LIVE BLOG: Full coverage of Expo 2020 Dubai
Qatar is using its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to celebrate hosting the Fifa World Cup.
One of the biggest global sporting events, the football tournament gets under way on November 21 next year, the first time a Middle East country will stage the World Cup.
The countdown to international football's showpiece event is continuing at the world's fair, which itself is making its debut in the region.
Spectacular, technicolour holographic images preview the competition where some of the world's biggest sporting stars will take centre stage.
Qatar's cultural heritage and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are also on display at its pavilion.
The pavilion was designed by internationally renowned Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava, who also designed the UAE pavilion, inspired by the falcon – the Emirates's national bird.
Mr Calatrava studied Qatar's national emblem before sketching a pair of buildings, which come together to make the pavilion.
"The design draws inspiration from the four elements represented on the Coat of arms of Qatar and pays tribute to the nation’s cultural heritage," he said.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, visit the Qatari pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office Twitter account -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, during a tour of the Qatari pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office Twitter account -
The 960-square-metre pavilion takes guests on an immersive experience through Qatar’s rich history and culture. Photo: Dubai Media Office Twitter account -
Qataris take part in a traditional sword dance at the opening of the Qatar pavilion at Expo 2020. AP Photo / Jon Gambrell -
A guard wipes the sweat from his brow as visitors enter and exit the Qatar Pavilion. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Passport stamp for the pavilion of Qatar at Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The arching walls of the structure mirror the two crossed and curved swords from the country's Coat of arms.
Other elements in the architecture represent a modern interpretation of a Dhow and an island with two palm trees.
Cooling refection pools flank the pavilion and mirror the building's smooth white lines.
Under the slogan “The Future is Now”, the gallery invites visitors to explore the past, the present, and the future of Qatar through visual arts, sound effects and music.
A combination of devices, including mirror screens, holographic projections, 3D mapping and transparent LED screens bring the exhibits to life.
Key areas of focus were derived from the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals such as urban development, biodiversity, and natural resources; governance and investment in human capital; education, youth employment, and community welfare; industrial transformations, pioneering change and green economy initiatives; innovation and development.
The pavilion, inaugurated by Sultan bin Rashid Al Khater, Qatar's undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is within the Sustainability District at Expo 2020.
