Chen Yiqin/Shanghai Daily news

The oil-and-gas-rich United Arab Emirates Pavilion in World Expo Shanghai will focus on efficient energy use by producers and consumers.

But what UAE really wants to showcase at the Shanghai Expo is the country's concern for more than non-renewable resources in the desert land on the Gulf, said Ibrahim al Abed, commissioner general for the pavilion.

The country is rapidly becoming a global energy hub, breaking new ground in optimizing alternative energy resources, aiming for a sustainable future, he said.

The UEA Pavilion will be one of the Expo's largest, measuring 6,000 square meters.

The exhibition in the pavilion will tell the energy story in a unique way - retaining the best of the past and learning from current experience to develop special solutions for the desert country.

The pavilion will show how the country delivers fresh water to desert regions and cools houses without electricity or other forms of energy.

The UAE project will show how the nation preserves its culture in livable cities of the future. The theme of the Expo is "Better City, Better Life."

Al Abed said the UAE was particularly proud to participate in Shanghai Expo since it offered a unique opportunity for the two countries to get to know each other better and to explore areas for future cooperation.