Impact at the Intersection of Innovation and Imagination

Since opening its doors in October 2021, EXPO 2020 Dubai has welcomed over 8 million visitors making it one of the most substantial gatherings since the COVID-19 pandemic began. By December 27, 2021, the virtual attendance of EXPO was up to a staggering 37 million visits. While the event might end in March, the lasting effects of EXPO 2020 Dubai will be felt in the UAE for years to come; with a heavy emphasis on technology and innovation as a vehicle to powering a brighter future.

In person attendees are being indulged in a world-class experience that includes music, sporting events, business conferences, family-friendly entertainment and more. With three distinct districts – Sustainability, Opportunity and Mobility – visitors are able to fully immerse themselves in the latest innovations. From mega concert stages and self-driving robot food deliveries to a solar-powered home featuring a drone-delivery hatch and a weight-measuring bathroom floor, guests are being treated to one of the most exciting and inspiring events the world has ever seen.

With 192 countries taking part, the infrastructure that brings the EXPO together is vast and impressive. “What makes EXPO special is the opportunity it provides for innovation, something that has underpinned the UAE since its inception,” says CG Tech Chairman Niall Carroll.

CG Tech is a technology services group with global interests in a variety of industries. The group’s modus operandi involves investing in traditional industries and infusing them with disruptive technologies, such as VR, AR and drones, to power new and exciting opportunities. One CG Tech subsidiary, Al Laith, was contracted by the Government of Dubai to build multiple stages for EXPO 2020 Dubai.

With over 25 years’ experience in construction, Al Laith is proving their knowledge and expertise in the industry goes much further than their traditional business of project services and equipment rental. Focussing on the latest in technological advances, Al Laith is fast becoming the partner of choice for projects that require high specifications and rapid build capabilities. Beyond the success of the two marquee stages at EXPO, the company was also responsible for building a number of field hospitals for the UAE government which proved crucial in managing the nation’s response to the pandemic.

But what could possibly be new and exciting in the world of big structures? Niall Carroll laughs, responding, “Many people find it a challenge to see what’s new in building structures. While it might not be as exciting as the metaverse, which is something one of our other companies is operating in, there’s plenty of room for value and innovation in this industry,” explains Carroll.

Whether it’s through the use of digital animation technology to help improve rapid construction capabilities, or using the Internet of Things (IoT) to give clients analytics on a project, Al Laith is using technology in a way that challenges the status quo.

And it’s not just construction or live events that are benefitting from this technology-driven approach. Serious International is another CG Tech company using innovation to transform the entertainment industry. Through a combination of culture and technology, the company is a leader in the provision of fast-build, demountable sound stages, workshops, stunt stages and green screens to clients such as Disney and Warner Brothers.

These and many more innovations are currently being touted at EXPO 2020 Dubai. While it is exciting to be there in-person or virtually, the impact of this event is so much bigger and will be felt much longer than its 6-month run.

“The experience of EXPO is amazing, but it is only a small part of everything else that is happening,” says Niall Carroll. “For visitors, Expo is over in March but for us it’s a multi-year project and the benefits of it will be felt for years to come.”

The future Carroll alludes to can already be seen playing out in the region. Recently, the UAE government announced their plans to draw $150 billion in foreign investment, from countries like South Korea, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Turkey, over the next nine years. It’s a move ministers hope will help to reposition the UAE as a global hub for business and finance in the Middle East.

“There will be huge possibilities for cooperation between the UAE and those countries to boost trade, grow cross-border investments and support local economies,” Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications told the media at the time.

When EXPO officially ends in March, the area will evolve into District 2020, billed “as a smart and sustainable city centered on the needs of its urban community.” With a plan to repurpose 80 percent of the EXPO build environment, developers are hoping to create an integrated mixed-use community that values a more balanced way of life. One that will continue to attract businesses and people in a way that embraces technology and inspires new ideas.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes