Expo City in Dubai is ready to plan a stunning transformation for COP28. To captivate the story of Emirati heritage with the world, the futuristic neighbourhood, which previously served as a vibrant venue for Expo 2020 Dubai, is being infused with age-old architectural designs. 

It showcases its commitment to sustainability and to preserving the culture, this transformation is going to be an exciting blend of past and future. Covering the traditional architectural elements in the modern landscape creates a unique and awful experience for the visitors. 

When you plan to explore Expo City Dubai during COP28, you will be transported to the time and witness the evolution of Emirati heritage. The minute details of the architectural designs, which were inspired by Emirati traditions, will captivate your senses and provide a deeper understanding of the culture of the United Arab Emirates.

When you step foot in Expo City Dubai, you will be surrounded by the vibrant colours, patterns, and detailed craftsmanship that define Emirati culture. The mixing of traditional and modern create a stunning visual ambience that celebrates the past while we embrace the future.

Expo City Dubai is going to showcase the true beauty and resilience of Emirati heritage. Be ready to get inspired by the stories, traditions, and innovations that have shaped the United Arab Emirates into a vibrant nation today. 

Some parts of the extended Expo City Dubai have been handed over to COP 28 organisers in preparation for the crucial climate talks from November 30 to December 12. The site is still open to all visitors and it will be closing next month to accommodate the 70,000 participants who all are attending COP 28.

They are planning to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for every visitor, by regretting their background or age, is of utmost importance. Expo City Dubai is concerned with leaving a lasting impression on all attendees, whether they are blue zone delegates, members of the general public, or even young children.  

The special project’s director of Expo City Technology, Hend AI Mheiri has revealed the aesthetic arish building techniques in the UAE, which include dried palm leaves and fibre, which will be prominently decorated throughout the COP28 venue. Those striking motifs serve as a reflection of the host nation’s commitment to resilience and sustainability. 

According to Hend AI Mheiri, the director of special projects at Expo City Technology, the city is now undergoing significant preparations for COP28. To maintain all the surprises for the visitors, Expo City Dubai currently covers everything. When we saw Expo City Dubai you couldn’t see much but you could observe that transformation.

The Blue and Green Zones

The blue and green zones have not been disclosed yet. There will be some areas in the Expo City Dubai where specific activities and events related to the climate action peak will take place. For security, Expo 2020’s airport-style security will be there for COP 28 to maintain a smooth and safe operation in the event with the presence of great leaders. 

For that, there will be strict security and they will monitor all the entries. Just like Expo 202, there will be three entry gates at the areas. The blue zone, managed by the UNFCCC, is restricted to accredited observers, heads of state, and the media. The green gate managed by the COP 28 UAE presidency, is open to the public. 

The venues for COP 28 were handed over to the OSECC team on September 11, which stands for the Office of the UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, which will be responsible for managing the event.

In that spacious Dubai Exhibition and Convention Centre will be a Central Cop 28 venue and for the blue zone delegates, it is restricted. 

Places like The Rove Hotel, some areas near the Expo’s Mobility site, and the section of the opportunity site also come under the blue zone.

The other places like the dome-shaped AI Wasl Plaza, Surreal, a dramatic waterfall built for Expo 202, and some domes such as the Falcon winged UAE structure are open to all, it is considered as a green zone. 

The UAE pavilion will be given different names and double as a culture, during COP 28. 

For the public and the green zone, they have allotted places like Tera, or the disc-shaped sustainability pavilion, and Alif, the stainless steel ribbed mobility pavilion. They will use a few other structures in the Expo for the COP 28 events.

From November 18- November 29, places for public access like Tera, Allif, vision the Women’s Pavilion, stories of Nations, and Latifa’s playground will be closed to make changes for COP.

The place Rashid’s Playground will shut down from October 1 until Mid- December and it will not be accessible during the summit. Within the blue zone, new pop-up structures are being built for the COP 28 country pavilion. 

The Traditional Design 

There will be two access points to the COP28 delicates, where they can move between the blue and green zones. To showcase the country’s history, the planners have worked with the Salman Bint Hamdan AL Nahyan Foundation.  

Arish Architecture dates back 7,000 years to when dried palm leaves and ropes from trunk fibres were used to build houses, roofs, and scenes.

Ms. Mheiri said that the inner edges are very pretty, and hoarded with beautiful designs and key messages about Emirate heritage. They are using the dried palm leaves for decorating the inner side of the roofs and all.

“Impressions do matter and we want every visitor – it does not matter if it is a blue zone delegate, someone from the general public, or a 10-year-old child – everyone must have an enjoyable and memorable experience,” said Ms Mheiri.

For Parkings

They are planning to arrange the parking area near the arrival plazas. The older people who are visiting with their families in the green zones can have buggies near the entrance. In that place, you can have pushchairs and wheelchairs also.

They are requesting the organisers to have a metro to reach the site.

She expressed all her excitement and the work she made for the transition day and night was so impressive.

“It’s a great honour to work on such a project and for Expo City Dubai to be the venue for Cop28, which is an international milestone moment for the world,”  said Ms Mheiri.