Leveraging the Touristic and Urban Development Legacies of Expo 2020 Dubai for Strategic Planning of Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2024-09-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cardiff University
Abstract
This dissertation critically examines the tourism and developmental impacts of Expo 2020
Dubai to inform strategic planning for Expo 2030 in Saudi Arabia. Focusing on economic
growth, infrastructure development, sustainability initiatives, and social and cultural
legacies, the study aims to explore how mega-events like World Expos can serve as
catalysts for long-term urban transformation and economic diversification. Using a
qualitative research design centered on document analysis, the dissertation assesses both
the direct and indirect benefits of Expo 2020 Dubai, including enhanced international
visibility, improved local industries, and sustainable urban development. Additionally, the
study explores the transferability of successful strategies from Expo 2020 to Expo 2030,
considering the unique socio-economic, cultural, and environmental context of Saudi
Arabia. Findings reveal that while Expo 2020 achieved notable successes in areas such as
sustainable infrastructure, tourism growth, and community engagement, the equitable
distribution of these benefits remains a challenge. This research contributes to the broader
academic discourse on the role of mega-events in urban development, offering strategic
recommendations for policymakers to maximize the economic, touristic, and
developmental outcomes for Expo 2030. The dissertation emphasizes the need for a
balanced approach that integrates sustainable practices, cultural considerations, and
economic goals to ensure that Expo 2030 serves as a lasting catalyst for positive change in
Saudi Arabia.
Description
The main goal of this research is to thoroughly analyze the tourism and development impacts of Expo
2020 Dubai and apply these findings to improve the planning and execution of Expo 2030 in Saudi Arabia.
This study will identify and evaluate the effective strategies and innovations used during Expo 2020,
explore their potential for adaptation within the Saudi context, and suggest modifications to optimize
outcomes for the upcoming Expo 2030, contributing to its anticipated success and sustainability.
The research objectives are structured to provide a comprehensive framework:
• To synthesize existing resources on the impacts of World Expos, particularly focusing on tourism and
urban development as demonstrated by Expo 2020 Dubai. This includes reviewing academic articles,
industry reports, and case studies that document the outcomes and strategic implementations facilitating
urban transformation and tourism enhancement.
• To evaluate the long-term touristic and developmental legacies of Expo 2020, analyzing how these
initiatives have transformed Dubai’s urban landscape and tourism sector. This objective aims to assess the
direct and indirect benefits of the Expo, such as infrastructure improvements, increased international
visibility, and the enhancement of local industries.
• To explore the potential for transferring successful strategies from Expo 2020 to Expo 2030, considering
the unique socio-economic, cultural, and environmental context of Saudi Arabia. This analysis focuses on
identifying sustainable and adaptable strategies that can be customized to meet Saudi Arabia’s specific
needs and goals as it prepares to host Expo 2030.
• To propose strategic recommendations for stakeholders of Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia, aimed at maximizing
the economic, touristic, and developmental benefits of hosting the Expo. These recommendations will
4
guide policy-making, urban planning efforts, and ensure that the event serves as a catalyst for long-term
benefits in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords
Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia, Expo 2020 Dubai, Strategic Planning of Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia
Citation
Alharbi, H.A. 2024. Urban development in Riyadh: Aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 for enhanced quality of life. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International 28(4), pp. 53–66. Al-Shihabi, S. et al. 2023. Sustainable Technologies, mega-events, and environmental awareness lessons from Expo 2020 Dubai. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 5. Bala, M. 2024. Beyond the dunes: Impact of urbanization and tourism on Dubai’s landscapes and consumer behaviors. Revista Review Index Journal of Multidisciplinary 4(2), pp. 17–26. Bandauko, E. and Nutifafa Arku, R. 2022. A critical analysis of ‘smart cities’ as an urban development strategy in Africa. International Planning Studies 28(1), pp. 69–86. Bariş, M.E. and Kaygusiz, S.Z. 2023. Sustainable Landscape Planning Approach in urban identity protection. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International 45(10), pp. 305–316. Barrios, C.B., Higham, J.E.S., and Collins, A., 2016. The economic benefits of mega-events: A critical analysis of underlying assumptions. Event Management, 20(2), pp.231-246. Baxter, P. and Jack, S., 2008. Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), pp.544-559. Available at: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR13-4/baxter.pdf [Accessed 9 August 2024]. Bleibleh, S., Hassan, B., Mousa, A. and Alneyadi, R., 2024. Dubai World Expo 2020: A Youth-Centric Analysis of Mega Events and their Preliminary Influence on Sustainable Development. In: F. Alberti, P. Gallo, A.R. Matamanda, and E.J. Strauss, eds. Resilient Planning and Design for Sustainable Cities. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Cham: Springer Nature, pp. 51-70. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47794-2 Bob, U. and Potgieter, C., 2013. Mega-events and tourism impacts: The 2010 FIFA World Cup. Development Southern Africa, 30(2), pp.236-252. Bowen, G.A. 2009. Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal 9(2), pp. 27–40. Braun, V. and Clarke, V., 2006. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp.77-101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa. 71 Cavallin Toscani, A. et al. 2024. Environmental sustainability in the event industry: A systematic review and a research agenda. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp. 1–35. Cavendish Maxwell, 2023. Dubai Hospitality Market Report Q1 2023: Market Trends and Analysis. Available at: https://www.cavendishmaxwell.com [Accessed 1 September 2024]. Chen, Y. (2020) Not just “Better City, Better Life”: Creating a sustainable urban legacy beyond World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Delft: Delft University of Technology. Available at: https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/focus/entry/not-just-better-city-better-life (Accessed: 6 July 2024). Clark, J. et al. 2016. Spatial scale, time and process in mega-events: The complexity of host community perspectives on Neighbourhood Change. Cities 53, pp. 87–97. Coakley, J. and Souza, D.L. 2013. Sport mega-events: Can legacies and development be equitable and sustainable? Motriz: Revista de Educação Física 19(3), pp. 580–589. Coakley, J.J. and Souza, D.L., 2013. Sport mega-events: Can legacies and development be equitable and sustainable? Motriz: Revista de Educação Física, 19(3), pp. 580-589. Cugurullo, F. 2020. Urban Artificial Intelligence: From automation to autonomy in the smart city. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 2. Degen, M. and García, M., 2012. The transformation of the ‘Barcelona model’: an analysis of culture, urban regeneration and governance. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 36(5), pp.1022-1038. Di Vita, S. and Morandi, C. 2018. Mega-events and legacies in Post-Metropolitan Spaces. Drisko, J. and Maschi, T., 2015. Content Analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central [Accessed 9 August 2024]. Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). 2021. Dubai Tourism Annual Visitor Report 2020. Ernst and Young LLP. 2021. Economic, Social, and Environmental Impact of Expo 2020 Dubai. Essex, S. and Chalkley, B. 1998a. Olympic Games: Catalyst of Urban Change. Leisure Studies 17(3), pp. 187–206. 72 Expo 2020 Dubai. 2020. Expo 2020 Dubai Sustainability Report 2020: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. Expo Milano 2015 Official Report, 2018. The impact of Expo Milano 2015 on Italy's economy. Milan: Expo 2015 S.p.A. Fereday, J. and Muir-Cochrane, E., 2006. Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), pp.80-92. doi:10.1177/160940690600500107. Ferris, S.P. et al. 2022. The effects of hosting mega sporting events on local stock markets and sustainable growth. Sustainability 15(1), p. 363. Flyvbjerg, B. and Stewart, A. 2012. Olympic proportions: Cost and cost overrun at the Olympics 1960-2012. SSRN Electronic Journal. George, A.L. and Bennett, A., 2005. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Giannakopoulou, M. 2020. Olympic gigantism and the multifaceted concept of sports venues. Cultural and Tourism Innovation in the Digital Era, pp. 111–121. Gogishvili, D. 2021. Urban Infrastructure in the framework of mega-event exceptionalism: Glasgow and the 2014 commonwealth games. Urban Geography 43(4), pp. 589–612. Gunter, A. 2014. Mega events as a pretext for infrastructural development: The case of the all african games athletes village, Alexandra, Johannesburg. Bulletin of Geography. Socio economic Series 23(23), pp. 39–52. Haddad, E. A. and Haddad, P. R., 2010. Major sport events and regional development: the case of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 2(1), pp. 79 95. Hakimzadeh, A. et al. 2020. Analysis of milestones and achievements to increase sustainability at Expo 2020. Tourism and Sustainable Development Review 1(1), pp. 1–5. Harvey, D. 1989. The urban experience. Higgins-Desbiolles, F. 2020. Socialising tourism for social and ecological justice after covid 19. Tourism Geographies 22(3), pp. 610–623. 73 Horne, J. and Manzenreiter, W. 2006. An introduction to the sociology of sports mega events. The Sociological Review 54(2_suppl), pp. 1–24. Junaid, I. and d’Hauteserre, A.-M. 2017. Collaborative schemes for anticipating negative impacts of the tourists’ visit. Tourism and hospitality management 23(2), pp. 279–294. Keating, M., 1991. Bad sports. Geographical Magazine, 63(12), pp. 26-29. Kennelly, J. and Watt, P., 2012. Seeing Olympic effects through the eyes of marginally housed youth: changing places and the gentrification of East London. Visual Studies, 27(2), pp.151-160. Kovačević, I. et al. 2024. World Exhibition (EXPO) as a nation branding and Soft Power Platform: The case of Serbia’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai. Ekonomika preduzeca 72(3–4), pp. 245–252. Krippendorff, K. 2019. Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Lauermann, J. 2015. Temporary projects, durable outcomes: Urban development through failed olympic bids? Urban Studies 53(9), pp. 1885–1901. Lee Ludvigsen, J.A. et al. 2022. The sport mega-events of the 2020s: Governance, impacts and controversies. Sport in Society 25(4), pp. 705–711. Li, L. 2018. Urban Planning and Mega-Event Projects: Lessons from Expo 2010, Shanghai. An Overview of Urban and Regional Planning. Malfas, M. et al. 2004. Impacts of the Olympic Games as mega-events. Municipal Engineer 157(3), pp. 209–220. Matheson, V.A. et al. 2018. Corruption in the bidding, construction and organisation of mega-events: An analysis of the Olympics and World Cup. The Palgrave Handbook on the Economics of Manipulation in Sport, pp. 257–278. Meijer, A. and Bolívar, M.P. 2015. Governing the smart city: A review of the literature on Smart Urban Governance. International Review of Administrative Sciences 82(2), pp. 392 408. Mohanty, P., Singhania, O., and Hasana, U., 2020. Mega-Events Tourism and Sustainability: A Critique. In: S. Arora and A. Sharma, eds. Event Tourism in Asian Countries: Challenges 74 and Prospects. 1st ed. Apple Academic Press. Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3870432 [Accessed 1 September 2024] Morgan, H. 2022. Conducting a qualitative document analysis. The Qualitative Report. Müller, M., 2015. The mega-event syndrome: Why so much goes wrong in mega-event planning and what to do about it. Journal of the American Planning Association, 81(1), pp.6 17. Musa, W., 2017. The impact of smart city initiatives on cities’ local economic development. Master's Thesis. Fort Hays State University. Available at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/501 [Accessed 4 September 2024] O'Leary, Z., 2014. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. 2nd ed. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. Pereira, R.H.M. 2018. Transport legacy of mega-events and the redistribution of accessibility to urban destinations. Cities 81, pp. 45–60. Prasser, S. 2007. Overcoming the ‘white elephant’ syndrome in big and iconic projects in the public and private sectors. Improving Implementation: Organisational Change and Project Management. Qu, Y. 2011. Research of Economic Growth Model of shanghai world expo Ribeiro, L.C. de Q. and Bignami, F. (eds) (2020) The Legacy of Mega Events: Urban Transformations and Citizenship in Rio de Janeiro. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Ribeiro, L.C. de Q. and Bignami, F., eds., 2020. The Legacy of Mega Events: Urban Transformations and Citizenship in Rio de Janeiro. Latin American Studies Book Series. Cham: Springer Nature. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55053-0 Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), 2016. Al Masar: The Official Monthly Magazine of Dubai’s RTA. Issue No. 98, August 2016. Dubai: Roads and Transport Authority. Roche, M. 2000. Mega-events modernity olympics and expos in the growth of global culture. London: Routledge. Sainaghi, R. et al. 2019. Mega events and seasonality: The case of the milan world expo 2015. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management 31(1), pp. 61–86. 75 Sánchez, F. and Broudehoux, A.-M. 2013. Mega-events and urban regeneration in Rio de Janeiro: Planning in a state of emergency. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 5(2), pp. 132–153. Sengupta, Ushnish and Sengupta, Ulysses 2022. Why government supported Smart City Initiatives Fail: Examining Community Risk and benefit agreements as a missing link to accountability for equity-seeking groups. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 4. Stewart, A. and Rayner, S., 2016. Planning mega-event legacies: uncomfortable knowledge for host cities. Planning Perspectives, 31(2), pp.157-179. Tachouali, D., 2016. Developing Strategies to Avoid Post-Expo Slump for Sustainable Urban Planning in Dubai. MSc Dissertation. The British University in Dubai. Weaver, R., Fredline, L., and Robinson, P., 2021. A framework for sustainable mega-event planning: Balancing public and private interests. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(5), pp.839-858. Xia, L. et al. 2023. A thorough examination of Smart City Applications: Exploring Challenges and solutions throughout the life cycle with emphasis on safeguarding citizen privacy. Sustainable Cities and Society 98, p. 104771. Yasmin, T. et al. 2022. ‘Expo city dubai’: A convergence of smart touristic and residential experience. 2022 9th International Conference on Internet of Things: Systems, Management and Security (IOTSMS). Yehia, E.F. 2024. Riyadh&Amp;#8217;S renaissance: Expo 2030 as a springboard for Intercultural Understanding, Tourism Revival, and Sustainable Solutions. Open Journal of Business and Management 12(03), pp. 1516–1535. Yin, R.K., 2003. Case Study Research: Design and Methods. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Zhang, H. 2023. Study on the economic and social impacts of using mega-events for urban regeneration. Communications in Humanities Research 23(1), pp. 163–169. Zheng, S. and Kahn, M.E., 2013. Understanding China’s urban pollution dynamics. Journal of Economic Literature, 51(3), pp.731-772.