THE ARCHITECTURE

Located at the heart of the nearly 500-acre exhibition area, the UAE Pavilion features 8,000 square meters of exhibition space, where visitors will be immersed in a multi-sensory experience. As a symbol of the UAE’s pioneering and innovative spirit, the sheltering form of the UAE Pavilion’s steel roof, influenced by the grace and force of the falcon, is equipped with contemporary kinetic capacities and innovative architectural elements. The UAE Pavilion will be seen by the millions of visitors and participants who are expected to visit Expo 2020 Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022.

MORE THAN A BUILDING

Inspired by the breathtaking nature of the UAE, the architecture of the UAE Pavilion is also a unique marvel. With 28 movable wings, the UAE Pavilion’s roof can spread its wings to harvest energy through integrated photovoltaic panels.

The Calatrava-designed UAE Pavilion has been accredited LEED Platinum Certification and is compliant with the Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications. Accordingly, the UAE Pavilion is energy-conscious and integrates a range of elements and qualities of sustainable design.

BACKGROUND STORY

Following a seven month design competition with submissions from the world’s leading architecture firms, the National Media Council of the United Arab Emirates selected Santiago Calatrava’s proposal for the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The announcement was made after an intense design competition overseen by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company. Nine of the world’s most celebrated architectural firms submitted eleven concepts; each concept was evaluated on how it expressed the main theme of Expo 2020, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” whether it had a distinct UAE feel and if it struck an appropriate balance between the country’s past and future.