In July 2015, a global competition was launched by Emaar Properties on behalf of Expo 2020 to create designs for three theme pavilions of opportunity, mobility and sustainability. To win, each of these constructions would have to be sustainable, durable and flexible enough to fully function even after the event has concluded in 2021. Thirteen of the world's leading architectural firms took part, three of them won.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo Higher Committee and Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline, in partnership with leading property developer Emaar, have revealed the winners on 21 March, with the Chairman stating that "the competition attracted a truly stellar line up of architectural firms that each put forward designs that impressed all those involved in the selection process. After careful study and consideration, three designs stood out, amidst tough competition, as great future structures that will mark our Expo as exceptional."

The winning design for the Opportunity Pavilion was submitted by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), a Copenhagen and New York based group of architects, designers, builders and thinkers operating within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research and development. They are known for being comissioned by Google to work on the Google North Bayshore project and for revitalizing the Lower Manhattan with various projects, including 2 World Trade Center tower.

The winning proposal for the Mobility Pavilion was submitted by the world-renowned, London-based Foster + Partners, known for designing Dubai's The Index building, among many other projects.

The winning design for the Sustainability Pavilion was submitted by Grimshaw Architects, the London-based firm 'responsible' for the bubble-shaped ecological park called the Eden Project.

Back in November 2013, the United Arab Emirates won the right to host the World Expo in Dubai in 2020, marking the first time (since the first Great Fair in 1851) that the World Expo is staged in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Running from 20 October 2020 through 10 April 2021, over 25 million visits are expected with 70 percent of visitors coming from abroad.