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Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Meet the women shaping UAE's story at Expo 2025 Osaka
Pay attention — women aren't breaking glass ceilings anymore. That metaphor is passé. Today they are writing new stories. They are shaping nations, steering corporations, redefining personal purpose, and literally taking every ounce of space once considered a male stronghold. Nowhere is this shift more visible than in the UAE, where women are not just included in the national narratives, but are entrusted with the task of telling it. Reflecting the country's faith in female leadership and competence is the presence of two women at the helm of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka — Mariam Al Memari, deputy commissioner general and pavilion director, and head of UAE Expo Office, and Shaikha Al Ketbi, deputy commissioner general and creative director. Their appointment is neither a symbolic gesture nor a coincidence that came about; it is an assertion that a nation's progressional chronicling has found new templates, designed and employed by women. For Al Memari, who leads the strategy, operations, and diplomatic vision of the pavilion, leadership is a lot more than holding hierarchy. 'It's about reimagining possibilities, challenging conventions,' she says, echoing a belief that women in leadership must hold both purpose and influence. 'As women leaders, I believe we bring a leadership style rooted in care, agility, and collaboration,' she says, emphasising how the active involvement of women fostered an environment where conversations flowed freely, differing viewpoints were valued, and choices were guided by clarity and empathy. This transformed the pavilion into a vibrant expression of UAE's identity and the ideals it wished to present to the world. Her view of empowerment is rooted in the UAE's own trajectory — a nation that, in just over fifty years, has established itself as a bridge between heritage and modernity, tradition and global interchange. Being at the forefront of such an initiative in an administrative role, especially on a stage as significant as Expo, could not have come by deliberate design. It is a calling that she responded to with an aim to excel beyond gender biases and carry out a great responsibility the leadership of the UAE placed on her; a responsibility she fulfils with both humility and determination. 'When visitors walk into the UAE pavilion and see women confidently leading, speaking, creating, and representing the country, it signals that leadership is defined by capability, vision and integrity, and not by gender,' she says highlighting the import of her endeavour. Beautifully aligned to Al Memari's principled and progressive influence at the Expo is Shaikha Al Ketbi's creative and cultural vision. An artist, architect, and cultural attaché, she brings emotional intelligence and a sense of serenity to the pavilion's design language. She doesn't call her work feminist or overtly symbolic. Instead, she speaks of 'attunement'; of allowing spaces to breathe with memory and metaphor. 'There's a quiet power in the way women hold space,' she says, and this gentle ethos runs like a thread through the pavilion — from the braid-like forms to the light that moves gently across thresholds. She is a leader who straddles two terrains. 'To me, feminine leadership in design is about being open to intuition while staying grounded in complexity. It's an ability to hold contradiction — to let softness and strength coexist,' she explains. No doubt, the pavilion is remarkable for the leadership behind it, but what enhances its significance is the intention that underpins it. The theme, 'Earth to Ether' suggests a movement from the grounded to the aspirational. It's a symbolic arc that mirrors the UAE's own evolution. Designed by the Earth to Ether Collective, an Emirati-Japanese team of creatives, the pavilion features architectural elements like datecrete (an innovation using recycled date-palm waste) and timber joinery that blends Emirati areesh (traditional form of Emirati architecture) with Japanese sensibilities. Beyond the spectacle it offers, the structure reveals vignettes of UAE's heritage through modern building forms. As an artist, Al Ketbi's voice is endearingly modest and quietly confident. She welcomes the appreciation that audiences have for the feminine poetics, intimacy and details they notice in her work, but in global settings like the Expo pavilion, what matters more to her is the cultural interface it kindles to tell the nation's story. She speaks of design as an experience of 'deeply felt moments' — not just as a visual aesthetic, but a lingering resonance. She also stresses that 'tradition is not static; it's alive, it evolves'. To her that meant, in this instance, pushing back against common stereotypes from outside and the familiar habits within to create what now stands as a hallmark of Emirati creative excellence on a world forum where designs compete to stand out and speak. Her responses to aesthetic needs are less about the materials themselves and more about the feeling they evoke. 'Sustainability isn't shouted from the rooftops; it's felt in filtered light, natural airflow, and the textures beneath your palm,' she says. In a world of ever-louder messages, the UAE pavilion in Osaka chooses to speak in hushed, deliberate tones. This sense of cultural stewardship extends to their approach to inclusivity too. Al Memari describes the all-female leadership as a logical outcome of a system that nurtures and trusts its women. 