Falcon design wins Dubai Expo 2020 pavilion prize

The winning design for the UAE pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020. Wam

DUBAI // A falcon in flight is the inspiration behind the winning design for the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The concept by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava beat competition from eight of the world’s leading firms, with 11 designs submitted.

Mr Calatrava also designed the $1 billion Dubai tower that will built in time for the Expo, and which has been described as the 21st-century equivalent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. He said he was deeply honoured that his firm’s pavilion design was chosen. “I am confident that the final design will be a symbol of the bold and daring spirit of the UAE, reflected in what is poised to be the most inclusive and global Expo in history.”

Designs were evaluated on how they expressed the Expo theme – Connecting Minds, Creating the Future – captured the Emirati essence and showed a balance between the UAE’s past and future.

The winning design “captures the story we want to tell the world about our nation”, said Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and chairman of the National Media Council.

Dr Al Jaber said the Founding President Sheikh Zayed “used falconry expeditions to forge connections between tribes and to create a distinct national identity which ultimately led to the formation of the UAE.

“Now, the falcon design will symbolise how we are connecting the UAE to the minds of the world and how as a global community we can soar to new heights through partnership and cooperation.”

The pavilion will be built on a 15,000-square-metre site facing Al Wasl Plaza at the centre of the 200-hectare exhibition zone.

It will have exhibition areas, an auditorium, food and drinks outlets and special visitor lounges, and will represent the UAE to the 25 million visitors and participants from more than 180 countries who are expected to visit the Expo from October 2020 to April 2021.

It will be built to embrace sustainable building principles.

“The pavilion will be one of the Expo’s greatest icons,” said Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and the Expo’s director general.

“The design will evoke the pioneering spirit and power of connections that transformed the UAE from a collection of small, desert communities into a global connection point.

“The UAE pavilion will become an important cornerstone in our site and will have a legacy plan that will reflect our hopes and ambitions for many years to come.”