Dubai: An Abu Dhabi-based contractor will provide steel work for the intricate domed trellis of Expo 2020 Dubai’s central Al Wasl Plaza, it was announced on Sunday.
Steel work produced by the UAE-Italian joint venture Cimolai Rimond Middle East General Contracting will provide the trellis structure for the 67.5-metre tall, 130-metre wide dome that will feature at the heart of the Expo site.
When finished, the structure will include 13,600 metres of intricate steel work and weigh 2,265 tonnes, equivalent to 500 elephants, with an enclosed space of 724,000 cubic metres — the same volume as 290 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to a statement from Expo 2020.
The monetary value of the contract is not being disclosed. The construction contract for the iconic central hub will follow in the first quarter of 2018.
Al Wasl Plaza will be a central space of the 4.38-square kilometre site. The dome will incorporate a projection experience that, according to the event’s organisers, can be viewed from the sky above.
Ahmad Al Khatib, vice-president of Real Estate and Delivery at Expo 2020 Dubai, said in a separate statement that “Al Wasl Plaza will be an iconic central point of Expo 2020 Dubai. We are glad to be working with Cimolai Rimond Middle East, which has a strong track record, including working on the UAE National Pavilion at the 2015 World Expo in Milan.”
UAE-based companies are playing a leading role in the construction effort, including Al-Futtaim Carillion, Khansaheb, Besix, Arabtec and Tristar Engineering, as well as early works completed by Al Naboodah Construction.
“This is the latest construction contract to be awarded this year. Work on Expo 2020 is well on track and we are making great progress. We will be awarding the final construction contract for Al Wasl Plaza in the first quarter of next year,” Al Khatib added.
