Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai site is an immersive experience for guests to discover the history and future of the UAE. Spanning across an area of 15,000 meters, the 27.8-meter-tall building includes a movable roof structure made up of 28 ‘wings’. The wings can fully open within three minutes and position themselves anywhere between 110 and 125 degrees. The dynamic design draws inspiration from the falcon, which is the national bird of the UAE.
Landscaped areas surrounding the Pavilion guide pedestrian flow towards the building while the layout of the pavilion itself is inspired by the image of the Aton Sun, allowing visitors to approach the pavilion from all angles and providing integration with the immediate surroundings. Inside, the main space features an oculus skylight that mirrors the form of the Expo 2020 logo while a sphere-shaped, multi-faceted auditorium serves as a visual centrepiece as well as a function space that can accommodate up to 200 people.
The basement level provides a tranquil environment with large water pools and trees that help to naturally cool the air, provide shade, and reduce heat loads.
Sustainability is also an important feature of the design. The UAE Pavilion is certified LEED Platinum and is compliant with the Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications (DGBR). Furthermore, the UAE Pavilion will be repurposed for cultural uses in the country for years to come.
Landscaped areas are planted with thousands of plants from 12 different species, eight of which are native, as well as over 80 trees, with approximately 45 of the trees holding cultural importance for the UAE.
