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Work begins on UAE pavilion for Expo 2020

The ground-breaking ceremony of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 was held on Sunday, marking a major milestone in the country's history to host one of the world's most-recognised exhibitions.
Designed in the shape of a flying falcon, the pavilion covers an area of more than 15,000 square metres. It is made up of four floors with the top storey dedicated for hospitality with an area of 1,717 square metres.
A 588-square-metre mezzanine floor will house support units and the two remaining floors consist of more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space. The entire structure is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, said a press statement on Sunday.
The design's components reflect the values of openness, communication and tolerance, aligning with the main theme of the exhibition, which calls for cooperation with the international community to improve quality of life through sustainable development, the statement said.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, laid the foundations for the UAE pavilion, the statement said.
The ceremony also included the signing of the official agreement for the UAE's participation in the Expo, which was signed by Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC), and Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of the Expo 2020 Office.
"The UAE pavilion will undoubtedly be one of the most prominent attractions of Expo 2020, drawing in many millions to witness its futuristic design. The pavilion will be an architectural marvel that all seven emirates can rightly take pride in, both now at the ground-breaking stage, during Expo, and in legacy when it will become a lasting icon of our nation," said Sheikh Ahmed.
"The UAE Pavilion is a prominent landmark at the Expo 2020 Dubai; it represents the host country and will be the main attraction for millions of visitors from all around the world," said Al Jaber. He said the structure would also introduce visitors to the UAE's ambitious aspirations for the future, all the way till 2071.
Arabtec Construction, a subsidiary of Arabtec Holding, won the pavilion contract after competing against national and international companies.
The NMC approved the design submitted by architect Santiago Calatrava after a seven-month design competition, where nine international architecture firms submitted 11 different concepts.
Entries were evaluated based on strict criteria, including the extent to which they successfully embodied the main theme of the Expo (Connecting Minds, Creating the Future), as well as their representation of the UAE heritage, balancing the country's past and the future.
- waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com