黑料社区

Take an exclusive walk through the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

Short Url
Updated 30 September 2021

Take an exclusive walk through the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

Take an exclusive walk through the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
  • The Saudi Pavilion scooped several awards before it was even opened to the public
  • At 13,000 square meters, it is second largest after UAE Pavilion

DUBAI: 聽黑料社区鈥檚 heritage and culture are celebrated in a breathtaking pavilion featured at the Expo 2020 Dubai site that opens to the public on Friday following a star-studded opening ceremony the night before.

The unfolding rectangular fa莽ade of the sloping pavilion reaches to sky as if it is ready to take flight.

Rising six stories above the ground and featuring a 1,320 square-meter inclined mirrored screen, the Kingdom鈥檚 pavilion, was designed to showcase 黑料社区鈥檚 ancient culture, heritage; the wonders of its natural landscape - as well as the rapid drive and innovation of its present and future ambitions.

鈥淭he pavilion will be our country鈥檚 鈥榳indow to the world,鈥 showcasing 黑料社区 as it really is,鈥 Hussain Hanbazazah, the Commissioner-General of the Kingdom of 黑料社区 Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai told Arab News.

Designed by UK-based Boris Micka Associates, it spans an impressive 13,069 square meters 鈥 the size of two football pitches 鈥 and is the second largest pavilion in size only to the UAE Pavilion.

鈥淭he structure opens like a large window into the future, with immersive experiences showing the nation鈥檚 welcoming character, rich history and heritage, ancient culture,鈥 further explained Hanbazazah.聽

鈥淚t also showcases the towering ambition of the Saudi people and unlimited drive of our nation as well as the myriad opportunities under our national transformation plan, Vision 2030.鈥

Visitors descend via a staircase, onto an outside terrace area, that includes an award-wining circular water feature.

From there guests can go inside to marvel at startling images of 黑料社区鈥檚 diverse natural landscape on 68 square-meter screens.

It鈥檚 the first stop on a technology-enabled journey through five ecosystems presented on different levels of the pavilion, guiding the visitor through the Kingdom鈥檚 natural wonders鈥攊ts unspoiled coastline, vast deserts, mountainous terrains, and biodiversity.

As guests make their way to the top floor of the building, they are transported up an escalator where around them are built and projected scenes of the flora of Al Bardani Valley Rijal al-Mal and its traditional flower festival in the Asir Region.

In their virtual journey they then pass the Great Tabuk Mountains, known for its towering peaks and expansive valleys and then to the endless sand dunes of the Empty Quarter in southeastern 黑料社区 and finally into the clear waters of the Red Sea.

鈥淭he Saudi Pavilion鈥檚 design and architecture is as fascinating and dynamic as the content it displays; it encapsulates the wonders of the Kingdom. 黑料社区 has developed an outstanding architectural landmark, embodying a bold ambition to shape the world for the better,鈥 Hanbazazah told Arab News.

鈥淭he Saudi Pavilion鈥檚 design reflects both the country鈥檚 past and aspiring future, inviting guests to explore our beautiful natural landscapes while learning about the rich history that has shaped the 黑料社区 we celebrate today.鈥

The highest floor reveals additional large floor-to-ceiling screens in addition to one on a long circular-like table.

Playing across both are a series of short films immersing visitors into 黑料社区鈥檚 14 cultural landscapes, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as At-Turaif District in Ad-Diriyah, Hegra Archaeological Site in AlUla, Historic Jeddah, Rock Art in the Hail Region, and Al-Ahsa Oasis.

It鈥檚 a breathtaking and eloquent invitation to visit the Kingdom鈥檚 dazzling cultural sites 鈥 many of which have only recently been opened to the international community.

Nearby is an audiovisual guide that prompts visitors to explore 23 additional destinations in the Kingdom, including its new world-leading giga-projects showcasing the country鈥檚 heritage and strive for sustainable development, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, and King Salman Park.

Among its numerous accolades, the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 has been awarded the LEED Platinum Certificate by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), designating it among the most sustainable designs in the world.

It also holds three Guinness World Records for longest interactive state-of-the-art water feature, largest LED mirror screen display, and largest interactive lighting floor

鈥淭hrough rich and varied content, the Saudi pavilion seeks to offer visitors a unique experience that reflects the true image of the Kingdom as it is today under Saudi Vision 2030, our roadmap for the future, while emphasizing the importance of pride in identity, history, and heritage,鈥 added Hanbazazah. 聽

鈥淭he journey through the Saudi Pavilion showcases a future-forward 黑料社区: welcoming, young, diverse, and vibrant.鈥

The Saudi Pavilion goes beyond the sheer structure of a building and takes visitors on a journey to the Kingdom itself.

Once visitors have culminated the heritage and natural tour of the pavilion, they can view 鈥淰ision,鈥 an interactive art exhibition revealing a 30-meter sphere that appears to float in the room above a custom-built interactive floor that transforms into various patterns, colors, and light displays.

Lastly, located just outside the main edifice is the 鈥楧iscovery Center鈥, an explanatory section where guests can view the history and build of the pavilion as well as connect leaders from around the world to forge potential partnerships and discuss investment opportunities, visualized through an interactive digital map of 黑料社区.

Hanbazazah added: 鈥淥ur message to all is, 鈥榃e would be honored to welcome you to the Kingdom of 黑料社区 Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the window to the real and authentic 黑料社区.鈥欌

Finally, the journey ends with a gift shop and the pavilion鈥檚 very own caf茅 Sard, where customers are met with a tantalizing display of coffees from across the Kingdom 鈥 the aromas filling the air 鈥 the ice cream a welcome respite from Dubai鈥檚 heat.