Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Visits UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, visited the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, underscoring the UAE’s enduring commitment to global dialogue and a future-oriented vision for collective progress.
During the visit, His Highness was received by Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025. The visit highlights the significance of Expo 2025 as the first World Expo since Expo 2020 Dubai, which brought together 192 nations and over 24 million visitors in a landmark global event.
Commenting on the UAE’s participation, Sheikh Mohammed stated: “The UAE’s participation in Expo Osaka reflects our deep commitment to global cooperation and our firm belief that knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaborative action are key to building a better future. Having brought the world together at Expo 2020 Dubai, we continue to play a constructive role in connecting cultures, fostering exchange of knowledge and advancing shared progress. The UAE remains deeply engaged in efforts to shape a more sustainable and inclusive world, actively contributing to the development of ideas and solutions that improve lives and promote human wellbeing.”
His Highness commended the outstanding efforts behind the Pavilion’s design and extended his gratitude to H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Court for National Projects, for her leadership in overseeing the initiative.
The UAE Pavilion, themed ‘Earth to Ether’, presents an immersive, multisensory experience that narrates the nation’s remarkable transformation—from its roots in tradition to its current role as a pioneer in innovation, sustainability, and space exploration. The structure, inspired by the UAE’s iconic date palm, reinterprets traditional areesh architecture with 90 towering palm rachis columns reaching up to 16 meters.
The Pavilion emphasizes three national priorities that define the UAE’s global vision:
- Explorers of Space: Highlighting the Emirates Mars Mission, the Rashid Rover, and future asteroid missions that exemplify the UAE’s commitment to space science and youth empowerment.
- Catalysts of Healthcare: Showcasing advances in precision medicine, genomics, and preventative care, rooted in a people-first approach to public health.
- Stewards of Sustainability: Demonstrating a long-standing national investment in renewable energy and environmental resilience, inspired by ancestral wisdom.
Sheikh Mohammed also visited a section dedicated to the UAE’s historical participation in World Expos, beginning with Expo 1970 in Osaka. That appearance marked the UAE’s international debut, ahead of the country’s founding in 1971. The journey has since included seven participations, culminating in Expo 2020 Dubai—the first World Expo hosted in the MEASA region.
The visit further emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between the UAE and Japan, with Sheikh Mohammed highlighting how participation in Expo 2025 Osaka will deepen ties across sectors such as energy, trade, technology, and culture—founded on mutual values of respect and cooperation.
Concluding the tour, His Highness expressed appreciation to all teams involved in the Pavilion’s development, commending their role in sharing the UAE’s success story and building global partnerships aligned with the country’s future ambitions.
Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
Reflecting on the visit, Ambassador Shihab Al Faheem said, “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s visit to the UAE Pavilion is a profound honour. It underscores the UAE leadership’s belief in Expos as vital platforms for dialogue, innovation, and international collaboration. Our presence in Osaka builds on the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai and signals our dedication to co-creating a flourishing, sustainable future for all.”
