--- title: "Expo City Dubai" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/expo-city-dubai markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/developers/expo-city-dubai.md type: developer description: "The government-owned master developer turning the Expo 2020 site into a 3.5 sq km district, selling its own apartments and villas since 2023." last_verified: 2026-11-12 sources: 7 publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)" language: en-GB usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting." --- # Expo City Dubai: developer profile > The government-owned master developer turning the Expo 2020 site into a 3.5 sq km district, selling its own apartments and villas since 2023. Facts last verified 12 November 2026 against the sources listed at the end. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Legal name | Expo City Dubai Authority | | Founded | 2022 | | Headquarters | Expo City Dubai, Dubai | | Ownership | Public authority wholly owned by the Government of Dubai, established by Dubai Law No. 14 of 2022 | | Website | https://www.expocitydubai.com | | Market segment | premium | | Builds in | Dubai | | Developments covered | 0 | | Master plan area | 3.5 sq km | | Planned residents | 35,000+ | | First freehold sales | March 2023 | ## Overview Expo City Dubai is both a place and a developer. The Expo City Dubai Authority was created by a Dubai law issued on 7 July 2022 to take over the Expo 2020 site, and the law makes it a public authority wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. It decides land use, licenses construction and can own, sell and lease property inside its boundaries. That makes it unusual among the names on this site: it is the regulator of the district as well as the seller of homes in it. The first phase of the legacy district was rental only. Freehold sales began in March 2023 with two clusters: Expo Valley, a low-rise villa and townhouse community beside the main site, and Mangrove Residences, three apartment buildings facing Al Wasl Plaza. Sky Residences followed, then Sidr Residences in November 2024, and the authority's website now also lists Al Waha Residences and Expo Valley Views. In October 2024 the Ruler of Dubai approved a wider master plan covering 3.5 sq km in five districts, intended to house more than 35,000 residents and 40,000 workers, with an enlarged Dubai Exhibition Centre at its core. The authority builds some projects itself and brings in partners for others. In October 2024 it formed a joint venture with [Aldar](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/aldar) for a AED 1.75 billion mixed-use scheme of six buildings beside the exhibition centre. Buyers should check, project by project, whether the seller is the authority or a joint-venture company. On delivery, the record is short. In August 2024 the authority's delivery chief told The National that 2026 would be "the handover year": Mangrove Residences (450 units, sold out) in the first quarter, Expo Valley (532 homes) between the first and third quarters, and Sky Residences (about 420 apartments) by the third quarter. As of November 2026 we could not find a public announcement confirming those handovers, and the project pages on its website do not state completion status. Sidr Residences was launched with move-in targeted for 2027. Payment plan terms are not published on the pages we reviewed, so ask the sales centre for the current schedule in writing. ## Strengths - Wholly owned by the Government of Dubai under its own law, which removes most of the counterparty risk that comes with a small private developer. - It is selling into a district that already exists: the Expo 2020 metro station, Al Wasl Plaza, Terra and the Dubai Exhibition Centre are built and operating. - Early releases sold through: Mangrove Residences and the Expo Valley villas were reported sold out by August 2024. - The October 2024 master plan and the exhibition centre expansion give the area a funded, government-led programme rather than a single-developer promise. ## Considerations for buyers - No completed for-sale homes that we could verify. First handovers were targeted for 2026, and as of November 2026 we found no public confirmation that owners have moved in. Ask for the completion status of the specific building before committing. - The authority is developer, landlord and regulator of the district at once. That is efficient, but a buyer in dispute has fewer independent parties to turn to than in a typical Dubai community. - The 35,000-resident plan will take many years to build out, so early buyers should expect construction around them and a neighbourhood whose shops and schools arrive in stages. - The location is far south, next to Dubai South and Al Maktoum International Airport. It suits people who work in that corridor more than those who need Downtown or DIFC daily. - Service charges and payment plan terms are not published on the project pages we reviewed. Get both in writing. ## Questions and answers ### Who owns Expo City Dubai? The Expo City Dubai Authority, a public authority wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. It was established by Dubai Law No. 14 of 2022, issued on 7 July 2022, to manage and develop the former Expo 2020 site. ### Has Expo City Dubai handed over any homes yet? The authority said in August 2024 that Mangrove Residences, Expo Valley and Sky Residences would all be handed over during 2026. As of November 2026 we could not find a public announcement confirming completion, so treat the status of each building as something to verify directly with the sales centre. ### Can foreigners buy property in Expo City Dubai? Yes. The clusters sold since March 2023 were launched as freehold, which in Dubai means foreign nationals can own outright. Confirm the tenure stated in the sale and purchase agreement for the specific unit. ### Does Expo City Dubai build everything in the district itself? No. It sells its own projects, such as Expo Valley, Mangrove, Sky and Sidr Residences, and also works with partners. A joint venture with Aldar, announced in October 2024, is developing a AED 1.75 billion mixed-use scheme beside the Dubai Exhibition Centre. ## Sources Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 12 November 2026. - [Dubai Law No. 14 of 2022 establishing Expo City Dubai (Dubai legislation portal)](https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2022/Law%20No.%20(14)%20of%202022%20Establishing%20Expo%20City%20Dubai.html) - [The National: Sheikh Mohammed unveils new master plan for Expo City Dubai (3 October 2024)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/10/03/sheikh-mohammed-unveils-new-master-plan-for-expo-city-dubai) - [The National: Dubai laying foundations to build Expo site into 15-minute city (9 August 2024)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/08/09/dubai-laying-foundations-to-build-expo-site-into-uaes-first-15-minute-city) - [Gulf News: Expo City Dubai launches first off-plan projects (14 March 2023)](https://gulfnews.com/business/property/expo-city-dubai-launches-first-offplan-projects-with-prices-from-dh12m-1.94459898) - [Construction Business News ME: Sidr Residences launch (6 November 2024)](https://cbnme.com/?p=43229) - [The National: Aldar partners with Expo City Dubai (10 October 2024)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/property/2024/10/10/aldar-partners-with-expo-city-dubai-for-476m-mixed-use-development/) - [Expo City Dubai official website](https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/) --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/expo-city-dubai. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.