Osaka, Japan
More than just a national exhibit, Qatar’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is a masterful architectural statement designed to strengthen cultural diplomacy with Japan, employing a blend of shared craftsmanship that is instantly inspiring global tourism interest, pavilion director Faisal Abdulrahman al-Ibrahim has said.
The official told 'Gulf Times' that the pavilion, themed 'From the Coastline, We Progress' and designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is a striking visual metaphor: a traditional Qatari dhow boat poised for sail. Its structure features wooden architecture, reminiscent of traditional boats, encased in a large, white membrane that evokes a sail billowing in the wind. This innovative design, he added, was rooted in a discovery of shared heritage.
“Kengo Kuma... was trying to find what similarities he can bring into the design. He found common ground in the fine woodworking traditions, the craftsmanship of the boat in Qatar, it is similar to the Japanese wooden architect,” he said.
According to the pavilion director, this architectural synergy establishes the pavilion as a symbol to the deepening bilateral relationship between the two nations, demonstrating that collaboration extends far beyond the energy sector. He said the interior of the pavilion immerses visitors in Qatari identity, focusing on the relationship between land and sea. Visitors embark on a “symbolic sea journey” that highlights the country’s extensive coastline, a narrative shift designed to counteract the common perception of Qatar as merely a desert nation. The exhibition guides the public through the history of the pearl industry and the development of coastal cities.
On the second floor, al-Ibrahim said this cultural fusion is made tangible in the Majlis (guest room), a space reserved for high-level meetings and events. Here, traditional Qatari and Japanese artistic elements interlock: the carpet design blends Qatari rug culture with the Japanese tatami concept. Additionally, he said sofa fabrics designed by a Qatari artist incorporate three symbols: the colours of both countries, sea waves linking the peninsula and the island nation, and the names of historic Qatari diving and trading boats.
He pointed out that the core of the main exhibition fuses the shared history and future co-operation between Qatar and Japan, exploring diverse areas from the historic pearl industry to modern architectural collaborations. Al-Ibrahim said this enthralling showcase of heritage and hospitality is translating directly into economic benefits, particularly for the tourism industry.
The pavilion director cited the Expo as a “great opportunity as well from the tourism aspect”: By experiencing the culture and history firsthand, visitors are prompted to take immediate steps toward travel.
“Lots of people get to admire the country (Qatar) and what we have, they have spoken with us from the perspective that, yes, definitely we will visit Qatar,” he noted, pointing to the success of the stopover plans offered by Qatar Airways.