In pics: Sheikh Mohammed tours Expo 2020 site, visits country pavilions

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured the Expo 2020 site on Saturday and visited some of the country pavilions.

He also met with Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, during his visit to the French pavilion.

The two leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries following the recent meeting of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

.@HHShkMohd meets with Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, during his visit to the French pavilion at @expo2020dubai.https://t.co/mpgp183iHR pic.twitter.com/uIJhFz0Fge

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 2, 2021

During his visit to the French pavilion located in the Mobility District, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed about the pavilion’s theme ‘France, Lightspeed Inspiration’ (‘France, l’inspiration à la vitesse de la lumière’), which expresses the country’s commitment to building a new economic, social and cultural model around three core values: boldness, optimism and community. The 21-metre-high pavilion is the eighth tallest pavilion at Expo. Its facade and roof are made of 2,500 square metres of solar tiles, producing 60 per cent of the energy it consumes.

During the tour, Sheikh Mohammed also visited the pavilions of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The Saudi pavilion, which represents the country’s Vision 2030, is located in the Opportunity District and at over 13,000 square metres, is the second largest pavilion in size at the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

During his tour to @expo2020dubai on its second day, @HHShkMohd, accompanied by @HamdanMohammed and @MaktoumMohammed, visited the pavilion of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/InTn9uhena

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 2, 2021

It takes visitors on a journey across four main pillars: people, nature, heritage and opportunities. Rising six stories above the ground, the pavilion was also designed to showcase the kingdom’s ancient culture, heritage; its natural landscape; and its present and future ambitions. The eco-friendly structure also has solar panels manufactured in the kingdom by Saudi entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile the Oman pavilion, located in the Mobility District, is designed based on inspiration from the frankincense tree. Visitors to the pavilion pass through five zones that illuminate how frankincense contributed to Omani advancements in transportation, knowledge, manufacturing, sustainability and exploration. The pavilion also includes a shop, in which more than 2,000 types of goods and products belonging to nearly 400 small and medium enterprises are displayed.

.@HHShkMohd, accompanied by @HamdanMohammed and @MaktoumMohammed, visits the pavilion of the Sultanate of Oman at @expo2020dubai, as part of his tour on the world fair’s second day. pic.twitter.com/fPkTy5Fghz

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 2, 2021

Held under the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 Dubai opened its doors to the public on October 1 and will continue until March 31, 2022.

The world’s biggest in-person event to take place since the start of the pandemic and the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 features the participation of 192 countries highlighting the event’s sub-themes of sustainability, opportunity and mobility.