Page 342 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

Aiming to yield significant reductions in carbon emissions and waste, the Green Innovation District

caters to businesses involved in the circular economy, urban farming or offering sustainable
products and services. It will offer flexible office, retail and F&B space as well as a number of light
industrial unit and farm plots.

As part of its free zone – which was awarded fDi Intelligence’s global “rising star” free zone for 2025
– Expo City will launch UAE’s first Green Licence aimed at attracting entities committed to

environmental and social sustainability. Offering a host of incentives to enable companies to set
up and operate seamlessly, the licence will encourage innovation and support green business

growth. In addition, the Ministry of Economy will set up an IP Office at Expo City Dubai to encourage
research and development. Both initiatives are designed to increase the UAE’s competitiveness in

attracting innovators and advance sustainable practices.

Expo City, designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban development, builds on its legacy as the
home of Expo 2020 Dubai and COP28 to create a hub for sustainability pioneers and a driver of

meaningful partnerships and initiatives.

Its master plan is pre-certified Platinum – the highest possible rating – in LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) Cities and Communities standard, while LEED Gold will

continue to be a minimum requirement for all buildings. The plan has also achieved pre-
certification for WELL Community – a standard that emphasises health and wellbeing – and is

targeting WELL Gold. Having already achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM Infrastructure
across eight existing projects, the city is aiming to reach this rating for all infrastructure and public

realm projects.

As a go-to destination for globally significant events, Expo City boasts multiple ISO 20121:2024-
certified indoor and outdoor venues, demonstrating its eco-credentials for the planned ‘Green

Investopia’ conference in 2026 – an event dedicated to exploring key trends in green investing and

attract investment to the UAE. An off-shoot of the Investopia series of conferences organised by the
Ministry, this will further strengthen Expo City’s position as a convening hub.
Terra – a LEED Platinum-certified building, designed to be net zero for both energy and water –

exemplifies best practice in sustainable building design and is Expo City’s hub for biodiversity and

https://www.gulfgoodnews.com/uae-launches-green-innovation-district-expo-city-dubai