'Our presence is not just representative, it's aspirational,' she reflects. 'When young Emirati women see us here, we want them to see what's possible when imagination is matched with opportunity.' Their belief in the transformative power of visibility informs much of what the pavilion is trying to achieve. Along with hosting exhibits, it also hosts conversations. From Youth Ambassadors engaging in cultural exchange, to storytelling sessions, creative forums, and immersive zones dedicated to healthcare, sustainability, and space exploration, the pavilion acts as a mirror of what the UAE is and draws a sketch of what it wants to become. Both Al Memari and Al Ketbi resist regular binaries like tradition versus innovation, feminine versus universal, structure versus symbolism. They see leadership not as a disruption of norms but as an evolution of them. While the former talks about resilience, ambition, and authenticity as guiding values, the latter reflects on the ability to hold contradiction and evenly make space for both emotion and intellect. In their collaboration, we see a model of duality in harmony: one shaping strategy, the other sculpting sensibility. And perhaps that is the story the UAE pavilion is telling most compellingly: that cultural progress doesn't need to erase the past, only reinterpret it; that leadership isn't about decibels, but resonance; and that the future of national narratives might just lie in the hands of those who know how to braid light, memory, and meaning into a space people can walk through. Amidst the neon shimmer and centuries-old shrines of Osaka, a city where futurism locks hands with deep tradition, the UAE pavilion thus rises, echoing a similar harmony of heritage and ambition. And at the heart of it, two women are holding the pen. They are not writing merely a story of women's competence on an international arena; they are scripting what's already here, and what's more to come.
Al Etihad
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
ADMAF, UAE Pavilion hosts Abu Dhabi Festival's ‘Art @Embassies' Talk at Expo 2025 Osaka
16 July 2025 22:16 ABU DHABI (WAM)Held under the founding honorary patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Founding Honorary Patron of Abu Dhabi Festival, and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the 'Abu Dhabi Festival's Art @Embassies Talk' was presented at the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka on 15th by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in collaboration with the UAE Pavilion, the panel brought together Emirati artists and their Japanese counterparts for a cultural dialogue exploring identity, materiality, memory, and pace of discussion is part of a broader series under ADMAF's Abroad Programme, promoting human connection through the of ADMAF and the Abu Dhabi Festival, Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, said the initiative, now in its third year, is a continuation of ADMAF's mission to foster global artistic exchange.'In collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Japan and as part of the UAE National Pavilion programme at Expo Osaka, we present a dialogue featuring young Emirati artists Shaikha Al Ketbi and Sarah Al Mehairi, in conversation with Chiaki Soma of Tokyo University of the Arts,' she noted that the talk explored contemporary themes of place and memory, contrasting slowness and acceleration in life.'This initiative has previously travelled to London, Paris, and Seoul, and aims to deepen friendship, cooperation and cultural dialogue between artists from the UAE and Japan, this year's Guest Country of Honour,' she Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Shihab Alfaheem, said art serves as a powerful medium of empathy, dialogue and praised the Art @ Embassies initiative for highlighting the UAE's creative spirit and strengthening international Commissioner General and Creative Director of the Pavilion, Shaikha Al Ketbi, said the space was dedicated to amplifying Emirati voices and celebrating the potential of cultural diplomacy through initiatives like Art @ panel reflected the UAE Pavilion's Earth to Ether theme, which emphasises how heritage informs Pavilion, situated in the Empowering Lives Zone, was designed by the Earth to Ether Collective—an international team led by the UAE Expo addition to the panel, ADMAF and the UAE Pavilion are hosting several cultural initiatives at Expo 2025 Osaka. In April, Emirati calligrapher, Mohamed Mandi, and Japanese master, Juichi Yoshikawa, created a collaborative work blending Arabic and Japanese calligraphy.A rolling residency titled 'Guest Artists Takeover' features Emirati artists Asma Al Remeithi, Aisha (Yoshi) Al Ali, Sarah Al Mehairi and Moza Almatrooshi, who are transforming the Pavilion's creative space through workshops and live August, ADMAF and NYU Abu Dhabi's The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2025 winners, Sara Farha and Khaled Shalkha, will lead innovation-focused workshops at the Pavilion, encouraging artistic experimentation and cultural dialogue. Through these programmes, ADMAF and the UAE Pavilion are showcasing the UAE's artistic voice and promoting Abu Dhabi's cultural vision to a global audience.
