Earth to Ether: How UAE won hearts in Japan with grand Expo return after 55 years

In a mesmerising showcase of heritage and innovation, the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai captivated millions with a design inspired by nature and culture.

Rising like an enchanted forest of wooden columns, the architectural marvel stood as a symbol of the UAE’s generosity, resilience, and commitment to sustainability.

The pavilion, themed “Earth to Ether,” featured 90 towering wooden columns, each reaching 16 metres, crafted from more than two million palm fronds collected across the Middle East and North Africa. The result was a breathtaking structure that embodied the UAE’s deep connection to its environment while celebrating the fusion of Emirati craftsmanship and Japanese carpentry traditions. The Pavilion stood as a symbol of connection – where heritage met innovation, and sustainability intertwined with creativity.

Blending artistry with purpose, the pavilion offered a sensory journey through light, texture, and storytelling – a testament to how architecture can bridge cultures and inspire global dialogue. Its reception in Japan marked not only a successful return to the World Expo stage after 55 years but also reaffirmed the UAE’s growing role as a hub of creativity and cultural exchange. The UAE Pavilion concluded its participation as the most visited national pavilion, attracting over five million visitors in six months.

From April 13 to October 13, 2025, the Pavilion became a living bridge between the UAE and Japan, blending Emirati traditions with Japanese craftsmanship. Its design and experiences showcased how both nations, despite different geographies, share a commitment to progress through collaboration and cultural respect. Visitors were immersed in a multisensory journey that celebrated the UAE’s values of innovation, openness, and sustainability – earning it widespread acclaim and record satisfaction ratings.

Reflecting on the Pavilion’s journey, Shihab Alfaheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Pavilion, said that the Pavilion became more than a structure; it became a meeting point of values and aspirations.
“Every guest who entered helped write a shared story of dialogue, discovery, and collective progress.”
In 1970, before the formation of the UAE, Abu Dhabi participated at the Osaka Expo in Japan.
Alfaheem underlined the Expo marked a milestone moment in bilateral ties.
“Our return to Osaka after 55 years was both symbolic and purposeful. It reaffirmed the deep friendship between the UAE and Japan and demonstrated how shared imagination can create meaningful change. It also showcased our progress as a nation from our first participation in 1970 till today.”

The Pavilion’s success was powered by its 46 Youth Ambassadors, who embodied the UAE’s spirit of optimism and cultural pride. Through their hospitality, storytelling, and leadership during special “Youth Ambassador Takeover” events, they helped visitors connect emotionally with the UAE’s story – one of progress rooted in openness and unity.
“The Pavilion’s success belongs to every partner, team member, and visitor who carried our message of connection and possibility from Earth to Ether. Our leadership’s vision to participate in our first Expo in Osaka 1970 saw us come back full circle to this successful participation in Expo Osaka again in 2025,” he noted.

Beyond the record footfall of 5,061,088 visitors, the Pavilion hosted 583 VIP visits from 73 countries, including heads of state and senior officials. It became a vibrant platform for dialogue, innovation, and cultural exchange, featuring events on sustainability, healthcare, and space exploration. Highlights included ADNOC’s showcase on future energy, PureHealth’s dialogue on wellness, and astronaut Dr Sultan Al Neyadi’s “Beyond the Horizon” talks that inspired visitors to look skyward.

Culture and creativity also took centre stage. Traditional performances, sadu and khoos craft workshops, and culinary showcases like “Flavours of the UAE” offered by ICCA gave Japanese visitors a taste of Emirati hospitality. The Pavilion’s restaurant served more than 258,000 meals, fusing Emirati classics such as Lamb Ouzi and Dajaj Machboos with Japanese dining flair.

In every sense – from architecture and art to food and friendship – the UAE Pavilion became a heart-winning celebration of how far the nation has come since its first Expo appearance in 1970, and how its vision continues to connect the world from Earth to Ether.