His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, touredthe venue of Expo 2020, which began in Dubai today. His Highness visited the pavilions of the UAE, USA, China and Kazakhstan on the first day of the six-month mega global event.
Being held for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 houses the pavilions of countries participating in the event as well as those of diverse organisations from across the world. The global showruns for 182 days until 31 March 2022.
Speaking at the beginning of the visit, HH Sheikh Mohammed said that under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the follow up of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the support of Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, the UAE continues to shine asa beacon of peace, progress, and diversity, as envisioned by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.
His Highness was accompanied on the tour by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; andHH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee along with a number of ministers and senior officials of Dubai entities.
HH Sheikh Mohammed began his tour of Expo 2020 by visiting the UAE pavilion. He expressed his appreciation for the iconic architecturaldesign of the UAE pavilionthat evokes the wings of a falcon in flight 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 thefootsteps of our founding fathers, we are determined to lead our nation to greater levels of achievement and excellence. With a clear vision, determination and a steadfast focus on our goals,we are making rapid progress in achieving our aspirations,” His Highness said.
His HighnessSheikh Mohammed was receivedat the Pavilion by Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. During the visit, His Highness expressed his appreciation for the efforts of all the people who were involved in the construction of the pavilion.
Located in the heart of Al Wasl Plaza, the pavilion designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is a symbol of the nation’s bold and daring spirit. Created to highlightboth the UAE’srich heritage and bright future, the pavilion’s four storeys cover an area of more than 15,000 square metres. The design of the pavilion also evokes the pioneering spirit and power of connections that transformed the UAE from a collection of small, desert communitiesinto a global connection point.
Featuring an immersive experience that evokes a range of emotions, the 60-minute tour of the pavilion narrates to 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 have been produced in the UAE integrated into the roof structure, bringing the entire building to life with the opening of the wings.
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