The UAE is set to present one of the largest country pavilions at the upcoming 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan. The announcement was made on Wednesday, accompanied by artist’s impressions of the pavilion, which is inspired by date palm trees.
UAE Ambassador to Japan Shihab Al Faheem, who led the groundbreaking ceremony at the expo site on Yumeshima Island, highlighted the pavilion’s unique design. “The UAE pavilion combines traditional Emirati materials – specifically palm tree rachis from agricultural waste, with Japanese expertise in wooden building techniques,” Al Faheem said in a Khaleej Times report.
He elaborated on the inspiration behind the pavilion, stating, “It is inspired by the ancestors, whose values of conservation and coexistence with the environment shaped their mindful use of resources and preservation of the land. This approach seeks to re-envision new methods and materials inspired by the UAE’s heritage and culture, demonstrating how the past can empower the present and the future.”
Expo 2025 Osaka will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, under the theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. The event will focus on three sub-themes: ‘Saving Lives’, ‘Empowering Lives’, and ‘Connecting Lives’. The UAE pavilion will be located in the ‘Empowering Lives’ zone, close to the Japan Pavilion.
Organizers stated that the UAE pavilion aims to “bring together people and innovations to address issues facing humanity through multi-sensory guest experiences and storytelling, content curation, and programming.” The pavilion will highlight stories of people, projects, and ideas from the UAE in alignment with the expo’s core theme.
Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State, emphasized the significance of the expo for both countries: “This World Expo comes at a pivotal moment for both the UAE and Japan, as we strive to enhance our collaboration and work together to empower lives and achieve a sustainable future for all. Since 1971, the UAE has been steadfast in its commitment to global solutions, and we remain dedicated to shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.”