Dubai Showcases Architectural Innovation and Cultural Heritage at Expo 2025 Osaka
At Expo 2025 Osaka–Kansai, Dubai Culture is making a bold statement for the UAE’s architectural future — one that is deeply rooted in heritage yet designed for tomorrow. Through the UAE Pavilion and the ‘Pillars of Arish: Architecture in Transition’ symposium, the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority is demonstrating how traditional knowledge and innovative design can come together to shape more sustainable, meaningful cities.
A Global Stage for Emirati Design
Organised in partnership with the UAE Pavilion and supported by the Dubai Cultural Grant Programme, the symposium forms part of the Authority’s mission to enhance Dubai’s cultural presence internationally. The UAE Pavilion itself — located in the Expo’s ‘Empowering Lives’ zone — reflects the country’s architectural ambition. Under the theme ‘From Earth to Ether’, the space blends contemporary design with Emirati identity, showing how architecture can express both national heritage and forward-looking vision.
The pavilion’s use of arish — traditional palm-frond structures reinterpreted through modern materials and construction techniques — reflects this idea perfectly. It’s a reminder that innovation often starts by looking to the past.
Pillars or Arish
Pillars of Arish: Exploring Architecture in Transition
The ‘Pillars of Arish’ symposium brought together architects, designers, academics, and cultural leaders to explore how the UAE’s architectural language is evolving. Topics ranged from material innovation and vernacular traditions to sustainability and global design exchanges.
Curated by Salem AlSuwaidi, founder of SWALIF Collective, and Rashed AlMulla, founder of MABNAI, the programme featured ten talks and panels with experts from the UAE, Japan, and beyond. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from the influence of Japanese architecture on Gulf design to the future of design education and how traditional knowledge informs modern urban development.
Notable sessions included:
Cultural Convergence: Exploring how Japanese architectural principles have influenced regional identity in the UAE.
Connecting Threads: Investigating how contemporary Emirati architecture draws inspiration from traditional forms.
Harnessing a Site: Examining how context-sensitive design can enrich both aesthetics and environmental performance.
From Arish to Villas: Tracing the transformation of Emirati housing from palm-frond homes to modern villas.
Falaj: Of Water Comes Life: A look at the UAE’s historic irrigation systems as models for sustainable infrastructure.
These conversations demonstrate that architecture in the UAE is more than aesthetics — it’s a reflection of culture, resilience, and a response to the environment.
Symposium
Bridging Cultures Through Design
The UAE’s participation at Expo 2025 extends beyond the symposium. Dubai Culture organised a curated tour for twelve emerging and established Emirati and UAE-based architects and designers, offering them the opportunity to explore Osaka’s most iconic architectural and cultural landmarks. From the works of legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando to the futuristic installations at teamLab Botanical Gardens, the experience provided valuable insights into Japan’s design legacy.
Participants included prominent figures such as Ahmed Bukhash, architect of Expo 2020 Dubai’s ‘The Good Place’ Pavilion, Fatima AlSuwaidi, Head of Cultural Heritage Legislation and Policy, and leading architects from studios like X-Architects, MULA Design Studio, and D04 Studios.
Their reflections speak to the importance of cultural exchange in shaping contemporary design:
“Seeing Tadao Ando’s work in Japan brought a new understanding of how architecture interacts with culture and environment,” shared architect Abdalla AlMulla.
“The visit deepened my appreciation for how heritage and modernity can coexist — a principle at the heart of both Japanese and Emirati design,” noted Fatima AlSuwaidi.
“It opened doors for collaboration and reshaped how I approach sustainable, culturally expressive projects,” reflected Rakan Lootah.
Design as a Tool for Sustainable, Cultural Growth
Dubai Culture’s involvement at Expo 2025 Osaka reflects a wider commitment to supporting the UAE’s cultural and creative industries — not only through grants and global platforms but by fostering dialogue, learning, and international partnerships. As Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, explained:
“We see heritage not as something static, but as a driver of innovation. Events like this allow us to showcase the UAE’s creative talent, build global connections, and spark new ideas that shape the design landscape of tomorrow.”
The UAE Pavilion — with its sustainable ethos, material consciousness, and cultural depth — is more than an architectural landmark. It represents a nation actively reimagining its future while honouring its past.
As Expo 2025 continues, Dubai’s presence highlights how design, culture, and heritage can come together to create spaces that are both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in tradition — a philosophy increasingly defining architecture in the UAE and across the Gulf.
