The National - News

No need to wait until October to experience Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainabi­lity Pavilion

- SARWAT NASIR

Expo 2020 Dubai is ready to wow the world months before its official opening as it prepares to welcome visitors to its spectacula­r Sustainabi­lity Pavilion from Friday.

The 6,300-square-metre zone operates entirely on solar energy and recycled water, and is designed to celebrate nature and shine a light on the importance of preserving the environmen­t for generation­s to come.

A 130-metre wide canopy acts as a roof for the building and is covered with 1,055 photovolta­ic panels to provide energy.

Massive energy trees in the shape of sunflowers are spread throughout the area and also distribute power. These rotate throughout the day to track and store sunlight.

The official opening of the world’s fair is not until October 1, but members of the public can be part of the Pavilions Premiere event ahead of time.

The Sustainabi­lity Pavilion will be open from 3pm to 9pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays and 4pm to 10pm at weekends, from Friday, January 22, to Saturday, April 10.

All visitors are required to purchase their tickets online, and walk-ins will not be accepted.

Each ticket will have a dedicated time and date assigned to manage traffic flow in light of the coronaviru­s pandemic. Tickets cost Dh25 and are available on the Expo 2020 Dubai website, www.expo2020du­bai.com

Sustainabi­lity is one of the expo’s three sub-themes, and it aims to raise awareness of how human actions affect the environmen­t.

“The reason this theme was chosen was to recognise sustainabi­lity and environmen­tal issues that we’re all facing as humanity,” Marjan Faraidooni, chief experience officer at the expo, told The National.

“We have the responsibi­lity to communicat­e the environmen­tal issues to the general public so that we raise awareness and hopefully get people inspired to take action around their personal choices that would have an impact on the environmen­t.

“We want people to appreciate the complexity of nature; more importantl­y, how every member of that ecosystem has a role to play, whether it is a worm, a bird or a bigger animal like an elephant.”

The dazzling pavilion is set to whet the appetite of visitors before the grand opening of the world’s fair.

Dubai Expo 2020 officials yesterday said they were confident the much awaited show would take place this year.

The opening was postponed from October last year because of the global effects of the pandemic.

 ?? Pawan Singh / The National ?? The Sustainabi­lity Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be open to visitors from Friday
Pawan Singh / The National The Sustainabi­lity Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be open to visitors from Friday

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates