Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan hold talks at the UAE pavilion. WAM

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured the venue of Expo 2020, which began in Dubai on Friday. Sheikh Mohammed visited the pavilions of the UAE, US, China and Kazakhstan on the first day of the six-month global mega event that will end on March 31, 2022.

Sheikh Mohammed started his Expo 2020 tour by visiting the UAE pavilion.

He expressed his appreciation for the iconic architectural design of the UAE pavilion that evokes wings of a flying falcon and tells the story of the UAE as a global hub, and the vision of its leaders to create a peaceful and progressive society with ambitious plans for the future.

“Following in the footsteps of our founding fathers, we are determined to take our nation to higher levels of achievement and excellence,” he said

Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai received the Dubai Ruler at the UAE Pavilion.

He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of all the people who were involved in the construction of the pavilion.

A view of the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Created to showcase both the rich heritage and bright future of the UAE, the pavilion's four floors cover an area of over 15,000 square meters.

The design of the pavilion also evokes the pioneering spirit and the power of connections that transformed the UAE from a collection of small desert communities into a global hub for business and culture.

Presenting an immersive experience that evokes a range of emotions, the 60-minute tour of the pavilion tells the visitor the unique history and future aspirations of the UAE.

Built with sustainability in mind, the pavilion uses sustainable elements such as photovoltaic (PV) panels that were produced in the United Arab Emirates integrated into the roof frame, giving life to the whole building with the opening of the wings. 

A bird’s-eye view of the UAE pavilion.

The UAE pavilion has been designed with the safety of visitors in mind.

The pavilion is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the last visit starting at 8:30 p.m.

School visits to the pavilion take place during the week from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Speaking on the importance of Expo 2020 Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed said, "Bringing together participants from 192 countries, Expo 2020 paves the way for a new united approach to overcome one of the most difficult periods in the history of the planet and to chart a new path of sustainable development. Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates can serve as a catalyst for the emergence of a new interconnected world where nations come together in a spirit of partnership and cooperation to create a glorious future for humanity.”