UAE Pavilion At Expo 2023 Doha Wins Gold For Best Self-Built Pavilion

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2023 Doha has been awarded the gold for the "Best Self-Built Pavilion", marking a significant achievement in its participation over the six-month Expo 2023 Doha programme. This accolade was in recognition of the Pavilion's adherence to the Expo's themes, its innovative landscape design, thoughtful selection of plant species, sustainable material usage, and its engaging environmental and cultural programming. The Pavilion's guest experience, which vividly reflected the UAE’s culture and sustainable journey, was also a key factor in its win.

Spanning an area of 2,290 sqm, the Pavilion was a creation of the Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG), drawing inspiration from the resilient Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE. This inspiration was manifested from the complex root structure to its branches and leaves, featuring rammed earth walls constructed from locally sourced materials and a roof made with palm leaves. The Pavilion also boasted a comprehensive landscaping effort, showcasing a garden filled with native and adaptive plants found in the UAE.

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State, expressed her gratitude for this recognition, highlighting it as a testament to the strategic foresight of the UAE's leadership and their continuous support. She emphasized that this award reflects the dedicated efforts of various teams within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, and the National Projects Office, under the guidance of H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Pavilion's guest experience included six multi-sensory interventions designed by Stuttgart-based Atelier Brückner (ATB), themed "Nurturing Legacy". It presented an in-depth understanding of the UAE’s agricultural legacy and celebrated the nation’s dreamers and pioneers contributing towards a sustainable future.

Ibrahim Salem Humaid Alalawi, Commissioner-General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2023 Doha, shared his excitement over this achievement. He praised the entire UAE Pavilion team and guests for making their experience in Doha memorable. He highlighted that more than 20 diverse programmes were curated to engage innovators, researchers, and guests with a focus on empowering future generations.

The programming at the UAE Pavilion included panel discussions on agricultural innovations and food security; educational workshops for children about sustainability; creative sessions promoting environmental mindfulness; and live cooking demonstrations featuring salt-tolerant plants. These sessions were organized in collaboration with various UAE-based entities such as the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Halophyte Kitchen, Lest We Forget, SWALIF Collective, and Early Starters.

This year's participation marked the UAE’s third presentation at an International Horticultural Exposition, following its participation in Beijing 2019 and Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, The Netherlands. The "Nurturing Legacy" theme was overseen by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and the National Projects Office.

With inputs from WAM