UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Wins Silver Design Award in Asia Design Awards

The UAE pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka just won a silver award at the 2025 Design for Asia Awards, adding another international recognition to its growing collection of honors. The pavilion has already attracted over five million visitors during the six-month expo, making it one of the most popular destinations at the event.

The Design for Asia Awards, organized by Hong Kong Design Centre, celebrate outstanding design projects across Asia based on cultural depth, creative vision, and meaningful community impact. The competition drew entries from more than 20 countries and regions, with judges evaluating projects on creativity, cultural awareness, sustainability, human-centered design, and regional influence.

The pavilion's design tells a compelling story of cultural exchange. Created by the "From Earth to Ether" design group, it features 90 palm frond columns reaching 16 meters high, forming a canopy that evokes the tranquility of an Emirati oasis. But here's where it gets interesting - the design merges traditional Emirati "Areesh" architecture with Japanese woodworking craftsmanship, creating a dialogue between two cultures that both value nature.

The surrounding landscape reinforces this cross-cultural connection. Trees inspired by Japan's natural "Satoyama" forests blend with colors and textures from the UAE's natural environment. The pavilion uses innovative materials made from date pits and palm frond waste - products called "Date Crete" and "Date Form" - showing how sustainability can drive both environmental responsibility and aesthetic appeal.

Shehab Ahmed Al Fahim, UAE Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General for the UAE pavilion, said the award recognizes collaborative efforts between partners from the UAE, Japan, and around the world. The pavilion transforms architecture into a universal language that crosses borders, he noted, with the "From Earth to Ether" theme capturing the UAE's journey from its rich heritage to ambitious future innovations.

This latest recognition joins an impressive list of international awards. Earlier this year, the International Bureau of Exhibitions selected the UAE pavilion among the top three national pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka for architectural and landscape design. It also won the Global Expo Award for "Best Team" and received special recognition for "Best Sustainable Design." The pavilion earned a bronze medal in the "Global Olympics of Expo Pavilions" for the "Best Large Pavilion" category.

For expo organizers and participating countries, these awards matter because they set new standards for how nations present themselves on the global stage. The UAE's success shows that cultural storytelling through design can create genuine connections with international audiences. The pavilion's popularity - drawing five million visitors in six months - demonstrates that authentic cultural exchange resonates more than flashy displays or technology for its own sake.

The pavilion's multi-sensory experience takes visitors through a journey where traditional roots meet modern aspirations. Through shaded spaces and innovative visual storytelling, it reflects the UAE's core values and vision for a more progressive and prosperous shared future. Visitors have praised the pavilion's genuine hospitality and warm human presence, recognizing how it authentically represents the Emirates' spirit of openness, cooperation, and shared progress.