conditioning that protect the
projectors from weather elements in Dubai, such as heat and dust.

INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)
Siemens, the Official Infrastructure Digitalisation Partner of Expo 2020,
will be demonstrating MindSphere, its cloud-based Internet of Things(IoT) operating system, at Expo 2020 Dubai. The largest installation of its
kind globally, MindSphere will be used to monitor services linked to Expo’s
physical infrastructure, including roughly 130 fully connected buildings
across the site. The majority of Expo-built permanent buildings use smart
technology and building management systems to meet Expo 2020’s
sustainability targets, with features including smart metering and sensors
that monitor the energy consumption and the efficiencies of power, light,
water and climate conditioning systems.
For water management, Expo 2020 is using smart irrigation systems tocollect and monitor water usage, while correlating data from weather andsoil sensors to optimise water consumption and pump operation. Flowrate sensors will detect water dispensed, check for any potential leaksin the irrigation loops and notify site operations of a problem that mightotherwise go unnoticed.

ROBOTICS
Terminus Group, the Official Robotics Partner of Expo 2020, will
deploy more than 150 of its new generation of programmable robots
across the site. Designed to be fully operational in a variety of work
environments, including outdoor areas such as parks, tourist attractions
and other frequently visited outdoor public facilities, these robots will
delight visitors by assisting with hospitality and security, taking part inperformances and interacting with guests.
Expo 2020 will be home to four categories of robots: service (attendantrobots), security (patrol robots), delivery (vending trolley and kiosk robots)and mascot robots. Providing services such as zero-contact delivery,
entertainment, display and vending across the 4.38 sqkm site, eachmachine combines convenience with safety.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESThe attendant robot, with voice interaction, will be able to provide
information to visitors and answer general Expo 2020 enquiries, while thepatrol robot – an all-inclusive security solution for outdoor spaces – willoffer 360-degree, 24/7 patrols, fire monitoring, and a mobile emergency
alarm, among other core competencies.
Some of the robots will be modelled on Opti, one of the Expo 2020 Dubai
Mascots. Fitted with features such as a multi-touch display and AI-driven
object mapping and object detection, Opti will act as Expo 2020’s sitewide goodwill ambassador – greeting visitors, performing in special
displays, taking selfies and providing visitor guidance and assistance.

ROBOT MODELSOPTI MASCOT ROBOTSATTENDENT ROBOTS

DELIVERY ROBOTSPATROL ROBOTS(50)(20 ROAMING + 10 STATIONARY)(25+25)(22)‘AMAL’ VISITOR ASSISTANT
AI-powered chatbot ‘Amal’,developed in collaboration
with Smart Dubai, can provide
information on shows andattractions and enable visitors togive feedback during Expo 2020.
Visitors from around the world
will interact with the chatbot in
real-time on both the Expo 2020
website and the mobile app
and in their mother tongue. Ten
languages, including English andArabic, are available to date, withmore planned. Amal can process
and analyse large volumes of
information in real-time to answer
visitors’ questions accurately andquickly. She is also designed tolearn and automatically develop
and improve the service throughnatural language processing.

PODWAYSAP is the Innovative Enterprise
Software Partner of Expo 2020
Dubai. Working with SAP’s
Co-Innovation Lab in the UAE,
Expo 2020 is co-developing aninteractive technology platform
called PODway to help peopleof determination effectively
navigate the Expo 2020 site. The
platform optimises experiences
for people of determination basedon their accessibility requirements,using analytics and experiencemanagement technologies from
SAP – coupled with input fromInternet of Things (IoT) and mobile
tracking technologies.
For example, people with autism,or mobility, visual, hearing or
cognitive challenges can selectrequirements such as motorised
wheelchairs, audio headsets or
sensory maps to ensure they get
the very best experience fromtheir visit to Expo 2020.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOCROWD MANAGEMENTAs the largest event ever held in
the Arab World, Expo 2020 are
collaborating with its partners toencourage a seamless and secureflow of people around the site.
This includes the use of advanced
software to help forecast, trackand manage crowd movements
across the site and specialist
Wi-Fi positioning technology to
track indoor movements. Inside
the Expo Operations Centre, anarray of projectors distributes
content across a multi-use, multiinformational canvas, giving users
the ability to construct windows of
virtually any size from a multitudeof security sources.
In an effort to minimise queuing,
Expo 2020 has implemented an
intelligent Smart Queue system,
similar to the fast-pass schemes
found at theme parks, that willoffer guests the ability to reservea specific time slot – optimising
their visit to Expo 2020 by visiting
the pavilion of their choice at atime convenient to them, without
having to wait in potentiallylengthy queues.

VIRTUAL EXPO
Numerous Virtual Expo offerings
will be launched for the first time
at a World Expo. Memorable,
meaningful Expo experiences willoffer a new way to learn, play,interact, and be entertained at
Expo 2020 – or from anywherearound the world.

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The on-site mobile app
contributes a new dimension tovisitors’ Expo 2020 experience,
including stunning augmented
reality visualisations and quests
that uncover explorable narratives
across the event. The Xplorer
app allows off-site visitors toexperience Expo 2020 in aplayable way from around theworld. Both apps are linked toExpo 2020’s ‘Seeds of Change’
initiative, allowing visitors topledge their progress to realworld causes and projects towards
creating a better future.
Furthermore, the Virtual Expo
provides a look inside theExpo 2020 pavilions andfree access to Expo events,
performances and ceremonies,
as well as podcasts, talks,audio guides and virtual tours.
Additionally, a bespoke avatarof an Expo 2020 headline talent
performance will be launched on
an exclusive digital platform.
Expo 2020 Minecraft is an
explorable recreation of more than
200 pavilions, featuring interactive
games, educational material
about Expo 2020’s participants
and its themes, and live,
synchronous experiences.

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYINNOVATION IN THE PANDEMIC:EXPO LIVE
Launched in 2016, Expo
Live is Expo 2020 Dubai’s
global innovation andpartnership program.
With a firm belief that
“innovation can come fromanywhere, to everyone”,
Expo Live harnesses theconvening power of aWorld Expo to demonstrate
how innovations andpeople from all acrossthe world can advancethe pace of progress andinspire a more inclusive andprosperous future.

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THE PATH TO ACHIEVING THIS?
Searching for social
entrepreneurs from all cornersof the world and all walks of life
who share a collective vision ofa future where human healthand well-being are secured,
where social opportunity isrife, and where people and theplanet live in balance.
Once discovered, theprogramme evaluates various
projects to determine alignment
with Expo Live criteria. The
innovators whose novel
solutions are shown to address
the world’s most pressing
challenges receive funding thatwill enable their businesses
and therefore their impact
to develop and scale. These
innovators, known as the Expo
Live Global Innovators, inspire
positive, tangible action aroundthe world and leave a lasting
legacy that extends beyond the
project. Beyond grant funding,Expo Live also supports the
Global Innovators with exposure,guidance and opportunities forcollaboration. The programmespans 14 different sectors,
including agriculture, education,
environment, employment,
energy and healthcare, of
which many directly feed into
the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).

In 2020, the world was shaken
by the COVID-19 Pandemic;
Expo Live’s Global Innovators
were no exception. With cases
soaring and countries imposing
strict lockdown measures,some Global Innovators wereforced to pause operationsindefinitely. International
shipments were halted, teams
were unable to physically reachproject beneficiaries and many
individuals contracted the virus
itself. As start-ups, all of thesevariables rendered many social
enterprises at risk of shutting
down. Under the directive ofExpo 2020 Dubai leadership,
Expo Live immediately launched
the “Emergency Relief Fund”(ERF) to support the mostvulnerable social enterprises.
Additional funding would act
as a buffer for project teams tonavigate the uncertain times
ahead. Unlike the Innovation
Impact Grant Programme (IIGP),
the funding was not linked to
impact-oriented deliverables.
Rather, it was allocated towards
sustaining basic operations,while maintaining staff salaries,
rental costs and equipment
needed to work from homeetc. The fund supported 15
organisations from 13 countries.

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESBY THE END OF 2020, EXPO LIVE:• Conducted five rounds of callfor proposals, receiving morethan 11,000 applications from184 countries (96 per cent of
the world). The fifth and final
pitch event took place in early
2020, only weeks shy of global
travel restrictions.
• Confirmed 140 Expo Live
Global Innovators operatingin 76 countries, with projects
having a direct impact in theircommunities in the fields ofeducation, environment, among
other sectors.
• Launched The Good Place
pavilion at Expo 2020, where
innovations will be showcasedduring the event.

• Awarded grants to 46 student
teams from 19 universities
across the UAE under
its University Innovation
Programme (UIP). In 2020,
despite project funding alreadyconcluded, Expo Live continued
to support those university
teams that transitioned fromacademic project to enterprise.
• Launched the “Emergency
Relief Fund” (ERF) in March
2020 to support Global
Innovators who face immediate
financial hardship. The relief
fund also sought to support
any new initiatives grantees
propose that provide an
immediate and valuable
response to the impact of
COVID-19 in their communities.

