Osaka: The United Arab Emirates today marked the opening of its national pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka, welcoming the world to an experience that brings together heritage, innovation, and interdisciplinary global collaboration. The Pavilion was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, and Shihab Al Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, along with dignitaries and guests from the UAE, Japan, and the world.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Pavilion’s design draws inspiration from the UAE’s iconic date palm tree, reinterpreting areesh – traditional Emirati vernacular architecture – by integrating agricultural date palm waste with Japanese woodworking expertise. The Pavilion’s signature feature is its forest of 90 rachis columns, soaring up to 16 metres. Created by the Earth to Ether Design Collective, the Pavilion is a testament to integrated, global collaboration.
Inside, visitors embark on a multi-sensory journey that celebrates the UAE’s explorer of space, catalysts of healthcare, and stewards of sustainability through immersive multimedia, art installations, and interior design. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stated, ‘Here in Osaka, we are proud to share how the UAE is translating ambition into tangible progress – expanding access to energy, investing in clean technologies, advancing the skills and knowledge of people, nurturing industrial transformation, and driving solutions that leave no one behind.’
Noura Al Kaabi remarked, ‘Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka is a continuation of a long-standing engagement with the world through platforms that encourage dialogue, collaboration, and shared progress. It is particularly meaningful to return to Osaka, where Abu Dhabi first took part in a World Expo in 1970. The UAE Pavilion reflects not only who we are but also who we are becoming, as a nation rooted in its heritage and guided by the possibilities of the future.’
Shihab Al Faheem added, ‘The Pavilion is more than a showcase; it is a platform for meaningful exchange and enduring partnership. We are proud to bring this story to Osaka and to deepen the special relationship between the UAE and Japan – one that spans more than five decades and continues to grow through shared ambition and mutual respect.’
Rooted in shared values, the UAE and Japan share a strategic partnership spanning over 50 years – with cooperation across energy, trade, education, culture, space, and technology. Abu Dhabi’s first participation at Expo ’70 in Osaka marked a historic milestone in blossoming relations between the UAE and Japan. This Pavilion continues this dialogue through multisensory experiences and collaborative programming.
At the heart of the UAE Pavilion are the Emirati Youth Ambassadors, proudly carrying the spirit of the nation. Of the 46 Youth Ambassadors at Expo 2025 Osaka, 24 are Emirati, guiding guests through the UAE’s innovations, heritage, and partnerships. Alongside their 20 Japanese and two Japan-based peers, and fluent in seven languages – Arabic, Japanese, English, Korean, Tagalog, French, and Mandarin – they transform every visit into a genuine connection and discovery.
Reflecting the UAE’s national priorities, the Pavilion is supported by partners: ADNOC, Space42, PureHealth, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). Their involvement strengthens the Pavilion’s presence and outreach.
Over the next six months, the Pavilion will host various events, including forums, workshops, and cultural programmes focused on sustainability, mobility, youth, and innovation. Visitors can explore Emirati cuisine at the pavilion restaurant, a concept store featuring UAE-based creatives, and a workshop space.
The UAE Pavilion, located in the Empowering Lives Zone at Expo 2025 Osaka, is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until 13th October 2025.