UAE pavilion opens its doors to world at Expo 2025 Osaka

The UAE has marked the opening of its national pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka, in the presence of Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy of the UAE to Japan, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State.

The opening was also overseen by 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.

Drawing design inspiration from the UAE’s date palm tree, the pavilion reinterprets areesh – traditional Emirati vernacular architecture – by integrating agricultural date palm waste with masterful Japanese woodworking expertise. The pavilion’s signature feature is its striking forest of 90 rachis columns, soaring up to 16 metres. Created by the Earth to Ether Design Collective – an interdisciplinary network of Emirati and Japanese creatives, 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 thoughtful 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. Together with our partners in Japan and beyond, we look forward to forging new pathways for a sustainable, inclusive future.”

In her remarks, Noura Al Kaabi said, “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.”

Over the next six months, the Pavilion will host a dynamic range of events, including forums, workshops and cultural programmes focused on sustainability, mobility, youth, and innovation. Visitors can also explore Emirati cuisine at the pavilion restaurant, a concept store featuring UAE-based creatives, and diverse 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 October 13, 2025.