Kengo Kuma Designs Qatari Pavilion at the Expo 2025
The State of Qatar laid the foundation stone for the Qatar pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and also unveiled the design of its national pavilion. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates in collaboration with Qatar Museums, the pavilion draws inspiration from Qatar’s traditional dhow boat construction and Japan’s heritage of wooden joinery.
The event was attended by H.E. Mr. Jaber Jaralla Al-Marri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan and Commissioner-General of the State of Qatar at EXPO 2025, H.E. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, Deputy Commissioner-General and Chairman of the preparation committee for the State of Qatar’s participation in EXPO 2025 Osaka, as well as a number of political, media, social and business figures in addition to EXPO organising committee representatives.
The design of the Qatari Pavilion highlights the two countries’ connection to the sea, which was once a hub of resources and a medium for trade and knowledge exchange. The Qatar exhibition within the Expo will be on view between April 13 and October 13, 2025, and it aims to showcase Qatar’s innovations across diverse fields.
The pavilion was collaboratively designed by Qatar Museums and Kengo Kuma & Associates after extensive visits to Doha by the designers. The pavilion’s design is inspired by a fusion of Qatari and Japanese cultures, particularly the shared elements such as the wood used in the building of traditional dhows, the wood used in the construction of traditional Japanese houses and the fabric used in their interiors. The total area of the pavilion is estimated at 1,292 square metres.
First images of the pavilion show a complex wooden structure covered in a veil of white fabric, a nod to the dhows, the traditional sailing vessels typically used for trading across the coasts of the Indian Ocean.
EXPO 2025 will be held in Osaka, Japan, under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. The exhibition will focus on three sub-themes: “Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives.”
The exhibition will additionally feature an exceptional experience that exemplifies the strong ties between the State of Qatar and Japan in many areas, including culture, trade, customs and traditions. About 150 countries and 25 international organisations will participate in the exhibition, attracting 82 million visitors including 3.5 million from outside Japan.
The State of Qatar’s participation in the exhibition provides a platform for strengthening commercial, industrial and investment cooperation with other participating countries.
It will also facilitate Qatari businesses in forging strong relations with their Japanese counterparts and establishing partnerships across various sectors, particularly given Osaka’s status as a prominent business hub in Japan.