Since its launch, Expo Live has
supported, and continues tosupport, its diverse network of
Global Innovators to ensure thepositive impacts of their grants
extend beyond the UAE and Expo
2020. The programme’s ultimate
goal is to transform the lives ofbeneficiaries and strive for the
restoration and preservation of
our planet.

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02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACYEXPO LIVE MAP OF GLOBAL INNOVATORSUNDER THE IIGP (AS OF DECEMBER 2020)

SWEDENFINLANDNORWAYRUSSILATVIA

DENMARKIRELAND
CANADAUK

BELARUSNETHERLANDSFRANCEGERMANYSERBIASLOVENIABULGARIA

UKRAINEPORTUGAL
ITALY

USA

CYPRUS
MOROCCOLEBANON
JORDAN

AFGHANISTAN
NEPAL

EGYPT

PAKISTAN

BAHRAIN
HAITI
MEXICOGUATEMALAGUYANABENIN

GUYANAETHIOPIAUGANDANIGERIAGHANA

CAMAROONECUADORZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
BRAZIL

CHILE

SOUTH
AFRICA

ARGENTINAUPDATED ON SEPTEMEBR 2020

EXAMPLES OF EXPO LIVE GLOBAL INNOVATORSMarine Innovation (South Korea) - IIGP Cohort 2
Marine Innovation is a SouthKorean social enterprise that has
pioneered a patented solution to
single-use plastic pollution. The
source of its innovative plastic
alternative is naturally occurring
seaweed present in many coastal
counties around the world. Unlike
existing seaweed-based plastic
materials, Marine Innovation uses
the by-product of seaweed fortheir products, a material thatwould otherwise be discarded.
The team has been conducting

188 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

KENYA

TANZANIAPERU

140 GLOBAL INNOVATORSFROM 76 COUNTRIES

MYANM
INDIA

T

GRENADACOSTA RICA

11,000+ APPLICATIONSFROM 184 COUNTRIESBANGLADESH
OMAN

CHAD

CAPE VERDECOLUMBIA

KSA

MALI

ST KITTS
AND NEVIS

UAE

research and development on thisraw material and its potential for
10 years. It has also developed
a methodology that physicallyseparates the components of
the algae by-product for use ina range of products, including
forms of food packaging.
Products produced by Marine
Innovation take roughly 90 days todecompose, whereas conventional
single-use plastic can takehundreds of years.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSINNOVATION CAN COME FROMANYWHERE, TO EVERYONE#ExpoLive

SafetyNet Technologies (United Kingdom) - IIGP Cohort 5
SafetyNet Technologies (SNTech) is a UK-based social enterprisewith a mission to reduce the issue of bycatch in the fishingindustry by developing and deploying a unique light-emitting
technology. Current fishing processes and technologies can bevery unselective, leading to the capture of non-target species andfish of the wrong age, resulting in wastage. This disrupts delicate
marine ecosystems, posing a threat to biodiversity and thesurrounding communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy
fisheries. SNTech began with “Pisces”, a device that reduces
bycatch by up to 90 per cent by manipulating different lights
to attract or deter certain fish species. They are now expanding
their product line to include “Enki”, a data software systemthat provides insights for improved ocean management andresponsible fishing.

A

REPUBLIC
OF KOREA

CHINA

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES

JAPAN

MAR

THAILAND

PHILLIPINESMALAYSIAPAPUA NEWGUINEAINDONESIA

AUSTRALIANEW ZEALAND

InvestEd, (Philippines) - Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) recipient
InvestEd is a lending company
founded by two female engineersthat serves college students from
low-income and poor families.
The pandemic has drasticallychanged the education sector anddemand for educational loans has
decreased. The InvestEd teamcreated new financial products,
such as loans for internet accessand equipment purchases (e.g.
computers and tablets) to address
the needs of poor and low-income
students who now need to finish
their education remotely.

Additionally, 45 per cent of
InvestEd’s current student
borrowers are now unemployedbecause of COVID-19, with theorganisation increasing coaching
services to help them find other
employment opportunities. Finally,
the organisation has changed thecredit-scoring model to adapt
to new financial realities. Thesetypes of activities were supported
by Expo Live ERF to support
InvestEd as an organisation andvulnerable student borrowers in
the Philippines.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY GOALS TOGETHER:ACCENTURE AND SAP
Since 2008, Accenture has
been committed to the 10
Principles of the United
Nations Global Compact(UNGC), supporting its efforts
to advance sustainability,
equality, and human rights.
As a Global Compact
LEAD member, Accenturechampions the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs),
with a special focus on thosethat are most relevant forthe company.

The time for increased commitment
and action is now, and SDG Ambition
is a bold and practical response tothis timely and urgent call to action.
We are proud to stand with the UN
and SAP as partners in unleashing themassive potential for innovation anddisruptive technology to help addressand solve critical issues at speed andscale across the globe.
JULIE SWEETACCENTURE’S CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

190 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Accenture is working with the UNGC, SAP and 3M on SDG Ambition,
which challenges and supports participating companies of the
UNGC in setting ambitious corporate sustainability targets andaccelerating the integration of the SDGs into core business
management. As part of the SDG Ambition Accelerator, Accentureand SAP are helping to drive adoption among more than 600
companies across 65 countries.

Fireside chat featuring Julie Sweet (Accenture), Christian Klein(SAP SE), Mike Roman (3M) and Sanda Ojiambo (UN Global
Compact) to announce launch of integration guidance

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYA VIRTUAL MEET FOR EVENT PREPAREDNESS:
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS MEETING (IPM)
With the pandemic halting
travel, Expo 2020 and its
190-plus International
Participants conducted
their fifth annual Expo
2020 International
Participants Meeting(IPM) virtually from 24-27
August 2020. Bringing
together organisers,
Higher Committee
members and the BIE, theIPM served as an online
platform for leadershipand authorities to conveneon the postponement,site operations, facilities
management, programming
calendar and content
related to Expo 2020’s 1
October 2021 opening date.

The meeting comprised oftailored sessions for self-build,rented and Thematic District
participants. In preparation for
the first virtual IPM, Expo 2020
shared information packs andvideos with participants ahead ofthe meeting, equipping them withknowledge on session topics, key
messages, process requirements
and delivery milestones. As aresult of proactive organisation,
participants were able to submit
queries and concerns ahead of theIPM, ensuring Q&A panels were
efficient and informative.
In attendance was His Highness
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of
Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation; His Highness Sheikh
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum,
President, Dubai Civil Aviation
Authority, Chairman and Chief
Executive of Emirates Airline andGroup, and Chairman of the Expo
2020 Dubai Higher Committee;
His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan
Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Ministerof Tolerance and Coexistence, andCommissioner General of Expo
2020 Dubai; Her Excellency Reem
Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State
for International Cooperation
and Director General, Expo 2020
Dubai; and His Excellency Dimitri
Kerkentzes, Secretary Generalof the Bureau International desExpositions (BIE), the governing
body of World Expos.
Acknowledging the UAE’s quick
response to the postponement,
speeches were made to recognise
the continued and dynamic
preparation of the event, despite
troubling times.

192 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

The agility and responsivenessof Dubai and the UAE has
been instrumental in the swift
re-opening of the country’s
tourism sector. Coupled with
its infrastructure and facilities,
including airlines and hotels,
Dubai has emerged quickly fromwhat has been a challenging
period for the whole world.
Dubai has a deep-rooted historyof bringing people together toencourage positive change. The
Expo 2020 theme ‘Connecting
Minds, Creating the Future’ thathas guided our preparations
reflects this and is now more
relevant than ever. Expo 2020
and its hundreds of participants
will highlight the importance ofinternational collaboration andcooperation to help contributeto global progress. Expo 2020is aligned with Dubai and the
UAE’s commitment to buildinga brighter future and acting insolidarity with countries andcommunities around the world.
We are delighted to join with ourparticipants at the IPM to share
updates, experiences and ideas
as we continue to move forward
together on our journey to
Expo 2020.
HIS HIGHNESSSHEIKH AHMED BIN
SAEED AL MAKTOUM
By ensuring the 2020 IPM took
place virtually to abide by social
distancing, Expo 2020 was able
to leverage its momentum tokeep spirits and hopes high as
it announced and presented its
ongoing efforts to build one of themost unique World Expos to date.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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03
THE EXPOLEGACYEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |195

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOA
E X P O L E G AC Y 2020
CO N T R I B U T I O N
Expo 2020 Dubai
is committed
to building ameaningful,sustainablelegacy. To do so,
the organisation
strives tocreate physical,
economic, social,environmental andglobal impact that
extends beyond
the borders of the
UAE and the 182
days of Expo.

