Saudi Arabia inaugurated its state-of-the-art pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday, kicking off a six-month World Expo experience that will take visitors from across the world on a journey through the Kingdom’s rich past, vibrant present, and promising future.
The idea of “seeing is believing” is at the heart of the experiences the Saudi Pavilion offers visitors. The journey showcases a future-forward Saudi Arabia: welcoming, young, diverse, and vibrant. The Pavilion represents the Saudi people, ambitious and talented individuals across different sectors, powering the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030. Across business opportunity and tourism, culture and nature, Saudi Arabia has much to offer throughout its 13 unique regions – including five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – and the Pavilion enables visitors to get a first glimpse of a fascinating destination that has yet to be discovered.
The Pavilion’s inauguration was attended by the H.E. Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai; Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Turki Aldakhil; Hussain Hanbazazah, the Commissioner-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion; and GCC countries’ ambassadors, and officials and cultural figures from around the world.
Traditional Saudi Ardah dancers, wielding ceremonial swords, delivered a dazzling and energetic performance to the beat of folkloric drums and spoken poetry.
Commenting on the official opening, H.E. Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion, said: “The pavilion reflects the Kingdom's growth and prosperity during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Our country is at this global forum with its young, renewed spirit and aspiration towards a prosperous future for the region and the world. Our Pavilion showcases the many ambitious projects under Saudi Vision 2030, formulated by His Highness, the Crown Prince, may God protect him, and embodies our journey to new horizons of development."
Hussain Hanbazazah, the Commissioner-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said: “Saudi Arabia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai stems from the Kingdom’s cultural values, and its capabilities and ambitions. The Pavilion invites visitors to experience the transformation underway in the Kingdom under Vision 2030 – powered by our welcoming, diverse people and the energy and optimism of the next generation. The journey also enables the business community to identify, seize and create opportunities in the Kingdom, contributing to economic diversification and national development.