Construction is progressing well on the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the pavilion was held at the Expo 2020 grounds in Dubai in late November. EllisDon is the selected contractor to design, build and maintain the facility, and a construction update provided last month by Global Affairs Canada shows the building very much coming out of the ground. Completion is targeted for August.

"As a world leader in delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure, and as champions of sustainability, diversity and equality, EllisDon is proud to represent Canada in designing, building and operating our national pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai," says Jody Beck, CSO & Sr. Vice-President Services, EllisDon. "We are honoured to have been entrusted with this important project and look forward to delivering a pavilion of which all Canadians can be proud."

The 42,000-square foot Canada Pavilion will serve as a meeting place for Canadian business and innovators, as well as provide an environment where companies can thrive in global markets. It is expected to attract 25 million visits during Expo 2020, which runs from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021 under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".

Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima Architects designed the facility to blend Canadian landscapes with Arabic architectural elements, and the pavilion is intended to be a symbolic representation of the strong cultural and economic ties between Canada and the UAE.

Other consortium members include Lord Cultural Resources, Hatch, Kubik, Thornton Tomasetti, NGX and Cisco.

Participating in Expo 2020 Dubai aligns with Canada’s trade diversification strategy, helping Canadian exporters and investors access more opportunities around the globe. Expo 2020 will help expand on the existing, strong economic and cultural ties between Canada and the UAE and, more broadly, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region.

"We are extremely excited to break ground on the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai," says Wissam Ayoub, Vice-President Middle-East, EllisDon. "We are proud to be delivering this iconic facility showcasing what Canada has to offer. This is a testimony to our commitment to the UAE and the region as a whole."

Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to present Canada as a destination of choice to visit, study, invest, do business and immigrate. Canada’s theme, 'The Future in Mind', will focus on Canadian leadership in key sectors such as advanced technologies, aerospace, artificial intelligence, tourism and education, as well as to promote Canadian values like gender equality and sustainable practices.