EXPO 2020 LEGACY: DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING

SUPPORTING GDPGROWTH AND ECONOMIC
DIVERSIFICATIONSTRENGTHENING
EXISTING INDUSTRIESLEGACYPLANNINGECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

SOCIALDEVELOPMENTENHANCING BILATERALTIES, PERCEPTION OF
THE REGION

PHYSICALDEVELOPMENTENVIRONMENTALRESOURCEEFFICIENCYSUSTAINABLE
DESIGN AND
INFRASTRUCTUREENVIRONMENTAL
DEVELOPMENTNURTURING SMES AND
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ART, CULTURE AND
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENTJOB CREATION AND
SKILLS,TRAINING

STEAMS EDUCATION
AND INNOVATIONYOUTH ANDVOLUNTEERISM

196 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

REPUTATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESECONOMIC LEGACY
Expo 2020 Dubai will create an economic
legacy by contributing to the new businessgeneration, GDP growth and job creation
across the region. Expo 2020 Dubai’s
economic impact will result from its
contributions to the UAE’s ongoing economic
diversification and by supporting the growth of
key industries such as travel, tourism, logistics,
transport, construction, and real estate. Helping
to build a more diversified, resilient, sustainable
and knowledge-driven economy, Expo 2020’s
economic legacy will focus on continual
support of non-oil related GDP growth in the
UAE, including the advancement of privatesector jobs and SMEs.

REPUTATIONAL LEGACY
Expo 2020 will strengthen bilateral andmultilateral relations by encouraging thecollaboration and cross-pollination ofthoughts, cultures and ideas – highlighting
the UAE’s capacity to bring the world
together and promoting the UAE’s
international reputation. As the first World
Expo ever held in the Middle East, Africa
and South Asia (MEASA) region, the UAE
has the opportunity to showcase theregion’s potential, ideas and culture to a truly
global audience.

SOCIAL LEGACY
Expo 2020 provides an invaluable
opportunity to educate, inspire and empower
the UAE’s youth before, during and after the
event. The six months of Expo will encourage
cultural exchange, while promoting Expo2020’s key subthemes of Opportunity,
Mobility and Sustainability. Rekindling visitors’interest in these key drivers of the future,
Expo 2020 will encourage innovation byidentifying, showcasing and celebrating someof the greatest innovations from across theworld, while developing the next generation’s
innovative minds, facilitating cultural
exchanges and galvanising thoughtprovoking ideas and inventions.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY
By leaning on a holistic sustainability strategy,
which includes its RISE Guidelines for
Sustainable Operations, Expo 2020 aims toposition itself as a catalyst for sustainability
in the region, serving as a future model
for best case practices and innovations insustainability. By incorporating energyefficient technology and sustainable design
throughout the construction phase, Expo’s
environmental legacy will be visible throughits positive environmental performance andefficient use of natural resources.

PHYSICAL LEGACY

From the start, the Expo 2020 site has been designed with its legacy in mind. After Expo 2020ends on 31 March 2022, the site will continue to ‘Connect Minds’ and inspire as it takes the form ofDistrict 2020, fulfilling Expo’s founding vision to continue as an ecosystem that connects, createsand innovates. More than 80 per cent of Expo 2020’s built environment will live on as District 2020,
set to be one of the world’s most human-centric, smart and sustainable innovation ecosystems,
continuing to grow and evolve for decades.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

B
DISTRICT 2020 THE FUTURE OF THE EXPO SITE
DISTRICT 2020
District 2020 is more than
the future of the Expo site.
It is designed to serve asa model global community
for the future, utilisingstate-of-the-art innovation,science and sustainability
for a cleaner, safer, healthierenvironment to live,
work and play. A diverse,
inclusive and human-centricurban community in theheart of new Dubai, it
will attract largeorganisations, budding
young enterprises andfamilies to live and work.

Located in Dubai South, near Al
Maktoum International Airport,
District 2020 – combining an
innovation district with contemporary
residences, education facilities,
entertainment venues and a rangeof social attractions – can be easily
accessed from all of the UAE’s major

airports and seaports. The site, which
will repurpose roughly 80 per centof Expo 2020’s built infrastructureand house LEED Platinum and Goldcertified buildings, will also be served
by major highways and a dedicatedDubai Metro Route 2020 station.

TERMINUS GROUP
District 2020 has partnered with Terminus Group in their drive to be innovation
leaders. Terminus, a China-based leader in smart technologies, will set up its
first international headquarters at District 2020, alongside a research anddevelopment centre that focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internetof Things. The agreement highlights District 2020’s ongoing commitment tolong-term partnerships with Chinese entities and dedication to strengthening
UAE-China relations.

SIEMENSAs District 2020 develops a rich and diverse ecosystem capable of driving
multi-sector innovation, Siemens is one of the community’s key anchor tenants
and a major contributor. The lease agreement with Siemens outlines theestablishment of different divisions of Siemens business group at District 2020,
including Siemens Energy.
Siemens’ partnership will play a key role in the transition of the site into
District 2020, supporting the vision to foster an ecosystem that will enableglobal organisations to collaborate and share knowledge, ultimately driving
their respective industries forward.

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESCONNECTED PLACES CATAPULTDistrict 2020 has signed amemorandum of understanding(MoU) with UK-based innovation
accelerator Connected Places
Catapult, the UK Government’s
innovation agency for cities, transportand places.
The agreement between Connected
Places Catapult and District 2020
will allow mutual areas of interest
to develop urban solutions in theareas of smart cities and mobility.
As the future of Expo 2020, District2020 has been designated as thefifth Urban Centre of the city ofDubai, which will support the city’s
economic growth, sustainable urban
development and the goal of making
it the most desirable city in the world
to live in.
The alliance with Connected
Places Catapult will contributeto the curation of District 2020’s
innovation ecosystem and strengthen
opportunities for cooperation andknowledge exchange between leading
global innovation-driven businesses
in the transport, smart mobility andautonomous vehicle fields.

Connected Places Catapult will
support the running of technology
demonstrations and small businessaccelerators to enable the scalingof new solutions that drive growthand eliminate carbon emissions,while contributing to wider economic
growth in the UAE.

SCALE2DUBAIDistrict 2020 has signed strategic
partnerships with Dubai SMEs
and the Mohammed bin RashidInnovation Fund (MBRIF) to support
its global entrepreneur programme,
Scale2Dubai. In line with Dubai andthe UAE’s proactive approach tosupporting SMEs and the importantrole they play in bolstering thecountry’s resilient economy, bothorganisations will provide District2020 with a pipeline of high-potential
start-ups and small businesses,
by helping eligible companies join

Scale2Dubai. Both will also
provide start-ups and small
businesses with the guidance,
connections and funding they need tocontinue their growth as part of the
Scale2Dubai programme.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIDistrict 2020 has established several
key partnerships that will contributeto the curation of its innovation
ecosystem and its start-up community.
During Expo 2020, District 2020 ismarking its contribution to driving
innovation in the UAE and supporting
the UAE’s aim to be the most futureready nation in the world.
District 2020 has announced new
local and international alliances withstart-up enabling entities from several

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

markets, including the UAE, USA,
UK, Namibia, Slovenia, Malaysia and
Botswana. District 2020’s Scale2Dubai
programme has also been designed
to give on-ground support for startups and small businesses with thegreatest potential so they can establish
themselves in the UAE within District
2020. This should serve as a launchpadfrom which to access the Middle
East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA)
region, along with global markets.

District 2020’s mission and mandate as a human-centric smart
city, and future of Expo 2020 Dubai, means forward planning
has always been an integral component of its development.
It is designed to be adaptable, sustainable and to evolve andrespond to our dynamic global environment. This is reflected
in its commitment to technological innovation; smarter, moresustainable ways of working and living; and physical spaces that
support people and businesses to be more flexible and prioritise
wellness – across all levels of its community infrastructure.
Despite the global challenges of the past year, District 2020
continued to attract the interest of international partners andexpand its portfolio of tenants in this unique urban community
and innovation-driven ecosystem.

NADIMEH MEHRA

VICE PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2020, TRANSITION UNIT – EXPO 2020 DUBAI

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

CASE STUDYCHILDREN’S TALES FROM
THE WORLD
The publication of the thirdand final edition of Children’sTales From Around The Worldis a collection of 68 traditionalchildren’s stories and folktales
from countries spanning
six continents.
The digital anthology celebrates
diversity and inclusion, andreflects Expo’s commitment to‘Connecting Minds, Creating
the Future’ by bringing together
poignant stories and colourful

202 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

illustrations contributed byschoolchildren, professional artists
and storytellers, as well as eminent
cultural voices, from every part of
the globe.
Since the publication of its maiden
edition in September 2020 withan initial 24 stories, Children’s Tales
From Around the World has grownin volume and stature, capturing
the imaginations of Expo 2020’s
International and Non-Official
Participants, and encouraging

them to bring the book’s stories tolife through their original initiatives.
These include children’s drawing
sessions in countries ranging from
Andorra and Brazil to Gabon and
Mauritius; a special Portugueselanguage version of one of thestories to promote knowledge andcultural exchange; and planned
televised storytelling sessions in
the Seychelles to engage children
who are being home-schooledduring the pandemic.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESTRANSPORT CHILDREN ON A JOURNEY OFDISCOVERY
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Children’s Tales From Around
the World brings together traditional tales from 68
of Expo’s participating countries. The anthology isreflective of the UAE’s diversity and enables young
readers to immerse themselves in a captivatinglandscape of storytelling cultures.

