Astana: Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, and Chairman of the Higher Committee of Expo 2020 Dubai, on Saturday inaugurated the UAE pavilion at Expo 2017 Astana.
Shaikh Ahmad was accompanied by Dr Sultan Bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Media Council, NMC, the government entity that built, managed, and supervised the country’s pavilion. Dr Mohammad Ahmad Bin Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Mansour Al Mansouri, Director-General of NMC, and Kairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UAE, were also in attendance.
“The UAE’s participation in Expo 2017 Astana holds great significance for the UAE as it paves the way to the hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai,” Shaikh Ahmad said. “As the first expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, the 2020 event is not only a source of pride for all Emiratis and expats, but a testament to the country’s achievements and its ambitious future aspirations.”
He also commended the large role that Emirati youth volunteers have in operating the UAE Pavilion as they prepare for the highly anticipated Expo 2020 Dubai.
Inspired by the dunes of the Emirati Liwa desert, visitors to the UAE pavilion are greeted by the words of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, against a backdrop image of the Abu Dhabi skyline. The quote reads, “No matter how many buildings, foundations, schools and hospitals we build, or how many bridges we raise, all these are material entities. The real spirit behind the progress is the human spirit, the able man with his intellect and capabilities.”
Sustainability legacy
Bridging generations, visitors at the UAE pavilion can also explore the past, present, and future of the UAE’s energy and sustainability sectors through a creative 270-degree wraparound film. Emphasis is placed on the sustainability legacy and environmental stewardship of the UAE through innovation and advanced technologies.
“The Pavilion enables visitors to gain insights into how the UAE has built strong cooperation ties with the international community in various areas and fields. It underlines our country’s key pillars and future-oriented approach to provide future generations with the necessary resources and enablers, setting the foundations for sustainability and stability,” Al Jaber said.
Al Jaber went on to say that the UAE pavilion is an ideal platform to showcase the country’s national achievements which include a wide range of initiatives, solutions and projects that have been designed to achieve energy security while integrating socioeconomic development and technological and knowledge advancement.
“NMC is looking forward to communicating the UAE’s pioneering experiences at Expo 2017 Astana while effectively promoting the hosting of Expo 2020 in Dubai,” he said, adding, “the content and features of Expo 2020 Dubai will reflect its theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ as we look forward to building momentum at Expo 2017 Astana and utilise its positive energy in Expo 2020 Dubai through the UAE’s principles of cooperation and partnership to build a better future around the world.”
Innovative solutions
Al Jaber concluded by saying that Expo 2020 Dubai will be a testament to the unprecedented progress that the UAE has achieved in the last 40 years, and will serve as an ideal platform for the international community to come together to discover new innovative solutions and opportunities in the fields of sustainability and transportation to achieve economic prosperity. Expo 2020 Dubai will also enable participants to exchange knowledge and expertise while drawing in investments, commercial deals and tourism.
Covering more than 980 square metres, the UAE Pavilion is the largest at the Expo and has been designed to receive up to 7,000 visitors per day. A virtual host will guide visitors through the experience, with the overall tour of the pavilion taking nearly 20 minutes to complete. The pavilion introduces and acquaints visitors with the UAE’s culture, lifestyle and openness to the world.
