Saudi Arabia will be planting 150 date palms atop their pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Scheduled to be finished by Lunar New Year on February 14, the project has cost more than HK$228 million so far and could end up as the priciest pavilion, according to executive director of expo's the Saudi commission Mohammed Alisssan Al-Ghamdi.

The combined effort of mainland and Saudi designers, the moon boat-shaped exhibit will be surrounded by deserts and seas and will be showcasing the world's largest cinema screen at 1,600 square metres.