Khaleej Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Why the UAE's story at World Expo matters to the world
Fifty-five years ago, Abu Dhabi participated in its first World Expo in Osaka in 1970 with quiet ambition and a clear message: we are ready to engage with the world. Today, the UAE is back in Osaka not as observers, but as convenors, collaborators and catalysts of change. Expo 2025 is not just a global gathering; it is a proving ground for shared progress. The UAE Pavilion stands as a working model of what it means to lead with purpose, build with vision and partner with humility. World Expos have evolved. They are no longer stages for grand statements alone. They are now incubators of cooperation, places where policy meets creativity, and where nations test ideas that might shape the global future. This evolution mirrors the UAE's own journey, from a newly formed federation to a nation that places innovation, sustainability and human potential at the heart of its identity. Our experience as the host nation of Expo 2020 Dubai marked a defining moment in the UAE's global engagement. For six months, we welcomed visitors from across the world, creating a platform that celebrated innovation, culture and cooperation across 192 participating countries. Expo 2020 was not only the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, but also a demonstration of how the UAE brings together ambition and inclusion on a global scale. That legacy lives on through our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, where we continue the dialogue we began on home soil The theme of the UAE Pavilion, Earth to Ether, captures our philosophy. It represents the nation's commitment to empowering life across every spectrum: from tangible environmental action to boundless ambition in space exploration. The Pavilion's three narrative zones, Explorers of Space, Catalysts of Healthcare, and Stewards of Sustainability, are not static exhibitions. They are dynamic stories of people and partnerships building the future. Take our journey into space. The UAE was the first Arab nation to reach Mars. But beyond that achievement lies purpose. The data from the Emirates Mars Mission is freely shared with the global scientific community. As a founding member of Nasa's Artemis Accords and a core contributor to the Gateway project, the Moon's future orbital station, the UAE is shaping the future of space not in isolation but in solidarity. This is diplomacy through science and it is being showcased live at the pavilion. In healthcare, our story begins with necessity but now drives global innovation. With partnerships ranging from Kyoto University to the World Health Organisation, the UAE is investing in genomic research, preventative medicine and AI-powered diagnostics. Through institutions like PureHealth, M42, and the Abu Dhabi Biobank, we are developing healthcare systems designed not just to treat, but to predict and personalise care. Our efforts on sustainability are deeply rooted in tradition. The Pavilion's architecture is inspired by the date palm tree, a symbol of resilience and generosity, and reimagined through cutting-edge circular design. Constructed from cross-laminated timber using Japanese joinery techniques, the Pavilion is demountable and sustainable by design. But the symbolism is greater than structure. Our ancestors built with what they had. We now build for what the world needs. Yet what truly distinguishes this Pavilion is not the design or technology, but the spirit within. Youth Ambassadors warmly welcome visitors, showcasing hospitality shaped by generations of Emirati culture. Artists, performers, scientists and artisans have transformed the space into a vibrant, living experience. Our values of openness, resilience and ambition are brought to life through human connection. In a time of geopolitical tension, climate anxiety and digital fragmentation, the UAE's story offers something essential: a model of balanced modernity. Here is a nation that embraces progress without abandoning its identity, that celebrates diversity while preserving its roots and that seeks global relevance without demanding conformity. And this is precisely why the UAE's story at Expo 2025 matters. It is not about projecting an image; rather, it is about proposing a pathway — one that is collaborative, grounded and future-facing; one where space missions serve Earth, where sustainability is integrated into everyday life and where diplomacy is practised through architecture, education and shared discovery. The UAE Pavilion is also a tribute to the deep and enduring relationship between the UAE and Japan. This partnership, built on decades of trust and trade, now expands into co-innovation in energy, healthcare, logistics and sustainability. At Expo 2025, we are not just neighbours on the Expo map. We are partners in purpose. As Commissioner General and as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, I have had the privilege of witnessing how Japanese visitors engage with the Pavilion. What resonates with them is not grandeur. It is sincerity. Not scale, but substance. It is in these moments of connection that the true success of an Expo lives. We are now past the opening fanfare. The Pavilion is alive with questions, conversations, and curiosity. The next phase of our Expo journey is to turn engagement into collaboration and collaboration into legacy. Already, new ideas are emerging, from educational exchanges and business partnerships to sustainability pilots and joint research. We invite the world to join us in shaping what comes after Expo. The UAE's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is not just an exhibit. It is an invitation to engage with us, collaborate with us and co-create a future that serves all life, from the Earth to the ether. That is why our story matters and we are proud to tell it once again in Osaka.
