Competing with nine other finalists and 11 submissions, Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has won the competition to design the United Arab Emirate's pavilion for the Dubai World Expo 2020 .
“The proposed design of the UAE pavilion captures the story we want to tell the world about our nation,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Ahmed Al Jaber, according to Arabian Business .
The Dubai Expo 2020 theme falls under "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future" and Calatrava's design wittingly links the UAE's history of falconry to the country's present day goals.
“Our late founding father His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan used falconry expeditions to forge connections between tribes and to create a distinct national identity which ultimately led to the founding of the United Arab Emirates. Now, the falcon design will symbolize how we are connecting the UAE to the minds of the world and how as a global community we can soar to new heights through partnership and cooperation,” according to Arabian Business .
The 15,000 square meter pavilion will include exhibition areas, an auditorium, food and beverage outlets and VIP lounges.
Taking place between October 2020 and April 2021, Dubai will host the next World Expo, bringing together more than 180 nations in one of the greatest shows on Earth.