Gulf Construction Online - Saudis unveil design of Expo 2020 pavilion

UAE Focus

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai ... the size of two football pitches.

Saudis unveil design of Expo 2020 pavilion

01 May 2019

Saudi Arabia has unveiled the design of its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion, which will be second in size only to that of the UAE pavilion, covering an area the size of two football pitches.

The distinctive pavilion is said to symbolise the nation’s welcoming character, long heritage and unlimited drive. The facade opens like a large window into the future, soaring into the sky and reflecting a society deeply rooted in its culture with unlimited ambitions, according to the Expo’s organiser.

Balancing the richness of the nation’s history, culture and natural wonders with the boundless energy and creativity of its people, the pavilion will give visitors an immersive experience of the kingdom’s transformation, it said.

“This extraordinary and innovative design perfectly captures the determination of the kingdom to fulfil its promise of being an ambitious nation while conveying a message of dynamism and partnership with the world,” said Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Minister of Economy and Planning and chairman of the supervisory committee for Saudi Arabia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Construction of the pavilion, designed by Boris Micka Associates, began in early February 2019. The structure will be instantly recognisable to visitors to the Expo site and a point of attraction that will spark their interest to explore further.

Meanwhile, China has unveiled the design for its country pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai, which is heavily inspired by the Chinese lantern.

Through its theme of “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind - Innovation and Opportunity”, the China Pavilion will be one of the largest at Expo 2020 Dubai at 4,636 sq m.

The China Pavilion will symbolise hope and a bright future and is designed in line with the principle of “combination of the Chinese and Western culture with Chinese culture as the core”. It will vividly showcase China’s culture and longstanding history by artistically integrating the Chinese elements with modern technologies.

Symbolising brightness, reunion, auspiciousness and happiness, the Chinese lantern aims to display the joint efforts made by all countries to seek sustainable development and build a community with a shared future for mankind via the world expo, said top officials at the launch.

Reflecting China’s endeavours in practising the “Belt and Road” Initiative, the pavilion will mainly showcase the achievements made by China in science and information communication. It will also further advocate jointly practising the “Belt and Road” Initiative and accelerating to build a community with a shared future for mankind from four aspects of “exploration & discovery”, “communication and connection”, “innovation & cooperation” and “opportunity and future”.

According to senior officials, there will be three main unique features of the China Pavilion at Expo 2020, namely innovation in the theme, innovation in architecture design and innovation in exhibition.