Dubai Highlights Urban Transformation with Pavilion at 2025APCS

Dubai, UAE – October 28, 2025: At the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit (2025APCS) and Mayors’ Forum, the Government of Dubai launched an immersive pavilion that maps the emirate’s rise from a regional trading port to a foremost global city.

Located in Expo City Dubai, the Government of Dubai Pavilion offers a narrative-driven experience. Through a 3D interactive installation, attendees can follow key moments in Dubai’s development — from expansion along Dubai Creek and the emergence of Jebel Ali Port to the global connectivity established by Dubai International Airport and the creation of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

This edition of the Asia Pacific Cities Summit is the first to be hosted in the Middle East. Over 350 cities are represented, including some 150 mayors and roughly 200 city officials gathering in Dubai to exchange views on urban innovation, sustainability and smart city strategies.

Central to the pavilion is a luminous 3D map that charts Dubai’s physical and strategic milestones. The display highlights signatures of the skyline and infrastructure such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the Museum of the Future, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and Expo City Dubai, illustrating the emirate’s commitment to innovation and green growth.

The exhibition also presents the forward-looking framework of Dubai Plan 2033, which aligns the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Together these plans set a course for balanced economic growth, social welfare and environmental responsibility.

Interactive exhibits show measurable outcomes of Dubai’s governance: 99.5% digitalisation of public services, an airport that processes more than 92 million passengers a year, and a metro system serving over two million journeys daily — all underscoring efficiency and connectivity.

The pavilion is shaped around a guiding quote from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: “I sought to paint only one living masterpiece: Dubai.” Its narrative is structured around six pillars — City of Safety, Ambition, Quality Living, Culture, Efficiency and Opportunities — which frame the city’s approach to inclusive, sustainable development.

As international delegates tour the pavilion, Dubai is emphasising that its progress extends beyond infrastructure and technology to include policies that aim to improve quality of life and create shared opportunities.