TWO leading global consultancies have been appointed to support the development of the masterplan for Dubai World Trade Centre (DTC)-Jebel Ali, the UAE’s proposed site for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a financial and professional services firm specialising in real estate and operating in 1,000 locations across 70 countries, has been mandated to carry out a site analysis and legacy masterplan review. As part of this feasibility study, JLL will develop a long-term land use plan, providing a sustainable development strategy for both the Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali site and surrounding areas.

Mace, a consultancy and construction company with a presence in 69 countries around the world has also been engaged by the Expo 2020 team to assist with cost management and planning, working closely alongside the bid masterplan architects to develop the overall scope of this important project. The appointment of JLL and Mace will complement the skills and expertise of the international architectural and design firms currently working on the site masterplan.

Helal Saeed Al Marri, chief executive officer of the Dubai World Trade Centre and member of the higher committee for hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, said: “As the move demonstrates, we continue to strengthen the team leading the masterplan development of this specialised, highly connected 438-hectare site.”

Dubai is competing against four other candidate cities bidding to host the 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 160 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions, the intergovernmental organisation in charge of overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos.