French flânerie
One of the highlights of the French Pavilion is its esplanade promenade which was designed as a flânerie (lounge) and relaxation space for visitors, adorned with endemic trees.
The groundbreaking of the pavilion was done in May last year in the presence of Elisabeth Borne, former French Minister of Transports. The architects were Jean-Luc Perez and Bernard Mauplot (Atelier du Prado Architectes) and Jacob Celnikier and Pascal Grabli (Celnikier & Grabli Architectes).
Also in attendance at the inauguration on Thursday were Amélia Lakrafi, Member of Parliament (French National Assembly) and President of the France-Emirates Friendship Group at the French National Assembly; Xavier Chatel, French Ambassador to the UAE, and French Consul General Raja Rabia.