Inside Expo 2020 Dubai's stunning Sustainability pavilion ahead of Friday launch

The eco-friendly structure will be open to the public from January 22 to April 10

An outside view of the Sustainability pavilion which features large “energy trees” in the shape of sunflowers are spread throughout the area and also distribute power. These rotate throughout the day to track and store sunlight

The sprawling Expo 2020 site is prepared to welcome the world later this year

A butterfly finds himself at home in the Sustainability pavilion

Sustainability is one of the expo’s key themes and aims to raise awareness of human impact on the environment

The Sustainability pavilion is set to whet the appetite of visitors ahead of the grand opening of Expo 2020 Dubai in October. All pictures by Pawan Singh / The National

Reem Al Hashimy, director general of Expo 2020 Dubai and Minister of State for International Co-operation, unveils the spectacular Sustainability pavilion

The underground forest zone helps bring nature to life

Inside the Sustainability pavilion. The pavilion covers 6,300 square metres of the expo site and is entirely operated from solar energy and recycled water

The Sustainability pavilion boasts an interactive “underground forest” and “underground ocean” to raise awareness on the negative impact humans have on to the planet

Visitors to the Sustainability pavilion can see how human consumption of daily items, such as meat, fashion items and paper, is harming the environment and leading to climate change

A striking bat decoration is just one of the eye-catching sights on show

The Sustainability pavilion includes consumption halls, which demonstrate how humankind has impacted the environment

Related: Seven wonders of Expo 2020 Dubai to witness as anticipation builds

The Sustainability pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will open for public viewing this month.

Tickets to view the eco-friendly wonder at the sprawling expo site are priced at Dh25 and can be purchased online.

Sustainability is one of the expo’s three sub-themes and aims to raise awareness of human impact on the environment.

The official opening of the spectacular world’s fair is not until October 1, but members of the public can be part of the “Pavilions Premiere” event ahead of time.

On Saturday, The National received a first look of the pavilion – called Terra, which translates to 'planet Earth'.

An environmental wonder

The pavilion covers 6,300 square metres of the expo site and is entirely operated from solar energy and recycled water.

A 130-metre-wide canopy acts as a roof for the building and is covered with 1,055 photovoltaic panels that supply energy to the pavilion.

Massive “energy trees” in the shape of sunflowers are spread throughout the area and also distribute power. These rotate throughout the day to track and store sunlight.

In total, the building’s technology will produce four GwH per year of electricity – enough for a Nissan Leaf to drive halfway to Mars.

For water, condensation is collected from the air-handling system, which is then filtered, disinfected and blended with near-surface brackish water. It is then desalinated on-site and supplied.

The pavilion uses the greywater recycling system and local plants to reduce water by 75 per cent.

"The reason this theme was chosen was to recognise sustainability and environmental issues that we're all facing as humanity," Marjan Faraidooni, chief experience officer at the expo, told The National.

“We have the responsibility to communicate the environmental issues are to the general public, so that we raise awareness and hopefully get people inspired to take action around their personal choices that would have impact on the environment.”

The pavilion features an interactive “underground forest,” with strobe lights and lasers which are meant to represent how nature communicates with itself. Pawan Singh / The National

Experiences at Sustainability pavilion

An interactive “underground forest” and “underground ocean” have been set up to raise awareness on the negative impact humans have on to the planet.

Massive trees are built into the forest, with strobe lights and lasers that are meant to represent how nature communicates with itself.

As visitors walk further in, displays show how human consumption of daily items, such as meat, fashion items and paper, is harming the environment and leading to climate change.

The pavilion covers 6,300 square metres of the expo site and is entirely operated from solar energy and recycled water. A 130-metre-wide canopy acts as a roof for the building and is covered with 1,055 photovoltaic panels that supply energy to the pavilion. Pawan Singh / The National

“We bring to light the networks of the roots that are happening underground. We always see trees and above, but we don’t see what happens underneath,” Ms Faraidooni said.

