Set on a small plot at Dubai Expo 2020, Singapore's pavilion aims to make a big impact with hanging gardens, exotic flowers and edible plants.
The city-state unveiled its pavilion on Tuesday and, with its well-ventilated spaces surrounded by lush greenery, assured visitors it would be a safe place to visit during the pandemic.
Built on 1,550 square metres – among the smallest plots at the Expo – the structure is designed to integrate greenery and show that buildings do not have to displace nature.
It is a green oasis so if you are tired, you can come over, take a rest and take a walk
Larry Ng, commissioner general of the Singapore pavilion, said that despite Covid-19, he hoped people could meet at the world fair.
“We did not expect this but it is something we have to face," Mr Ng said.
"For me, I’m very optimistic. I hope Expo 2020 will be one important platform for people to celebrate meeting up physically. Although I really don’t know what will happen by then, Expo and many of the pavilions have started to engage with the world virtually."
The pavilion's planners are keen to show how nature can thrive in a limited space.
Visitors will walk into a garden on the lower level, which features a pond filled with plants that suck pollutants from the air.
A gently sloping walkway will then guide people past hanging gardens, planters that cover the ceiling, thick vines and edible plants that cover three nine-metre cones.
Orchids from Singapore and date palms from the desert are among the foliage, which will also display exotic flowers named after famous people.
More than 500 solar panels will cover the roof to meet all the pavilion's energy demands and act as a sunshade.
Trees planted along the pavilion border will cut off direct sunlight and offer protection from strong desert winds.
Dry mist fans placed throughout the building will help to lower the temperature, despite a lack of air-conditioning.
Mr Ng said he hoped the pavilion would spark discussion about smart urban solutions, climate change and sustainability in a post-Covid-19 world.
"Recently, because of the Delta variant, people are looking at the issue of ventilation," he said, referring to the highly contagious strain of the coronavirus first identified in India.
“Right in the beginning, the Singapore pavilion was designed to be fully ventilated and that is a big plus.
“It is a green oasis so if you are tired, you can come over, take a rest and take a walk. When you feel the heat, come over to our tropical forest.”
There are plans for robots to interact with visitors. Details will be released later.
Net-zero energy goals will be met during the six-month event, with solar power used to desalinate groundwater that will be used for irrigation and to create a mist effect.
An automated machine called the ecodigester will convert food waste into clean, odourless wastewater that can be recycled.
Sun pipes will capture sunshine from the roof and funnel it to spots in the interior that have low natural light.
“The world is facing some of the most challenging realities of its time and we are reminded that we can and should come together to find a way forward by building cities that sensitively adapt to tomorrow’s challenges,” Mr Ng said.
“Singapore may be small in terms of physical size but the impact we can make will increase multi-fold if we join other nations in efforts to address these pressing issues.”
Known as a garden city, Singapore has ambitions to extend its green cover by 2030 and the pavilion will echo the country’s plan to build nature into its architecture.
Wong Mun Summ, founder of Woha, the architectural firm that designed the pavilion, said the structure intended to make a big impression.
“The dense, multi-layered green space makes the most of its small size,” Mr Wong said.
“We all realise with the pandemic that being in an open space is better than in a closed environment. This is highly suited for the current situation.
“You will see rainforest plants and what is spectacular is the vertical greenery that Singapore is well known for.”
Mothers with prams and people in wheelchairs can reach the top floor via the walkway. This zone will host workshops, talks and movie screenings about life in the country.
Chefs from some of the city's most famous restaurants and street stalls will serve traditional coffee and snacks, including tapioca, green bean fritters, traditional chicken and beef satay.
Expo 2020 Dubai is ready to welcome visitors from October 1 to March 31.
Country pavilions – in pictures
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
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Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
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Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
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Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
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