There are pavilions representing countries from across the Arab world at Expo 2010 Shanghai, with some playing on their individual historical traditions as others offer futuristic visions to entice visitors. @Body-Infobox2:In design, the Omani and Qatari pavilions trade on the characteristic architecture of the Arabian peninsula. Oman's pavilion is a fort attached to the stylised prow of a sailing boat, and has thematic references to the story of the legendary sailor Sinbad.
Qatar's pavilion, which resembles a traditional tower, features a Bedouin tent and videos showing the country's use of eco-friendly technology in its urban development. By contrast, the Egyptian pavilion is a dramatically sculpted black-and-white structure that contains reminders of the country's Pharaonic heritage through artefacts on show. Jordan's pavilion also plays on an extraordinarily rich history, with visitors entering through a recreation of the architecture of Petra, the ancient stone city and world heritage site.
The theme of the Palestinian pavilion is the olive, as a symbol of peace through the olive branch and as a commercial item. Syria's pavilion, themed as "Damascus: the Oldest Capital Still Inhabited", features folk residences, while Yemen's pavilion has images of modern-day urban living and renovated villages. Saudi Arabia's solar and wind-powered pavilion, which contains an IMAX cinema the size of two basketball courts, is an elevated "moon boat" with date palms planted on the roof.