“We want people to appreciate the complexity of nature. More importantly, how every member of that ecosystem has a role to play, whether it is a worm, a bird or a bigger animal like an elephant.

“The second part of the story is we take you through consumption halls – you are faced with the implications of how your own actions have impacted the environment.”

Visitors can also experience what is underneath the large canopy. A courtyard has been built deeper into the ground to bring in cooler air. An underground reservoir helps collect rainwater.

Other displays include an Arabian wadi, interactive games that aim to raise awareness against the everyday choices people make that affects the environment and a “lab of future values” which presents solutions to environmental challenges.

How to book a visit

All visitors are required to book their visit online before they arrive and walk-ins will not be accepted. A system of time slots is being used to better traffic flow in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The experience will be open from 3pm to 9pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays and 4pm to 10pm on weekends, from January 22 to April 10.

The official opening of the spectacular world’s fair is not until October 1, but members of the public can be part of the “Pavilions Premiere” event ahead of time. Pawan Singh / The National

What happens to the pavilion after the expo?

The Sustainability pavilion will be turned into a children’s science centre.

“Ever since its inception, we always had a children’s science centre in mind to continue this mission of inspiring educating the future generation about environmental issues and, more importantly, getting them to take action and be positive agents of change,” Ms Faraidooni said.

Holding a world fair amid a pandemic 

Dubai Expo 2020 officials said during a press conference that they are confident the eagerly awaited show will go on this year.

The initial opening was postponed from 2020 to October 1 2021 because of the pandemic.

About 3,000 to 3,500 visitors are expected to attend during weekdays and about 5,000 on weekends.

Tickets with dedicated date and time slots will be sold online to manage traffic flow.

Temperature screenings and social distancing will be carried out.

A greater focus is being placed on a virtual expo to make the experience available to people around the world, as well.

Dubai Expo 2020 site - in pictures 

The Sustainability pavilion. The 130-metre wide canopy, called Terra, features 1,055 solar panels which will generate 4GWh of alternative energy per year, enough electricity to charge more than 900,000 mobile phones.

The Sustainability pavilion. It will offer visitors the chance to explore humankind’s relationship with nature, excessive consumerism, and how we can change our everyday choices to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.

The Sustainability Pavilion. It features irrigation techniques such as a greywater recycling system, which aim to reduce water use by 75 per cent.

The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion features the world’s largest passenger lift, which will transport more than 160 people at a time. It also has a 340-metre track, which is partly underground and partly in the open-air, to showcase cutting-edge mobility devices in action.

The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will also display a hyperloop capsule in action.

Organisers say the Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will showcase how mobility will continue to transform the way we live, connect with people, understand different cultures, and exchange knowledge and ideas.

Al Wasl Pavilion. Meaning ‘connection’ in English, Al Wasl is also the historical name for Dubai. The steel trellis is the centrepiece of the site, where all roads meet, and reflects the world fair’s aim to bring people together.

The Al Wasl pavillion. The moulded steel dome is 130-metres wide, 67-metres tall and weighs more than 500 tonnes. Taller than the leaning tower of Pisa and one of the largest single structures on the site, Al Wasl will be a permanent installation that will remain after the world fair ends in April 2021.

A rendering of Al Wasl pavillion. Fountains, parks and restaurants have also been planned across the plaza area.

Al Wasl pavillion. Al Wasl Plaza’s trellis design was inspired by an ancient golden ring found in the Saruq Al Hadid site by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. It also reflects the intertwined logo of the Expo 2020.

Dubai Exhibition Centre. It offers 45,000 square metres of event space. It is just 300m from the heart of the Expo site and is adjacent to the Dubai Metro Route Station 2020.

Dubai Exhibition Centre.The 28,000 sqm South Complex is divided into nine halls that can host 300 to 20,000 people, while the 17,000 sqm North Complex has five halls that can accoodate 200 to 11,000 people.

Dubai Exhibition Centre. It also has 24 meeting rooms and four suites for workshops, seminars and gala dinners.