FOR EAGER EXPLORERS AND INQUISITIVEYOUNG MINDS
Children’s Tales From Around the World has been
designed for readers aged 5 to 12 – those whoare learning to read and reading to learn. Its goal
is to spark children’s imaginations and help themdiscover what makes each of them different,
introducing them to diverse cultures and thevalues shared by all global citizens regardless ofwhich corner of the world they inhabit.

UNIQUE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM AROUND
THE WORLD
Many of the tales in the collection have been
passed down through time, shaped and crafted bygenerations of storytellers. To honour the cultural
significance of these stories, they have been
complemented with illustrations created by local
artists and schoolchildren.

LEARNING TO READ, READING TO LEARN
From word searches to number crunches, memory
teasers, language lessons and intriguing ‘Did you
know?’ nuggets, educational pieces have been
included for the readers to exercise their minds.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |203

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC
CO R P O R AT EARCHIVE
Expo 2020 Dubai isthe largest event everstaged in the Arab World.
It has a responsibility
to manage the valuableknowledge and resources
accumulated in its
planning and delivery,
during the course of 10plus years. It is importantthat records relating to
the event are captured
to transfer knowledge,
expertise, experiences,
best practices and lessons
learned – positioning
Expo 2020 Dubai as abenchmark for future
World Expos and othermega-events.
One of the initiatives to assist withthe successful capture and transfer
of knowledge is the Expo 2020
Corporate Archive. Established in
April 2019 with the appointmentof a professional archivist, theprogramme is tasked with
capturing Expo 2020’s significant
records and ensuring theiravailability for beneficiaries. Thesemay range from UAE Government
entities such as the UAE National
Archives in Abu Dhabi to theBIE, the World Expo Museum inShanghai, and members of the
public and academia.

OUTLINE OF CURRENT INITIATIVES WITHIN THE
CORPORATE ARCHIVEEXPO 2020 DUBAI’S ARCHIVE POLICY
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Archive Policy has been developed and will berolled out across the organisation, helping to drive the successful
implementation of the programme.

CORPORATE ARCHIVE LIAISONS (FORMERLY KNOWN ASCORPORATE ARCHIVE CHAMPIONS)
Under the Expo 2020 Dubai Archive Policy, each Head of Department
appoints a Liaison to work with the Corporate Archive to identify andtransfer department-specific records to the Corporate Archive.

CORPORATE ARCHIVE MANUALThe Corporate Archive Manual outlines the step-by-step processes
involved in identifying, transferring, cataloguing, storing and accessing
the records. Access to the policy and manual is available for all Expo
2020 colleagues through the organisation’s intranet.

CATALOGUING SOFTWARE
The cataloguing software in use by the Corporate Archive isbeing continually configured to reflect file types, file sizes and the
make-up of the organisation. This ensures the records of each Expofunction are accurately catalogued and provided with a suitablelocation for filing.

TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE
The transfer of knowledge has been achieved through a UAE
national internship programme. Interns are recruited and engaged
regularly, undertaking training and learning the principles of archival
management in a practical setting.

TRANSFER OF PHYSICAL ASSETS
The transfer of physical assets, following the decommissioning ofExpo 2020 as it transitions into District 2020, is being considered
in conjunction with the Expo 2020 Dissolution Team – ensuring all
valuable physical assets are earmarked for eventual transfer to the
Corporate Archive.

RAISING AWARENESS
Raising awareness for the ongoing need to capture significant records
from Expo 2020 has been accomplished through virtual meetingsand email exchanges with a broad range of colleagues from acrossthe organisation.
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2020

04
EXPO 2 02 0
AND THE SDGs

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |207

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYA
E X P O 2020 D U BA I ’ S
CO N T R I B U T I O N
TO T H E U N S D G s
Aimed at addressing
global challenges such as
climate change, inequality,
economic growth, poverty,
and global health, theSustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) are a universal
call for action launchedby the United Nations in
2015, inviting the global
community to takeaction and contribute to
17 development goals,
measured by 169 targets.

208 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai is committed
to aligning its sustainability
contributions and operations with
the SDGs.
Apart from the contributions of
its own operations, Expo 2020
Dubai aims to utilise its global
outreach platform capabilities
to raise awareness about theSDGs and global sustainability
issues by maintaining closealignment of their initiatives withcorresponding targets. Visitors will
be able to experience interactive
exhibits at the Sustainability
and Opportunity Pavilions thatshowcase these issues, as well as
the various means by which Expo
has addressed them. Throughother initiatives such as the Expo

Live Innovation Impact Grant
Programme and the Expo Global
Best Practice Programme, Expo
will showcase innovative projects
from around the world that areproviding solutions to these global
problems by supporting theobjectives of the SDGs.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXAMPLES OF EXPO 2020 INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNEDTO THE UN SDGS AND THEIR TARGETS.
•

Expo 2020 maintained a coordinated and structured corporate response to
the pandemic, where each of its stakeholders were informed of their individual
responsibilities in being COVID-19 safe. Through COVID-19 guidelines for the
Expo Pavilions Premiere (EPP) and a dedicated task force, the organisation
guarded and supported its people and their welfare, putting forth the ‘Promises
Document’ and health declaration checkpoints to ensure attendees are able toexperience the premiere safely and responsibly.

•

Taking a proactive approach to health in 2020, Expo 2020 engaged its Tribe
with virtual well-being talks, guides and masterclasses. By viewing fitness as
physical, emotional and mental, the organisation equipped its leadership withthe tools to ensure their teams remained resilient during the lockdown.

•

In alignment with national objectives, Expo 2020 rolled out a comprehensive
vaccination programme, where the COVID-19 vaccine was offered to all Expo
2020 Dubai staff, contractors, consultants, and site workers. These wereadministered at a dedicated hub on the Expo 2020 site.

•

As part of Expo 2020’s commitment to creating a meaningful, lasting legacy for
generations to come, the Expo School Programme empowers students
and educators with diverse teaching instruments and opportunities. In
2020, this effort drove several initiatives such as a virtual summer camp ande-learning resources.

•

The Expo School Programme’s Online Workshops supported distancelearning objectives, engaging a total of 672 schools to create awareness about
topics such as Expo 2020’s themes, music as a shared language and thewonders of space.

•

In 2020, 53 per cent of the Expo 2020 workforce were female, displaying agender-balanced workforce.

•

In March 2021, Expo 2020 and Cartier announced a collaboration to celebrate
female change-makers all over the world through the Women’s Pavilion at
Expo 2020 Dubai.

•

Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, designed to be net-zero for energy andwater, was designed with integrated smart water technology. Recycling
greywater and producing water from the air, Terra ensures regulated production
and use of water.

•

Expo 2020 continues to use smart irrigation systems to collect and monitor
water usage, while correlating data from weather and soil sensors to optimisewater consumption and pump operation.

SDG 3

GOOD HEALTH AND
WELL-BEINGSDG 4

QUALITYEDUCATION

SDG 5

GENDEREQUALITY

SDG 6

CLEAN WATER AND
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO•

Terra’s canopy comprises more than 12,500 square metres of solar panels(8,705 square metres on the 130-metre-wide canopy and 3,874 square metresatop 18 Energy Trees) that generate roughly 4 GWh of energy per year –enough to power a Nissan Leaf halfway to Mars.

•

Expo 2020’s permanent buildings are designed and constructed to be 30
per cent more energy efficient when compared to conventional energy
management processes.

•

In its coming phases, Expo 2020 will aim to deliver on its targets to achieve
LEED Gold and Platinum certifications for its permanent buildings.

•

With the majority of procurement contracts awarded to locally registeredsuppliers, Expo 2020 backs the crucial small and medium-sized enterprise(SME) sector, which accounts for about half of all businesses registered with theorganisation. Expo 2020 has given 7,493 awards to SMEs to date, which makes
up roughly 50 per cent of all awards, with a direct and indirect spend of AED 2.1
billion and AED 3.05 billion respectively.

•

Through technological activations and innovative building technology, suchas Siemens’ MindSphere, Expo 2020’s Innovation and Future Technology (IFT)
department is working to create a futuristic visitor experience and a sustainableinfrastructure as part of Expo 2020’s legacy.

•

Terminus Group, Official Robotics Partner of Expo 2020, will deploy morethan 150 of its new generation of programmable robots across the site, which
are designed to be fully operational in a variety of work environments andwill delight visitors by assisting with hospitality and security, taking part inperformances and interacting with guests.

