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A replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David sent from to ��2020 has been partly covered to protect its modesty.����

The 17-ft copy of a naked man caused "enormous embarrassment" when first seen by the Emiratis at the world fair, said an Italian source speaking to newspaper La Repubblica.����

The Italians decided to place the statue in a column with its private parts covered by a stone slab when the Expo opened over the weekend.��

"We even considered putting underpants on him or changing [the] statue but it was too late," said one Italian in the UAE to La Repubblica.��

"We understood late it was a mistake bringing a statue of a nude man to the UAE."

Artistic director at Italy’s Pavillon in Dubai, Davide Rampello, denied reports that the cover-up was to do with on public nudity.��

He called the decision a "unique approach" that allowed visitors to come face-to-face with David when entering a viewing platform.��

Rampello added that audiences on the ground floor would be able to see all the statue.��But, this level is only accessible to VIPs.��

Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi said the cover-up was "grotesque and ridiculous" and argued the Italians were��"just bowing to [Emirati] religion and culture".��

The copy of Michelangelo’s famous work, originally crafted in the early 16th Century, was made using laser scans and 3D printing, then coated in marble dust.��

It depicts the Biblical hero David preparing to fight Goliath and wasas a star feature in Italy's Pavillon.��

The Expo, which has been eight years in the making, hosts over 190 countries��in a bid to showcase global innovation, culture, and creativity.��

Human rights groups have called for

Rights group Detained International told ������ that��the glamour of the Expo should not distract from the human rights abuses in the country��and "hypocrisy" of the government.��