Web Release
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
UAE Pavilion Celebrates Two Million Visitors with a Celebration of Hope and Shared Dream
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, today celebrated a major milestone as it welcomed its two millionth visitor, affirming its status as a destination of inspiration, dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. The milestone was marked with a special celebration inspired by Japan's beloved Tanabata Festival, reinforcing the Pavilion's ethos of shared experiences and collective hope for the future. As part of the celebration, visitors were invited to write their wishes for a better future on custom-designed Tanzaku cards and hang them on the Pavilion's outdoor signage. Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival that has been cherished for generations. Rooted in themes of love, hope and dreams, it invites people to write their wishes on colourful Tanzaku strips and hang them on bamboo branches, with the belief that their hopes will be carried to the sky. The celebrations, which drew thousands of participants, featured palm leaves in place of bamboo, echoing the UAE Pavilion's symbolic date palm. Wishes were hung upon them, transforming the Pavilion's forecourt into a vibrant visual symbol of dreams and aspirations. Designed under the theme 'Earth to Ether,' the UAE Pavilion offers a multi-sensory experience across five thematic zones that reflect the UAE's story of heritage, ambition, and innovation. Visitors have consistently praised its immersive storytelling, architecture, and warm hospitality, all of which underscore the UAE's commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships and creating inclusive platforms for dialogue. His Excellency Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, said: 'We are deeply honoured to have welcomed two million visitors to the UAE Pavilion. This reflects the world's interest, trust, and connection with the UAE's journey. By celebrating this milestone during Tanabata, we not only honoured a cherished Japanese tradition but also embraced the spirit of cultural exchange that defines Expo 2025. Our Pavilion continues to be a living space of ideas, creativity and shared values.' Since its opening in April, the UAE Pavilion has hosted a variety of impactful events, cultural showcases, and thematic activations. These have included expert talks, cultural performances, creative workshops, Emirati cuisine demonstrations, and exhibitions by Emirati artists alongside collaborative dialogues, each carefully curated to engage diverse audiences and provide meaningful insights into the UAE's culture, values, and spirit of collaboration. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, runs until October 13, 2025. The UAE Pavilion remains open to all visitors throughout the Expo, offering a powerful, human-centred perspective on how nations can come together to shape a better tomorrow.
Gulf Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrates two million visitors
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, on Monday celebrated a major milestone as it welcomed its two millionth visitor, affirming its status as a destination of inspiration, dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. The milestone was marked with a special celebration inspired by Japan's beloved Tanabata Festival, reinforcing the Pavilion's ethos of shared experiences and collective hope for the future. As part of the celebration, visitors were invited to write their wishes for a better future on custom-designed Tanzaku cards and hang them on the Pavilion's outdoor signage. Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival that has been cherished for generations. Rooted in themes of love, hope and dreams, it invites people to write their wishes on colourful Tanzaku strips and hang them on bamboo branches, with the belief that their hopes will be carried to the sky. The celebrations, which drew thousands of participants, featured palm leaves in place of bamboo, echoing the UAE Pavilion's symbolic date palm. Wishes were hung upon them, transforming the Pavilion's forecourt into a vibrant visual symbol of dreams and aspirations. Designed under the theme 'Earth to Ether,' the UAE Pavilion offers a multi-sensory experience across five thematic zones that reflect the UAE's story of heritage, ambition, and innovation. Visitors have consistently praised its immersive storytelling, architecture, and warm hospitality, all of which underscore the UAE's commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships and creating inclusive platforms for dialogue. Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, said, "We are deeply honoured to have welcomed two million visitors to the UAE Pavilion. This reflects the world's interest, trust, and connection with the UAE's journey. By celebrating this milestone during Tanabata, we not only honoured a cherished Japanese tradition but also embraced the spirit of cultural exchange that defines Expo 2025. Our Pavilion continues to be a living space of ideas, creativity and shared values.' Since its opening in April, the UAE Pavilion has hosted a variety of impactful events, cultural showcases, and thematic activations. These have included expert talks, cultural performances, creative workshops, Emirati cuisine demonstrations, and exhibitions by Emirati artists alongside collaborative dialogues, each carefully curated to engage diverse audiences and provide meaningful insights into the UAE's culture, values, and spirit of collaboration. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, runs until October 13, 2025. The UAE Pavilion remains open to all visitors throughout the Expo, offering a powerful, human-centred perspective on how nations can come together to shape a better tomorrow. WAM