•

Expo 2020 ensures free and fair recruitment, a non-discriminatory and tolerant
work culture, and a safe and healthy work environment for all employees andcontractors through the Worker Welfare policy framework and initiatives.

•

For Expo 2020’s employees and people of determination, the organisation
is working on creating an inclusive and accessible event by incorporating
accessible designs into the infrastructure and engagement programmes.

•

District 2020 is designed to serve as a model global community for the future,utilising state-of-the-art innovation, science and sustainability for a cleaner,safer, healthier environment to live, work and play.

•

As the future of Expo 2020, District 2020 has been designated as the fifth
Urban Centre of the city of Dubai, which will support the city’s economic
growth, sustainable urban development and the goal of making it the mostdesirable city in the world to live in.

SDG 7

AFFORDABLE AND
CLEAN ENERGYSDG 8DECENT WORK AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH

SDG 9

INDUSTRY,INNOVATION, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE

SDG 10

REDUCEDINEQUALITIESSDG 11SUSTAINABLE CITIESAND COMMUNITIES

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

SDG 12

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIES•

Since the initiation of Expo 2020 till the end of the reporting cycle applied tothis report, the organisation achieved a cumulative waste-to-landfill diversion
rate of 91%.

•

The RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations further enhance Expo 2020’s
performance in this field and provide the organisation with a verification
process that minimises packaging, food and other waste during the event. Allretail, food and beverage outlets are currently being verified through the RISE
Guidelines.

•

The Planet Over Plastic Pledge allows Expo 2020’s stakeholders to take part inminimising single-use plastic usage at their pavilions during the event.

•

Expo 2020 has reported a promising climate action performance over thereporting cycle, extending the positive actions of its third-party associates.

•

Some contractors have reported the use of solar power lights, which help
projects save 40-45 per cent in fuel consumption and reduce carbon emissions;others have started to employ solar power tower lights and traffic signs tocreate the same effect.

•

Terra looks to take spectators on a vibrant journey through the depths of theocean, offering interactive learning experiences to teach visitors about aquatic
life, marine habitats and the importance of protecting the ocean ecosystems.

•

With respect to its internal provisions, Expo 2020 enforces extensive processes
to deal with hazardous chemicals to mitigate water contaminants and preserve
the UAE’s scarce water resources.

•

Expo 2020 also has a dedicated Spill Response Procedure.

•

Using a dedicated ecosystems management process to conserve and protect
biodiversity and ecology within the Expo 2020 construction site, the event’s
ecosystem conservation targets mandate no harm to any fauna or flora.

•

One of the journeys that attendees can experience at Terra is a walk through‘Forest Roots’. Providing valuable lessons on sustainability, the ‘Under theForest’ exhibit takes visitors through the ‘Wood Wide Web’ and ‘Empathy Net’
installations to better understand and appreciate the unique interconnectivity
within terrestrial ecology.

•

The Global Best Practice Programme serves as Expo 2020’s platform toshowcase projects that provide tangible solutions to some of the world’s biggest
challenges, in line with the SDGs. The programme highlights simple but effective
initiatives, which localise the SDGs and can be adapted, replicated, and scaled forenhanced global impact. Through this, Expo seeks to enhance the visibility of bestpractices across the following five focus areas, for a better 2030.

•

With 191 participating countries, Expo 2020 acts as a melting pot for global
innovations and collaborations. Engaging national associations and international
authorities, the organisation relies on its many stakeholders to bring novel waysof thinking to a common and approachable platform. Through its many avenuesof engagement, Expo 2020, along with its varied and trusted partners, cometogether to exemplify solidarity and the need for comprehensive solutions.

RESPONSIBLE
CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION

SDG 13

CLIMATE ACTION

SDG 14

LIFE BELOWWATER

SDG 15:

LIFE ON LAND

SDG 17

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYAPPENDIX 											
SDGDISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTIONGRI 305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

GRI 306-1

Water discharge by quality and destination

GRI 306-2

Waste by type and disposal method

GRI 306-3

Significant spills

GRI 401-2

Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided totemporary or part-time employees

GRI 403-2

Hazard identification, risk assessment, and incident investigation

MEDIUM RELEVANCE

SDG target 4.3

By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable
and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including
university

SDG target 4.4

By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults
who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills,
for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

SDG target 4.5

By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure
equal access to all levels of education and vocational training
for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous
peoples and children in vulnerable situations

SDG target 4.7

By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills
needed to promote sustainable development, including, among
others, through education for sustainable development andsustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotionof a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship andappreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution tosustainable development

HIGH RELEVANCE*GRI 401-1

New employee hires and employee turnover

GRI 401-2

Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided totemporary or part-time employees

GRI 401-3

Parental leave

GRI 404-3

Percentage of employees receiving regular performanceand career development reviews

GRI 405-1

Diversity of governance bodies and employees

GRI 406-1

Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken

MEDIUM RELEVANCE

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

SDG

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTIONGRI 303-1

Interactions with water as a shared resource

GRI 303-2

Management of water discharge-related impacts

GRI 304-2

Significant impacts of activities, products and services on
biodiversity

GRI 306-1

Water discharge by quality and destination

GRI 306-2

Waste by type and disposal method

GRI 306-3

Significant spills

MEDIUM RELEVANCEGRI 302-1

Energy consumption within the organisation

GRI 302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

HIGH RELEVANCEGRI 201-1

Direct economic value generated and distributed

GRI 202-2

The proportion of senior management hired from the local
community

GRI 204-1

The proportion of spending on local suppliers

GRI 301-1

Materials used by weight or volume

GRI 302-1

Energy consumption within the organisation

GRI 302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

GRI 303-3

Water withdrawal

GRI 401-1

New employee hires and employee turnover

GRI 401-2

Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided totemporary or part-time employees

GRI 401-3

Parental leave

GRI 403-1

Occupational health and safety management system

GRI 403-2

Hazard identification, risk assessment and incident investigation

GRI 403-4

Worker participation, consultation, and communication on
occupational health and safety

GRI 404-2

Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition
assistance programs

GRI 404-3

Percentage of employees receiving regular performanceand career development reviews

GRI 405-1

Diversity of governance bodies and employees

GRI 406-1

Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

SDG

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPODISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTIONGRI 201-1

Direct economic value generated and distributed

03. THE EXPO LEGACYMEDIUM RELEVANCEGRI 102-8

Information on employees and other workers

GRI 401-1

New employee hires and employee turnover

GRI 404-3

Percentage of employees receiving regular performanceand career development reviews

LOW RELEVANCE

SDG target 11.3

By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation andcapacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable humansettlement planning and management in all countries

SDG target 11.4

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s culturaland natural heritage

SDG target 11.6

By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impactof cities, including by paying special attention to air quality andmunicipal and other waste management

SDG target 11.7

By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible,
green and public spaces, in particular for women and children,
older persons and persons with disabilities

HIGH RELEVANCE*GRI 301-1

Materials used by weight or volume

GRI 302-1

Energy consumption within the organisation

GRI 302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

GRI 303-1

Interactions with water as a shared resource

GRI 303-3

Water withdrawal

GRI 305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

GRI 306-2

Waste by type and disposal method

GRI 306-3

Significant spills

MEDIUM RELEVANCE

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04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

SDG

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTIONGRI 302-1

Energy consumption within the organisation

GRI 302-4

Reduction of energy consumption

GRI 305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

GRI 305-5

Reduction of GHG emissions

MEDIUM RELEVANCEGRI 304-2

Significant impacts of activities, products and services on
biodiversity

GRI 305-1

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

GRI 305-5

Reduction of GHG emissions

GRI 306-3

Significant spills

MEDIUM RELEVANCEGRI 304-2

Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on
biodiversity

GRI 305-2

Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

GRI 305-3

Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

GRI 305-5

Reduction of GHG emissions

GRI 306-3

Significant spills

MEDIUM RELEVANCEGRI 102-16

Values, principles, standards, and norms of behaviour

GRI 102-21

Consulting stakeholders on economic, environmental, and social
topicsGRI 205-1

Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

GRI 205-2

Communication and training about anti-corruption policies andprocedures

GRI 205-3

Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

GRI 307-1

Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations

GRI 416-2

Incidents of non-compliance concerning the health and safety
impacts of products and services

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

SDG

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYDISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTION

SDG target
17.7

Promote the development, transfer, dissemination, and diffusionof environmentally sound technologies to developing countries onfavourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms,
as mutually agreed

SDG target
17.16

Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development,complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilise
and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial
resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing
countries

SDG target
17.17

Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civilsociety partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing
strategies of partnerships

SDG target
17.19

By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements
of progress on sustainable development that complement grossdomestic product, and support statistical capacity-building indeveloping countries

HIGH RELEVANCE*LOW RELEVANCEMEDIUM RELEVANCEHIGH RELEVANCE

Relevance ranking methodology: Identifying the relevance rank per goal is done by mapping the material GRI disclosures to the targets
associated with each SDG. A percentage is obtained by identifying how many targets are covered by a mapping exercise against the total
number of targets within a goal. Low relevance indicates 1-30 per cent alignment, Medium relevance indicates 31-60 per cent alignment,
and High relevance indicates more than 61 per cent alignment. For example, SDG five has six targets. The material GRI disclosures align withthree targets, thus indicating 50 per cent alignment (Medium).
* In the case of SDGs 4, 11, and 17, the high relevance has been determined subjectively, and not through the methodology mentioned
above. In order to highlight the contributions offered to each of these goals, the appendix mapping aligns the specific SDG targets met
by Expo 2020 Dubai’s programmes, initiatives, and policies. Expo 2020 Dubai will seek to enhance this mapping in the next and final
sustainability report to be published in the forthcoming year.

