Source: en.expo2010.cn

04-21-2009 16:02

CONSTRUCTION began today on the United Arab Emirates' pavilion for the Expo 2010 - a huge golden sand dune inspired by the country's desert.

Hard at work making a start on the foundations of the United Arab Emirates Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo site are (from left) Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, Salem Saeed Al Ameri, commissioner general of  UAE Expo participation and Mohammed Rahed Al Boot, ambassador of  the UAE to China. UAE employees help dump sand brought from the UAE onto the foundations.

The outer covering of the pavilion will be gold-colored stainless steel. Its undulating roof, looking as if it has been shaped by the wind, will make the pavilion shimmer and change colors, reminding visitors of the Middle East country's various natural environments. It will be illuminated at night.

The shape of the pavilion is also designed in response to Shanghai's weather. It will protect against the direct glare of the city's summer sun but allow indirect light to enter the pavilion via louvers.

It will be 20 meters high, and cover 6,000 square meters, the largest size available to Expo participants.

Salem Saeed Al Ameri, commissioner general of UAE Expo  participation

"One of the most powerful and appealing experiences for UAE people is to travel through our vast desert, and we want to share this experience with Chinese people by building the pavilion," said Salem Saeed Al Ameri, commissioner general of UAE's Expo participation.

The country will showcase the swift development of its modern cities. It will also present many of its environmental strategies and living experiences.

UAE has little water and extremely hot weather for about three months every year, but its people have learnt from their forefathers how to create shade and to naturally cool their homes, said Salem Saeed Al Ameri.