Mammoet involved in Expo 2020’s UAE pavilion build

Staff Report,

1 Mar 2022

Heavy lift specialist lifted and placed panels weighing 6-16t of the structure’s 28 iconic movable wings with a project schedule that minimised job-site disruption and mitigated risks from winds

The iconic UAE pavilion at the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020 was constructed with the help of global heavy-lift and moving specialist Mammoet, whose equipment and services enabled the lifting and installing of the pavilion’s definitive structure – the “wing” panels.

According to Mammoet, it deployed one of its 750t crawler cranes – a Liebherr LR 1750 – to lift and place the wing panels of UAE pavilion’s roof during its construction stage. The weight of the panels ranged from 6-16 tonnes with lengths varying between 24-61 metres.

Due to the size of the panels and a large surface area to weight ratio, the permissible lifting wind speed was reduced to 3.4m per second to ensure safe operations, said Mammoet, adding that all panels were installed at night to accommodate the continuity of other construction activities at the UAE pavilion during daylight hours.

Mammoet explained that each panel was lifted at an outreach of 35m with the counterweight disconnected to accommodate the congested site requirements. After slewing the panel above the roof in line with the installation position, the counterweight was connected so the crane could boom out to 117.5m with sufficient capacity. Each panel was then safely lowered down to enable easy alignment for further securing.

Additionally, six mobile cranes - ranging in capacity from 50t to 350t - were deployed for installation of various structures at the Expo site, including bridge portals and the public spaces in concourses and arrival plazas.

Having both national and global significance, the UAE pavilion tells 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. The pavilion was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and inspired by his observation of a falcon in flight. The 28 movable wings of the falcon represent the flow of movement. The ‘wings’ can spread open within three minutes, covering a range of 110 and 125 degrees.

The UAE Pavilion is one of the greatest icons in the Expo, which includes some of the most innovative ideas in architecture and design today. Located at the centre of the 200-hectare exhibition zone, the pavilion is set on an area of 15,000 square metres.

Dubai Expo 2020 is a six-month event showcasing architecture, global culture and innovation that brings together participants from 192 countries and six continents. The event’s theme is ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ through sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It has recorded over 10 million visits since opening on October 1, 2021.