Kuwait Pavilion draws significant attention of global visitors at Osaka Expo 2025
Designed to symbolize Kuwait as a nation that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity
The Kuwait Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025 in Japan is drawing significant attention from global visitors, many of whom have been lining up in long queues outside the pavilion since its official opening last month. Titled “The Future Beacon,” the pavilion offers an immersive and innovative journey that fuses Kuwait’s deep-rooted cultural heritage with its ambitious vision for the future.
Designed to symbolize Kuwait as a nation that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, the pavilion emphasizes the role of culture in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, and international cooperation. It has quickly become a must-see attraction among Expo attendees, particularly following viral social media videos of the exhibit’s interactive sand feature. “We saw a video of people touching sand in the pavilion and decided we had to come see it for ourselves. It looked so fun,” said two women in their twenties who were waiting in line outside the venue.
Spanning two floors, the Kuwait Pavilion narrates the story of a country proud of its past and optimistic about its future. One level highlights Kuwait’s rich traditions—such as its maritime heritage, desert life, and cultural customs—while the other showcases its technological aspirations and sustainable development goals. A central architectural element, called “The Pearl,” links the two levels and pays homage to Kuwait’s historical role in the pearl diving trade, once a pillar of its economy.
The pavilion features four distinct exhibition halls, each combining advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and immersive displays with traditional storytelling. Visitors experience a chronological journey through Kuwait’s past, present, and future. One family described their visit as unforgettable, noting: “We loved the planetarium—it felt like lying under the desert sky. We hope to come again.”
In a particularly memorable moment, the Kuwait Folklore Troupe performed a live musical show last Friday evening to celebrate the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled to the pavilion. The performance captivated international visitors. “The Kuwaiti music is so rhythmic and beautiful,” said one of five women who attended the concert. Another added, “We didn’t know much about Kuwait, but this music gave us a connection to the country.”
Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, emphasized that the pavilion embodies Kuwait’s creative spirit and commitment to cultural openness while remaining grounded in its values. “It presents rich, multi-dimensional content that showcases both our heritage and future aspirations,” he said.
Expo 2025 Osaka, hosted on Yumeshima Island in Japan’s Kansai region from April 13 to October 13, is centered on the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” With subthemes such as “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives,” and “Connecting Lives,” the event aims to tackle global challenges through innovation, sustainability, and cultural exchange. More than 160 countries and nine international organizations are participating, and organizers expect over 28 million visitors.
Kuwait’s participation in Expo 2025 continues a historic legacy—it was one of only four Arab nations to participate in the 1970 Osaka Expo, the first such event held in Japan, which attracted more than 64 million attendees. Over five decades later, Kuwait’s pavilion once again stands as a proud testament to the country’s enduring cultural identity and forward-looking vision.
