Israel’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will highlight the ties that unite Middle Eastern countries, the project's lead architect has said.
The pavilion's sand dune theme will welcome guests under seven gates in a striking piece of architecture celebrating connectivity and innovation.
Lead architect David Knafo said the project focuses on what brings nations together rather than the politics that often divides.
“When you look at the traditional values of the Middle East you will see there is little difference between the people,” he said.
“There are similarities in terms of culture, language and their approach to each other.
“However the political gap between countries is huge.”
He was speaking to The National just days ahead of the first anniversary of the historic signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE.
Fantastic pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai:
Expo 2020 will also serve to showcase the benefits that Israel can bring, not just to the region but the entire world, he added.
“The isolation of Israel has been a problem, not just for Israel, but for the entire Middle Eastern region,” said Mr Knafo.
“We can all benefit where we share our resources especially when it comes to sectors like agriculture, food production and water treatment.
“These are areas where there will be shortages in the next few years so it is important to work together to overcome those mutual challenges.”
The theme of a sand dune was deliberately chosen for the pavilion as it has special resonance in the region, said Mr Knafo.
“If you want to be romantic about it then you can look at it as a tent where people can come in and talk and share ideas in a really friendly atmosphere."
The pavilion is designed to ensure maximum interaction for both those inside and outside.
“When we are at the 2015 Expo in Milan we saw the frustration from people who were not able to get into pavilions because of the queues,” he said.
“That’s why we wanted to create an open space, so people can still interact with the LED screens even if they are not in the interior.
“Most pavilions are closed boxes that you need to enter but that’s not the case with this one.”
Mr Knafo said it was vital for countries to have a presence at Expo 2020 Dubai, which was postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There is so much that still needs to be done to improve the lives of so many in the Middle East who are living not only in conflict but also in very basic living conditions,” said Mr Knafo.
“The expo can elevate the region and build a bridge with Israel on one side and the UAE on the other to show how close we are and how similar the daily challenges we face are too.”
Eitan Na’eh, Israel's head of mission to the UAE, said the pavilion was a platform for Israel to showcase its strengths.
“It’s an open tent to symbolise we are facing the future together hand in hand with the UAE and other countries,” he said.
“The pavilion gives a taste of what Israel represents to the region and to the world.
“It is no secret the pandemic slowed everyone down but Expo 2020 sends a message that despite the difficulties we all faced we are moving forward together.”
The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
RESULT
Kolkata Knight Riders 169-7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals 144-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata win by 25 runs
Next match
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 5.30pm
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
'O'
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