METHODOLOGYThis Sustainability Report showcases the steps in positioning Expo 2020
Dubai’s material GRI disclosures to SDG target disclosures. Using the
publication developed by GRI and the UN Global Compact, ‘An Analysis of
the Goals and Targets’, the methodology in the publication illustrates how
the SDG target disclosures can be associated with the GRI disclosures. By
linking Expo 2020 Dubai’s material GRI disclosures with the SDG target
disclosures, the number of goals has been mapped with the targets they
are aligned with. The alignment of the SDGs specifically pertains to the2020 Sustainability Report and Expo 2020 Dubai’s material topics. This
mapping exercise is a high-level activity and does not reflect the full
extent of Expo 2020 Dubai’s overall alignment with the SDGs.

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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

B
G LO BA L B E S T
P R AC T I C E
PROGRAMME
Honouring a 2010 BIE mandate, the Global Best Practice Programme serves as
Expo 2020’s platform to showcase projects that provide tangible solutions tosome of the world’s biggest challenges, in line with the SDGs and 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.
Submissions to this final
stream were reviewed by industry
leaders under the programme’s
key focus areas, including Cisco,Dubai Cares, and UN-Habitat,
before being signed off by
Chairing Committee members(the BIE and the Universityof Cambridge Institute for
Sustainable Leadership).

Based on the criterion of impact,transference and SDG alignment,
selected applicants are invited toshowcase cross-sector integrated
solutions at a dedicated exhibitionat Mission Possible – The
Opportunity Pavilion at Expo 2020
Dubai. To promote responsibility
within the context of COVID-19,
the programme recently called
for short and long-term solutions,based on new and innovative
approaches to health services,public spaces, technology,
education, livelihoods and basic
amenities, and services to benefit
communities as they tackle theeffects of COVID-19.

They will join 25 projects spanning
23 countries, chosen from a poolof 1,175 proposals, to display theirideas and contributions. In tandem,
20 projects under a second stream
were nominated to spotlighttheir impactful work across the
programme’s topical priority areas.

Following this, five submissions
relevant to COVID-19 solutions
were selected to showcase during
at Expo 2020 during
event time.

DEFINING BEST PRACTICES FOR A BETTER 2030
Building upon consensus
on what constitutes a ‘bestpractice’, the programme
extends its meaning toencompass additional features.
Therefore, best practices under
the Expo 2020 Global Best
Practice Programme must:•218 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Have a demonstrable andtangible impact on improving
people’s quality of life•

Highlight the interconnectednature of interventions andhow ripple effects play out•

Are the result of effective
partnerships between
multiple actors on the value
chain (public, private and civic
sectors of society)•Can be transferred, adapted
and replicated at scale inother places

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

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 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSOLUTIONS STREAMS FOR BEST PRACTICE 2030
Acknowledging the valuable
contributions individuals
and groups may pose on the
global community, initiatives
recognised under the programme
are sourced within one of thefollowing five solution streams:•

Unsung heroes (individuals):
including frontline workers, first
responders, teachers, healthprofessionals, and carers.

•

Community in solidarity:
including groups of people
coming together as agroup to help community
members, NGOs, foundations,social enterprises andcooperatives implementing
first-hand responses.

•

Campaigns: relating to raisingawareness, marketing, publichealth advertisements, social
media and educational
movements.

•

Creative partnerships:
involving international
cooperation and collaboration
between different actors
in action.

•

Government responses:
surrounding agile governmentled approaches to ensure
pandemic management andrecoveries are as sustainable
as possible.

•

Protecting livelihoods: Bestpractices relating to this topic
convey solutions that support
the creation of new enterprises
which offer and promote
alternative employment
and income opportunities;
greater inclusion of womenin the workplace; enhanced
competitiveness of products
and services; and improved
market access.

•Digitalisation: Best practices
relating to this topic promoteaffordable and scalable
technological solutions that
accelerate progress towards
achieving the SDGs, mobilisingcommunities to build forward.

TOPICAL PRIORITIESSolutions could cover any ofthese five topics:•

Health and well-being: Bestpractices relating to this topic
reflect innovative solutions
around integrated healthcare delivery, encompassing
measures to safeguard
physical and mental well-being.

•

Water, sanitation and hygiene(WASH): Best practices
relating to this topic illustrate
WASH as the first line ofdefence against the virus,
ensuring basic sanitation
services are accessible,
affordable and acceptable.

•

Education and skills
development: Best practices
relating to this topic showcase
effective approaches to
impactful learning experiences
for all students.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |219

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

THE FOLLOWING WERE SELECTED TO JOIN EXPO 2020 GLOBAL BESTPRACTICE PROGRAMME UNDER THE COVID-19 CALL:PROJECT

FOCUS AREA

SAFEDISTANCELOPOS, BELGIUM

DIGITALISATIONPROJECT OUTLINE

SafeDistance is a small, light and portabledevice that measures the distance to other
SafeDistance sensors in real time to help
ensure sufficient spacing between people. This
wearable device immediately warns wearers
when social distancing is not being respected
through an alarm, flashing lights and vibrations.
The device can also assist with track and trace
for COVID-19 infections.

FOCUS AREA

PROJECTEDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT‘MI CASA, MI CANCHA’FÚTBOL MÁS, CHILEPROJECT OUTLINE

Videoclip series ‘Mi Casa, Mi Cancha’ (MyHome, My Playground) seeks to promote
education and physical activity for children
and adolescents, ages six to 14, who can only
access reduced spaces. The series generates
active routines, raising awareness while
improving mental and physical health at home
without the need for sports equipment. Each
15-minute interactive episode shows activities
and purposeful games that allow children tostay active for 30 to 60 minutes, twice a week.
To build post-pandemic resilience, the initiative
is being adapted from a completely virtualmode to a hybrid one, allowing some classes
to be taught face to face.

220 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESPROJECT

FOCUS AREA

SITATBYOOT AND MAKESYSITATBYOOT, JORDANPROTECTING LIVELIHOODSPROJECT OUTLINE

SitatByoot works directly with vulnerable
communities in Jordan, primarily women working
from home because of lockdown, to help thementer the labour market and grow their businessonline. As a result of COVID-19, it developed a
new vocational training programme, deliveredon and offline, called Tadreeb Live – revolving
around sewing, crocheting, embroidery, andhome-based business skills. As women progressin the training, they gain skills to accelerate their
online home-based business, have opportunities
to be employed by local garment factories
and/or become a certified ‘Maker’ throughSitatByoot’s sister eCommerce website Makesy.
Makesy facilitates business opportunities,
connecting demand for high quality garments
and hand-made goods with the skilled
production capacity of its ‘Makers’.

FOCUS AREA

PROJECT

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

REACH52
REACH52, SINGAPORE
PROJECT OUTLINE

Overcoming misinformation and enabling
communities to accurately check their
symptoms is critical to a fast, effective
COVID-19 response. Delivering healthcare forrural populations, using offline-first mobile
apps and low-tech platforms, Singapore-based
reach52 responded to COVID-19 by training
frontline community health workers through amobile phone eLearning platform.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |221

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

FOCUS AREA

PROJECT

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH)

MAJI BUCKET,PROJECT MAJI, UAE / GHANA

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

PROJECT OUTLINE

Handwashing with soap and water is a key
intervention for reducing the spread of
COVID-19. Running a handwashing and soap
distribution campaign in rural Ghana, Project
Maji trained thousands of people in proper handhygiene practices and distributed bars of soap
across Maji communities. Paired with this handhygiene campaign, Project Maji devised a safe
handwashing facility called the Maji Bucket, asimple low-tech invention designed with a vision
to ensure safe handwashing practices among
rural communities. The handwashing station isfoot-operated, eliminates the need for touch,and successfully curbs the spread of germs. The
solution is highly affordable and made of locallyavailable products, allowing for easy replication
and bulk production.

222 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. G
 RI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |223

224 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

05
G R I CO N T E N T I N D E X A N D
TO P I C B O U N DA R I E S

For the Materiality Disclosures Service, GRI Services
reviewed that the GRI content index is clearlypresented and the references for Disclosures 10240 to 102-49 align with appropriate sections in the
body of the report.
The service was performed on the English versionof the report.

