UAE Pavilion welcomes 250,000th guest at the Expo 2025 in Japan

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka marked a significant milestone by welcoming its 250,000th visitor on Sunday, just over two weeks after officially opening its doors.

The occasion was celebrated with a special ceremony as the Pavilion continues to capture the imagination of guests from around the world.

The 250,000th guest and her family were warmly received by Shihab Al Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE Embassy to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, and were presented with a commemorative certificate, specially selected gifts from the Pavilion shop, and a complimentary dining experience at the Pavilion’s popular Emirati restaurant.

“We are proud to welcome our 250,000th guest to the UAE Pavilion,” said Shihab Al Faheem. “This milestone reflects the Pavilion’s role as a platform for dialogue, discovery, and collaboration. We are honoured to share the UAE’s story with the people of Japan and the world as we work together towards a flourishing future for all life, from Earth to Ether,” he added.

A Journey Through the UAE’s Story Guided by the theme Earth to Ether, the Pavilion offers a compelling, multisensory journey through the UAE’s story, from its rich cultural roots to its ambitious innovations.

Drawing inspiration from the UAE’s cherished date palm tree, the Pavilion’s design reimagines traditional areesh architecture through a striking oasis of 90 soaring rachis columns, crafted using sustainable practices and Japanese woodworking expertise.

Inside the Pavilion, guests embark on a multisensory journey that shares the UAE’s national story, one of deep humanity and remarkable transformation rooted in enduring values. Throughout the experience, guests meet the people and innovators shaping the nation’s future, including the Explorers of Space, the Catalysts of Healthcare, and the Stewards of Sustainability.

The journey culminates in ‘Woven Legacies’, a powerful documentary installation that brings visitors face to face with contemporary life in the United Arab Emirates.

Since opening, the Pavilion has witnessed strong and sustained guest interest, reflecting its growing reputation as one of the most engaging national pavilions across Expo 2025 Osaka.

In a moment charged with history and symbolism, Rashid Al Nuaimi, former Foreign Minister of the UAE, and the Commissioner General of the Abu Dhabi Pavilion at Expo 1970 Osaka, today returned to the city to visit the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025.

Over five decades after leading the UAE’s very first participation at a World Expo, Al Nuaimi’s visit marks a powerful homecoming and a tribute to the country’s enduring commitment to global dialogue and collaboration.

Rashid Al Nuaimi was received by Shihab Al Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

Together, they toured the Pavilion, themed “Earth to Ether”, where Al Nuaimi experienced first-hand the pavilion’s immersive, multisensory journey through the UAE’s story, from its cultural heritage to its pioneering innovations across space exploration, healthcare, and sustainable technology.

During his visit, Al Nuaimi also greeted the Pavilion’s 46 Youth Ambassadors, comprising 24 Emiratis, 20 Japanese, and 2 Japanese-speaking residents. Chosen through a highly competitive selection process, the Youth Ambassadors play a key role in conveying the Pavilion’s narrative, serving as a bridge between the UAE’s story and the Pavilion visitors.

“Expo ‘70 was an opportunity and a chance to showcase what we had, and also to demonstrate our resilience in working towards the future... It was also part of our Founding Father late Sheikh Zayed’s vision and his boundless ambition for development.” said Al Nuaimi. “The Japanese still remember us after these fifty five years, and the trust we placed in this cooperation was well-founded. And for the past 55 years, every single day, we have added to this relationship. Our collaboration today is deeper, broader, and more beneficial. That’s why we want this collaboration to continue, and for the trust between the two peoples to deepen, and that everyone who has something to contribute can add it.” The UAE’s participation in Expo 1970 was a defining milestone. It marked the country’s pre-union debut on the world stage, offering a glimpse of a nation in formation.

Al Nuaimi’s visit to the 2025 Pavilion brought that journey full circle, creating a poignant moment that bridged generations of leadership, ambition, co-creation, and storytelling.

Drawing inspiration from the UAE’s cherished date palm tree, the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 reinterprets design possibilities for traditional Emirati areesh architecture using agricultural palm waste, fused with masterful Japanese woodworking expertise.

WAM