Abu Dhabi, UAE - 29 March 2024: The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2023 Doha was honoured to be recognised for having the Best Self Built Pavilion “Gold” award in the conclusion of its six month Expo 2023 Doha programme.
The UAE Pavilion was awarded for its alignment with Expo Doha 2023’s themes, innovative landscape design, thoughtful plant species selection, use of sustainable materials, and its engaging environmental and cultural programming. Additionally, the UAE Pavilion was recognised for its guest experience which reflected the UAE’s culture and sustainable journey.
Spanning 2,290 sqm and designed by the Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG) of architects, designers, and urban and landscape planning experts, the Pavilion was inspired by the resilient Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE, following the path of its roots to the extending of its branches and leaves, featuring rammed earth walls built from locally sourced materials and a roof made with palm leaves. The UAE Pavilion also included robust landscaping, with a garden full of native and adaptive plants found in the UAE, with groupings of edible plants, fruit trees, medicinal plants, flowers, spices, shrubs, grasses, industrial plants, and perennials.
In honour of the award, Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, said: “Receiving the Golden award for the Best Self Built Pavilion, underscores the strategic foresight of our leadership, and their unwavering support that propel the nation's distinguished presence in regional and international forums. We are committed to always participating as a country and pavilion in exceptional ways, showcasing our achievements across different sectors.”
She also said, “We are honoured to be receiving this prestigious award which reflects the dedicated and relentless efforts of diverse teams within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, and the National Projects Office, under the guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Over the past six months, the UAE Pavilion showcased the UAE’s rich agricultural heritage through its unique and innovative design, while fostering connections with Qatar and the global community.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Qatar for such an impressive global gathering, and I also extend our gratitude to the organisers, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) for convening a successful horticultural expo that gathers great minds and ideas as we come together to create a more sustainable future.” she added.
The UAE Pavilion guest experience comprised of six multi-sensory interventions was designed by Stuttgart-based Atelier Brückner (ATB), an experience design firm whose other notable work includes contributing to the Museum of the Future. “Nurturing Legacy” presented a deep understanding of the UAE’s agricultural legacy and the Dreamers in the UAE, who are contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
On this occasion, His Excellency Ibrahim Salem Humaid Alalawi, the Commissioner General for the UAE Pavilion Expo 2023 Doha said, “ We are thrilled to celebrate this award with the entire UAE Pavilion team and our guests, who made our experience in Doha truly special and unforgettable over the past six months. The UAE Pavilion has showcased our nation’s sustainability journey and its story with the world in Qatar, showing how our innovators and researchers look to our natural environment for inspiration to co-create solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future for all. More than 20 diverse programmes were also curated to engage innovators, researchers, and guests, with a particular focus on empowering the next generation.”
The UAE Pavilion's programming included panel discussions by featured Dreamers and experts on agricultural innovations and food security; educational workshops for children to spark curiosity about our natural environment and sustainability; creative sessions that encouraged environmental mindfulness; and live cooking demonstrations featuring salt-tolerant plants that thrive in the UAE’s desert environment. The Sessions were in collaboration with various UAE-based entities, including the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Halophyte Kitchen, Lest We Forget, SWALIF Collective, and Early Starters.
“Nurturing Legacy” was the UAE’s third presentation at an International Horticultural Exposition, administered by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and the National Projects Office. The UAE first participated in this kind of Horticulture Expo in Beijing 2019, followed by “Salt Water Cities: Where Land Meets Sea” at the Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, The Netherlands.