For the GRI Content Index Service, GRI Services
reviewed that the GRI content index is clearlypresented and the references for all disclosures
included align with the appropriate sections in the
body of the report.
The service was performed on the English versionof the report.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |225

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYA
G R I CO N T E N T
INDEXGRI STANDARDDISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONSGRI 101: FOUNDATION 2016
GENERAL DISCLOSURESGRI 102:
GENERALDISCLOSURES 2016

ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE
102-1 Name of the organisation

14

102-2 Activities, brands, products, andservices

21-26

102-3 Location of headquarters

Content Index

Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo
Road, Dubai South, Jebel
Ali, Dubai, UAE.

102-4 Location of operations

Content Index

Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo
Road, Dubai South, Jebel
Ali, Dubai, UAE.

102-5 Ownership and legal form

26-27

102-6 Markets served

63, 188-189, 212-218

102-7 Scale of the organisation

160-166

226 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSGRI STANDARD

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONSGRI 101: FOUNDATION 2016
GENERAL DISCLOSURESGRI 102:
GENERALDISCLOSURES 2016

ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE
102-8 Information on employees and otherworkers

160-166

102-9 Supply chain

68-79

Content Index

No significant changes
occurred to theorganisation and its
supply chain in 2020 and
Q1 of 2021

102-11 Precautionary Principle or approach

Content Index

Expo 2020 Dubai is
applying the precautionary
approach in its
environmental activities.

102-12 External initiatives

43-44, 90, 198-199

102-13 Membership of associations

Content Index

102-10 Significant changes to theorganisation and its supply chain

Expo 2020 Dubai is
not a member of any
associations.

STRATEGY102-14 Statement from senior decisionmaker

6-9

102-15 Key impacts, risks, and opportunities

28-39, 46-50, 66

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
102-16 Values, principles, standards, andnorms of behaviour

150-151, 172

102-17 Mechanisms for advice andconcerns about ethics

152

GOVERNANCE
102-18 Governance structure

26-27

102-21 Consulting stakeholders on
economic, environmental, and social topics

62-66

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
102-40 List of stakeholder groups

64102-41 Collective bargaining agreements

Content Index

102-42 Identifying and selecting
stakeholders

62-63

102-43 Approach to stakeholder
engagement

63-65

102-44 Key topics and concerns raised

65-66

Collective bargaining
agreements are notpermitted in the UAE.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |227

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIGRI STANDARD

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPODISCLOSURE

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONS

102-45 Entities included in the consolidated
financial statements

Content Index

No entities are included.

102-46 Defining report content and topic
boundaries

236-237

102-47 List of material topics

65

102-48 Restatements of information

Content Index

102-49 Changes in reporting

63-65

102-50 Reporting period

14102-51 Date of most recent report

Content Index

102-52 Reporting cycle

14102-53 Contact point for questions
regarding the report15

GRI 101: FOUNDATION 2016
GENERAL DISCLOSURESGRI 102:
GENERALDISCLOSURES 2016

REPORTING PRACTICE

102-54 Claims of reporting in accordancewith the GRI Standards

Content Index

102-55 GRI content index

226-234

102-56 External assurance

Content Index

MATERIAL TOPICS
200 ECONOMIC STANDARD SERIESREPORTING PRACTICEGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 201:
ECONOMICPERFORMANCE 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

80-82

103-2 The management approach and its
components

80-82

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach

80-82

201-1 Direct economic value generated anddistributed

83

228 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

No restatement of
information from theprevious report.

Expo 2020 Dubai
Sustainability Report 2019released in 2020.

This report has been
prepared in accordancewith the GRI Standards:
Core option.

This report is not externallyassured. We aim to gain
external assurance of oursustainability report in
the upcoming years toenhance our reporting
efforts.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSGRI STANDARD

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONS

MATERIAL TOPICS
200 ECONOMIC STANDARD SERIESMARKET PRESENCEGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 202:
MARKETPRESENCE 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

160-163103-2 The management approach and its
components

160-163103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach160-163202-2 Proportion of senior management
hired from the local community

163

PROCUREMENT PRACTICESGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 204:
PROCUREMENT
PRACTICES 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits Boundary71

103-2 The management approach and its
components

71103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach71

204-1 Proportion of spending on local
suppliers

71

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary152

103-2 The management approach and its
components

152103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach152

205-1 Operations assessed for risks related
to corruption

152

205-2 Communication and training aboutanti-corruption policies and procedures

152

205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption
and actions taken

Content Index

ANTI-CORRUPTIONGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 205:
ANTI-CORRUPTION
2016

No incidents of corruption
reported in 2020 and Q1of 2021

GRI 300 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS SERIESMATERIALS
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

68-70, 113

103-2 The management approach and its
components

68-70, 113

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach

68-70, 113
EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |229

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIGRI STANDARD

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPODISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)GRI 300 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS SERIESGRI 301:
MATERIALS 2016

301-1 Materials used by weight or volume

114

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

104-106

103-2 The management approach and its
components

104-106

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach104-106

302-1 Energy consumption within theorganisation

104

302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

105

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

111-112103-2 The management approach and its
components

111-112103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach111-112303-1 Interactions with water as a sharedresource112

303-2 Management of water-discharge
related impacts

117-118

303-3 Water withdrawal

112

303-4 Water withdrawal

117-118

303-5 Water consumption

112

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

125-126103-2 The management approach and its
components

125-126103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach

125-126304-2 Significant impacts of activities,
products, and services on biodiversity

125-126

ENERGYGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 302:
ENERGY 2016

WATER AND EFFLUENTS
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 303:
WATER ANDEFFLUENTS 2018

BIODIVERSITY
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 304:
BIODIVERSITY 2016

230 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACYOMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONS

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSGRI STANDARD

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONSGRI 300 Environmental Standards Series
EMISSIONSGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 305:
EMISSIONS 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

90-95

103-2 The management approach and its
components

90-95

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach

90-95

305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions95

305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG
emissions95

305-3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG
emissions95

305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions

95

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

115-119103-2 The management approach and its
components components

115-119103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach115-119306-1 Water discharge by quality anddestination

118

306-2 Waste by type and disposal method

116306-3 Significant spills

119

WASTE
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 306:
WASTE 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 307:
ENVIRONMENTALCOMPLIANCE 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary131

103-2 The management approach and its
components

131103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach131

307-1 Non-compliance withenvironmental laws and regulations

Content Index

Expo 2020 Dubai
complies with all relevant
environmental
regulations set forth
by the UAE Federal
Government and Dubai
Municipality. During2020 and Q1 of 2021,
the organisation has
not been in violationof any environmental
regulations nor has it
received any complaints
relating to environmental
matters

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |231

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIGRI STANDARD

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPODISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)GRI 400 SOCIAL STANDARDS SERIESEMPLOYMENTGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 401:
EMPLOYMENT 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

160-161103-2 The management approach and its
components

160-161103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach160-161401-1 New employee hires and employee
turnover161

401-2 Benefits provided to full-time
employees that are not provided totemporary or part-time employees

168

401-3 Parental leave

169

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 403:
OCCUPATIONALHEALTH AND SAFETY2018

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

172-173103-2 The management approach and its
components

172-173103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach172-173403-1 Occupational health and safety
management system

172-173403-2 Hazard identification, risk
assessment, and incident investigation

174403-3 Occupational health services

178

403-4 Worker participation, consultation,and communication on occupational healthand safety178403-5 Worker training on occupational
health and safety

177-178403-6 Promotion of worker health172-177403-7 Prevention and mitigation ofoccupational health and safety impacts
directly linked by business relationships

173

403-8 Workers covered by an occupational
health and safety management system172

403-9 Work-related injuries

180

232 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

03. THE EXPO LEGACYOMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONS

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSGRI STANDARD

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESDISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)OMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONSTRAINING AND EDUCATIONGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 404:
TRAINING AND
EDUCATION 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary170

103-2 The management approach and its
components

170103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach170404-2 Programs for upgrading employee
skills and transition assistance programs

170404-3 Percentage of employees
receiving regular performance and careerdevelopment reviews

170

DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 405:
DIVERSITY
AND EQUALOPPORTUNITY 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

160-161103-2 The management approach and its
components

160-161103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach160-161405-1 Diversity of governance bodies andemployees

160-161103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary152

103-2 The management approach and its
components

152103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach152406-1 Incidents of discrimination andcorrective actions taken

Content Index

NON-DISCRIMINATIONGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 406:
NON-DISCRIMINATION2016

No incidents of
discrimination reported
in 2020 and in Q1 of 2021.

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSESSMENTGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 412:HUMAN RIGHTSASSESSMENT 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

150-151

103-2 The management approach and its
components

150-151

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach150-151

412-1 Operations that have been subject
to human rights reviews or impact
assessments

Content Index

No incidents of humanrights violations reported
in 2020 and in Q1 of 2021.

