The digital network created by Siemens has laid the foundation for a smart district to follow the mega event.

Having highs speed connectivity without any glitches throughout the pandemic enabled Emiratis to work, learn and pay bills despite a lockdown, while authorities used the digital infrastructure to monitor infections as well as patients via telemedicine. The innovation scaled up to fight the crisis, also accelerated UAE's journey towards a tech savvy future, which the country had been promising with visions for smart cities.

From robots to flying cars, Dubai's aspirations of integrating smart tools to emerge as a future ready city, made it a preferred site to host Expo 2020, where inventors and innovators have found a platform. But even after the event ends next year, most of the tech for it will be used as a foundation for a smart district, since the infrastructure is connected through a mind of its own.

Crafted by global tech major Siemens, the system called a MindSphere, connects more than 130 buildings in the Expo site with each other, so that AI can ease the pressure on site managers. Services to guide the visitors, ensure their safety and manage transportation as well as deliveries, will also be linked to the network to ensure smooth functioning of mechanisms at the event.

Once the six month tech fiesta ends, 80% of its intelligent infrastructure will be retained, to make way for a new urban space called District 2020. Solutions based on internet of things assembled in this one realm, will also boost sustainability, by saving water, cutting down emissions and regulating energy consumption, via tools developed for the Expo.

Dubai already has set the bar high with smart metres, systems to optimise water conservation and AI integrated into public services as well as security. The city connected by MindSphere will only be a significantly upgraded version of these solutions that Dubai is developing.

Local bodies including the RTA and Dubai police are also making the most of AI, cloud as well as drone tech, to manage traffic alongside public safety at the mega event. All this makes it a model for smart cities that'll come up across the region in the near future.