DUBAI — On the second day of his official visit to the UAE, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, was received by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid at Zabeel Palace here on Thursday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomed Prince Muhammad to the UAE, and highlighted the strategic relation between the two nations. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual interests and ways of developing it. Sheikh Mohammed later tweeted, "I received in Dubai today with all the love Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, history is made by brave people, the region today is changing because of Muhammad Bin Salman." Later, Prince Muhammad visited the headquarters of Expo 2020 Dubai, with the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid. The mega event, which features the participation of 192 countries, is scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, under the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future' from Oct.20, 2020 to April 10, 2021. Sheikh Hamdan said, "Prince Muhammad Bin Salman's keenness to visit the Expo 2020 Dubai headquarters reflects the Kingdom's keenness to support the global event in which it is participating with a pavilion that is second in size only to that of the UAE." "I had the honor today of accompanying the UAE's dear guest, Prince Muhammad, on a visit to the HQ of Expo2020, Saudi Arabia's presence and support in this event brings us great pride," Sheikh Hamdan said. Saudi Arabia's participation in Expo 2020 gains particular importance in the context of the Kingdom's pursuit of achieving its ambitious ‘2030 Vision'. Prince Muhammad was briefed about the different pavilions and stands that will be part of the event. He also visited Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of Expo 2020, spanning an area of 4.38 square kilometers, which will include many restaurants, fountains, and parks covered by a translucent 67-meter-tall domed trellis 130 meters in diameter. The trellis also serves as a 360-degree projection surface visible to visitors inside and outside. They also visited the site of the UAE pavilion, designed in the shape of a falcon in flight, spread over an area of 15,000 square meters. The pavilion will tell the history of the nation as a connected global hub, and the vision of its leaders to create a peaceful and progressive society with ambitious plans for the future. Later, they visited the site of the Saudi pavilion, which spans an area of 13,096 square meters. They were briefed about the pavilion and the structure's creative façade, which represents the Kingdom's aspirations, as well as its welcoming character and deep-rooted culture. They also watched a short documentary about the design and construction of the pavilion and its various components. The visit of Prince Muhammad to the UAE underscores the depth and breadth of the very close and special relationship that ties the two brotherly nations, a UAE newspaper commented editorially on Thursday.
