Chinese firm wins contract to build UAE pavilion

Shanghai: The UAE awarded on Friday China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) the contract to build its national pavilion - The Dunes - at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

The contract, which was evaluated by the UAE Ministry of Public Works, was signed here by Salim Al Ameri, Deputy Director General of the National Media Council and Commissioner General of the pavilion, and Essam Wahdan, consultant of International Projects for CSCEC.

The Chinese company won the contract through an international tender.

Al Ameri said the Chinese developer would build the first phase of the colossal pavilion within eight months.

"Another company will be picked up through a competition to carry out the second phase of interiors," he said.

Innovative environmentally-friendly materials will be used in the construction of the pavilion which was designed by the Foster + Partners firm.

"Through the 6,000 square metre and 20 metre high pavilion, the largest size available to expo participants, the UAE will showcase its experiment in urbanisation, clean energy and development for six months to about 70 million persons who are expected to visit the world's largest exhibition," he added.

Visitors will approach the "Dunes" by a walkway, which follows a stream of water towards the entrance.

Drawing inspiration from the form of a sand dune, the pavilion is a reference to this symbolic feature of the desert landscape shared by the seven emirates.

The complex structure is a triangular lattice of flat stainless steel panels, joined by adjustable nodes. The peak rises 20 metres and it is entered via a glazed lip at the pavilion's base.

Light penetrates the building's business centre and VIP area through glazed vertical strips, which illuminate the pavilion from within by night.

With a capacity of 450 people and enclosing 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, the pavilion is one of the largest structures to be built for the 2010 Shanghai Expo.