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |233

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAIGRI STANDARD

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPODISCLOSURE

PAGE NUMBER(S)
AND/OR URL(S)03. THE EXPO LEGACYOMISSIONS AND
CLARIFICATIONSLOCAL COMMUNITIESGRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 413:
LOCAL COMMUNITIES2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary153

103-2 The management approach and its
components

153103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach153413-1 Operations with local community
engagement, impact assessments, anddevelopment programs

153

CUSTOMER HEALTH AND SAFETY
GRI 103:
MANAGEMENTAPPROACH 2016

GRI 416:
CUSTOMER HEALTHAND SAFETY 2016

103-1 Explanation of the material topic andits boundary

52-54, 181

103-2 The management approach and its
components

52-54, 181

103-3 Evaluation of the management
approach

52-54, 181

416-1 Assessment of the health and safety
impacts of product and service categories

48-49, 181

416-2 Incidents of non-complianceconcerning the health and safety impacts
of products and services

234 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

Content Index

No incidents of customer
health and safety
violations reported in 2020
and in Q1 of 2021.

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESEXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |235

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACY

B
TO P I CB O U N DA R I E SSPACE-BASED BOUNDARIESIn accordance with GRI
Standards, boundaries
refer to the place or limit
to which the impact has
occurred and Expo 2020
Dubai’s involvement withthese impacts.

•

On-site: the geographic spatial boundaries where the event will
occur. This does not include Expo Village and Dubai Exhibition
Centre (DEC)•Off-site: activities which do not take place within Expo 2020
Dubai’s geographic spatial boundaries. In addition to this, Expo
2020 Dubai also includes temporal boundaries, dividing its
operation into three time-related phases

TEMPORAL BOUNDARIES•••

Pre-event phase: the preparation period before the event
Event phase: the six-month duration of the event
Legacy phase: the period after the event

SITE
BOUNDARY
GOVERNMENTAUTHORITIESYOUTH ANDSCHOOLS
PROGRAMMEPARTNERSCONSTRUCTIONCONSULTANTS AND
CONTRACTORS/WORKERSCIVIL SOCIETYLOCAL
COMMUNITY/
VOLUNTEERSRELEVANTSTAKEHOLDERS
INTERNATIONALPARTICIPANTS

VENDORS/
SUPPLIERS

MATERIAL
WITHIN THE
ORGANISATIONEXPO 2020
LLC AND ITSEMPLOYEESMATERIAL
TOPICS

THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS 2020 GRI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT FALLS PRIMARILY UNDER THE
PRE-EVENT PHASE, UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

ECONOMIC
Economic
Performance

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

MarketPresence•

MarketPresence

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteProcurement
Practices

●

•

•

●

•

●

•

●

•

●

•

On-site•●236 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

On-SiteOff-Site

On-Site05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESSITEBOUNDARY
GOVERNMENTAUTHORITIESYOUTH ANDSCHOOLS
PROGRAMMEPARTNERSCONSTRUCTIONCONSULTANTS AND
CONTRACTORS/WORKERSCIVIL SOCIETYLOCAL
COMMUNITY/
VOLUNTEERSRELEVANTSTAKEHOLDERS
INTERNATIONALPARTICIPANTS

VENDORS/
SUPPLIERS

MATERIAL
WITHIN THE
ORGANISATIONEXPO 2020
LLC AND ITSEMPLOYEESMATERIAL
TOPICS

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGSENVIRONMENTAL
Energy

•

•

•

•

•

•

Water andEffluents

•

•

•

•

•

Emissions

•

•

•

•

Waste

●

•

•

●

●

•

•

●

Materials•••

Environmental
compliance

•

•

•

Biodiversity••

On-Site••On-Site•••On-Site

•

●

•

●

•

On-site

•

•

•

•

On-Site

•

•

•

•

On-Site•On-Site•••SOCIAL
Employment••

Occupational
health andsafety

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteCustomer
Health and
Safety

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteLocal
communities

•

•

•

•

On-SiteOff-Site

Nondiscrimination

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteHuman rights
assessment

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteDiversityand Equal
Opportunity

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteInnovation

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteOff-Site

Accessibility

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteCOVID-19

•

•

•

•

•

On-SiteOff-Site•

On-Site•••NON-GRI

•

•

•

•

•

•

EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 |237

01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPO

03. THE EXPO LEGACYC
AC RO N Y M S A N D
A B B R E V I AT I O N SACRONYM/
ABBREVIATIONEXPANSIONAASHTO

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

ADA

American Disability Act

AED

Arab Emirates Dirham

AI

Artificial Intelligence

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ASHRAE

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASTM

ASTM International, Formerly Known as American Society for Testing and Materials

BAU

Business As Usual

BIE

Bureau International Des Expositions

BS EN ISO 14001

Internationally Recognized Environmental Management System (EMS) Standard

BS EN ISO 9001

Internationally Recognized Quality Management System (QMS) Standard

CAP

Climate Action Programme

CCA

Crushed Concrete Aggregate

CEEQUAL

Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme

CEMP

Construction Environmental Management Plan

CEO

Chief Executive Officer

CI

Conservation International

CII

Confederation of Indian Industries

CIPS

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

COC

Chain of Custody

CORSIA

Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation

CRB

Centre for Responsible Business

CSC

Construction Supervision Consultants

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

CSRE

Centre for Sustainability Through Research and Education

CWMP

Construction Waste Management Plan

DDCR

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

DEC

Dubai Exhibition Centre

DED

Department of Economic Development

DEWA

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

DHA

Dubai Health Authority

DM

Dubai Municipality

238 | EXPO 2020 DUBAI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESACRONYM/
ABBREVIATIONEXPANSION

DMED

Dubai Municipality Environment Department

DUDC

Dubai Universal Design CodeEC

Environmental Clearance

ECVM

European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers

EEG

Emirates Environmental GroupEF

Emission Factors

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

ELT

Executive Leadership Team

EMEA

Europe, The Middle East and Africa

ENOC

Emirates National Oil Company

EP

Environmental Plan

EPD

Environmental Product Declaration

EPP

Expo Pavilions Premiere

ERF

Emergency Relief Fund

ESG

Environmental, Social, And Governance

ETFE

Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene

EU ETS

European Union Emissions Trading System

EV

Electric Vehicles

EVTOL

Electric Vertical Take-Off And Landing

EY

Ernst & YoungFIFA

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

FM

Frequency Modulation

FSC

Forest Stewardship Council

FTE

Full-Time Equivalent

GBF

Global Business Forum

GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GGBS

Ground-Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag

GHG

Greenhouse Gas

GPAP

Global Plastic Action Partnership

GRI

Global Reporting Initiative

GVA

Gross Value Added

H&S

Health & Safety

HE

His/ Her Excellency

HH

His Highness

HOV

House Of Volunteers

HSQE

Health, Safety, Quality and Environment

IT

Information Technology
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01. ABOUT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

02. THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SUSTAINABLE EXPOACRONYM/
ABBREVIATIONEXPANSION

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IIGP

Innovation Impact Grant Programme

IoTInternet of Things

IPM

Expo 2020’s International Participants Meeting

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

JAHWTF

Jebel Ali Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility

KHDA

Knowledge and Human Development Authority

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LLC

Limited Liability Company

MBRAH

Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub

MBRIF

Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

MEASA

Middle East, Africa and South Asia

MENA

Middle East and North Africa

MENASA

Middle East, North Africa and South Asia

MFM

Material Flow Model

MICE

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions

MoCCaE

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

MOE

Ministry of Education

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MRF

Material Recovery Facility

NDC

Nationally Determined ContributionNGO

Non-Governmental Organisation

OECD

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

OEI

Observe, Engage, Improve

PCR

Polymerase Chain Reaction

PEFC

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

PV

Photovoltaic

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride

RFX

Request for Opportunities

RPAS

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

RTA

Roads and Transport Authority

SAF

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

SBT

Science Based Targets

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal

SME

Small and Medium Enterprises

SPEA

Sharjah Private Education Authority

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03. THE EXPO LEGACY

04. EXPO 2020 AND THE SDGS

05. GRI CONTENT INDEX AND TOPIC BOUNDARIESACRONYM/
ABBREVIATIONEXPANSION

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

STP

Sewage Treatment Plant

TNR

Trap-Neuter-Return

TSE

Treated Sewage Effluent

UAE

United Arab Emirates

UCLG

United Cities Local Governments

UIP

University Innovation Programme

UK

United Kingdom

UN

United Nations

UNEP

UN Environment Programme

UNGC

United Nations Global Compact

UPS

United Parcel Service

USD

United States Dollar

USGBC

United States Green Building Council

VCM

Vinyl Chloride Monomer

WBCSDWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development

WFESWorld Future Energy Summit

WRI

World Resources Institute

WSO

Wild Shots Outreach

YPP

Young People Program

ZSL

Zoological Society of London

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