Dear Tunza Friends,

It is a matter of pride and esteem for all of us here in UAE( and those who are someway connected to UAE ) that Dubai , UAE has won to host Expo 2020. More important and interesting is that even for Expo 2020 , Dubai has kept environment and sustainability in mind and  has chosen the below 3 sub themes which are so much apt for today :

Sustainability - lasting sources of energy and water

Mobility - smart systems of logistics and transportation

Opportunity - new paths to economic development

Dubai has a long history of facilitating connections and pioneering new ideas and Dubai Expo 2020 would be no different, with a predicted 70 per cent of the expected 25 million visitors originating from outside the host nation, making it the most international event in the history of Expo. It would therefore provide a unique platform for the global community to come together and explore creative and pioneering solutions to the above three subthemes of Dubai Expo 2020 which have been identified as key drivers of global development.

The win with the above sub themes has shown that  Dubai strives constantly to be one of the best cities in the world.

Dubai Expo2020 team is working on the three Expo themes rather than just talking about it like there are projects in sustainability in energy , sustainable energy policy is put in place and this includes renewable, nuclear and natural gas. So much awareness is being spread around UAE to be mindful about our energy consumption . There are workshops , Seminars , competitons to encourage people of UAE to think , act and reap the benefits of saving and conserving energy. 

Sustainability in energy & other forms- is one important programme deliverable from Dubai's Expo2020 package . Ministry of Energy , Dubai is working on the sustainability of all energy sources. So by 2020 plan is to have 20 percent of our energy on nuclear 5-7 percent of our electricity from renewable sources & state of the art systems and procedures for the conservation of energy. There are big budgets kept aside for projects on sustainability & renewability.

Another example of UAE's work towards sustainability  is Masdar city in Abu Dhabi , UAE which is a historical initiative for sustainable future.Masdar makes UAE pioneer in renewable energy and sustainable solutions.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi (capital of UAE)Future Energy Company, is a strategic government initiative established in 2006 with a mission to invest, incubate and establish the new energy industry in Abu Dhabi and around the world. Playing an important role in extending Abu Dhabi?s energy leadership beyond hydrocarbons, Masdar has adopted an integrated, holistic business model – merging higher education, research and development, investment and sustainable living.

The latest achievement of Masdar is indicative of its importance in the history of the UAE. A nation that has been known for its oil exports for decades is a pioneer now in renewable energy. Masdar is responsible for delivering nearly 1GW (giga watt) of clean power across the globe in various projects.

Masdar City is an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies established by Masdar. Aspiring to be one of the most sustainable communities on the planet, Masdar City not only embodies Abu Dhabi?s commitment to a sustainable future, it is the place where best practice in sustainable urban planning and development is being developed, tested and deployed. It provides an attractive environment for cleantech firms, academic institutions, research facilities, financial firms and other organisations to collaborate and develop new technologies and solution. Innovations to find sustainable solutions in almost all areas of life are experimented at this low-carbon city Madar.

Masdar City will house the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the first international agency to be headquartered in the Middle East. Masdar?s international wind and solar projects in Spain, the United Kingdom, Mauritania and other countries show its growing acceptance. Masdar is responsible for 12 per cent of installed Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) capacity in the world. Masdar?s projects represent an estimated 68 per cent of the Gulf?s renewable energy capacity.

The low-carbon city is being built on a 600-hectare plot of land close to Abu Dhabi International Airport, around 17km away from downtown Abu Dhabi.

Currently automatic electric cars are running on a fixed route inside the city,  more advanced vehicles can be expected in future. Out of the 3.8 million square metre GFA (gross floor area) of construction in the City, 60 per cent is for residential purposes, 15 per cent commercial, 12 per cent community areas, 11 per cent light industry and research and development and 2 per cent retail.

About 40,000 residents and 50,000 commuters are expected inside the city when completed by 2030.

With a tap on a smartphone a driverless electric car will arrive at a resident?s doorstep and take him or her whereer he or she wants to go inside Masdar City in Abu Dhabi,UAE. This is one of the many modes of sustainable transportation that will be operational in the city when the developments are completed.

The city is powered by an on-site 10 MW (megawatt) solar PV plant and 1MW of rooftop solar panels on the Masdar Institute. The city is currently using just 3-4MW only and the rest goes to the UAE grid.

Notable companies and organisations located in Masdar City include Siemens, General Electric, Global Green Growth Institute, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and Khazna Data Centre Limited.

To support its theme of sustainability, the iconic structure that covers much of the site will have photovoltaic fabric that is planned to generate at least 50 per cent of the Expo?s power on site.

I am looking forward to 2020 when Dubai would showcase first of its kind Expo2020 with so much relevant sub themes.