World Expo 2020

Dubai is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the six-month long 2020 World Expo, including Ayutthaya (Thailand); Ekaterinburg (Russia); Izmir (Turkey); and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

The winning city will be announced in November 2013 following a vote by the 161 member nations of the BIE.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and managing director of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said: "We are very pleased to share the masterplan for Dubai Trade Centre – Jebel Ali, our proposed site to host the 2020 World Expo.

"This 438-hectare site will be one of the largest ever used for a World Expo and will ensure an unforgettable experience for the event’s 25 million visitors, who will collectively make upwards of 33 million visits.

"Throughout the development process, we have also sought to ensure that the site will serve as a permanent attraction beyond 2020 and will enhance further the UAE’s long-term appeal as a premier destination for high-profile global events," she added.