Saudi Arabia’s pavilion is among the top 10 at the international event, which was opened on May 1. The tent city of Mina is one of the 55 city projects that have been selected from 226 nominations from across the world for exhibition at the expo. A three-dimensional satellite photo of Saudi Arabia welcomes the visitors at the entrance of the pavilion, which has the shape of a boat and was designed by Saudi and Chinese architects.
The Expo 2010, located on the banks of the Huangpu River is considered the largest in the history of world exhibitions. More than 200 countries are participating in the show, in addition to a large number of official organizations and international companies. It will continue for six months, up to the end of October.
A number of Chinese Muslims expressed their happiness after seeing the models of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. Saudi students pursuing higher studies in China have been actively participating in the show by explaining exhibits to Chinese visitors. Many Chinese asked about tourist resorts in Saudi Arabia and the secret behind the “desert” Kingdom’s remarkable progress.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had assigned the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to organize the show. “Our participation in the expo will help project the true image of the Kingdom of humanity, the progress it has achieved in all areas, its lofty values and culture, its economic and industrial progress, and its urban development,” Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb said.
“The sleek shape of Kingdom’s pavilion, is inspired by the treasury pitcher in Chinese heritage denoting prosperity and good luck,” said one organizer. The Saudi pavilion, next in size only to China’s, was built at a unique location overlooking the Huangpu River. The pavilion’s walls are decorated with original Islamic designs, symbolizing the importance of religion in the life of Saudis and the fact that it is the true propeller of progress, prosperity and development. The pavilion’s contents are in harmony with the wisdom of the desert, life in aquatic regions, and the richness of oases; thus reflecting the Kingdom’s cultural and geographic diversity and its developmental progress.
The double spiral corridor in the middle of the Saudi pavilion reflects the importance of balanced progress and development of the economy and prosperity on one hand and culture on the other.
Abdul Rahman Al-Ashaikh, supervisor of the pavilion said: “Our pavilion will serve as a bridge for communication with friendly people of China in particular, and with the world in general, for them to know our culture, history and folklore.”
With the help of a conveyor belt moving over a huge 1600-square-meter inverted screen, one of the largest and most advanced screens of its kind, visitors to the Saudi pavilion will go on a virtual, enjoyable and breathtaking journey over thousands of kilometers, visiting the various regions of the Kingdom. This screen is equipped with an advanced sound system that makes you “live” the snapshots and scenes shown on the screen.
The tour of the Saudi pavilion comes to an end at the pavilion’s rooftop, where visitors are surprised to see a Bedouin tent set up between tall palm trees reflecting the simple life of Bedouins, away from the complexities of modern life, in an open roofless space. Officials expect the number of visitors to exceed seven million men, women and children.