UAE Pavilion Majlis, EXPO 2020 Dubai
The UAE Pavilion at the EXPO 2020, a collaboration between the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Salama bint Hamdan al Nahyan Foundation, was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava evoking the image of a “falcon in flight.” The falcon reminds us of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and how falconry created connections between tribes across the region. Following the Expo theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” the pavilion aims fostered the notion of global interconnectivity. The Pavilion also includes a special guest area at it’s centre. This contemporary majlis was designed by the UAE based architecture firm LOCI and highlights the traditional values of the UAE such as community, unity, humility and hospitality. The minimal design of the majlis encourages informal conversations, while creating a connection to the larger community space under the roof of the UAE Pavilion.