Arab countries highlight history and traditions

There are pavilions representing countries from across the Arab world at Expo 2010 Shanghai, with some playing on their individual historical traditions as others offer futuristic visions to entice visitors. @Body-Infobox2:In design, the Omani and Qatari pavilions trade on the characteristic architecture of the Arabian peninsula. Oman's pavilion is a fort attached to the stylised prow of a sailing boat, and has thematic references to the story of the legendary sailor Sinbad.

Qatar's pavilion, which resembles a traditional tower, features a Bedouin tent and videos showing the country's use of eco-friendly technology in its urban development. By contrast, the Egyptian pavilion is a dramatically sculpted black-and-white structure that contains reminders of the country's Pharaonic heritage through artefacts on show. Jordan's pavilion also plays on an extraordinarily rich history, with visitors entering through a recreation of the architecture of Petra, the ancient stone city and world heritage site.

The theme of the Palestinian pavilion is the olive, as a symbol of peace through the olive branch and as a commercial item. Syria's pavilion, themed as "Damascus: the Oldest Capital Still Inhabited", features folk residences, while Yemen's pavilion has images of modern-day urban living and renovated villages. Saudi Arabia's solar and wind-powered pavilion, which contains an IMAX cinema the size of two basketball courts, is an elevated "moon boat" with date palms planted on the roof.