In a moment brimming with nostalgia and history, Rashid Al Nuaimi, the former UAE Foreign Minister and the commissioner-general of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 1970 Osaka, made a monumental return to the Japanese city 55 years after leading the UAE’s first-ever participation in a World Expo. His visit to the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 wasn’t just a personal milestone but a symbolic celebration of the enduring bond between the UAE and Japan, highlighting the progress and innovation both nations have nurtured over decades.
Al Nuaimi’s visit to the state-of-the-art 2025 Pavilion was nothing short of an emotional homecoming, a tribute to the UAE’s journey from a fledgling nation in 1970 to a global powerhouse today. The Pavilion, aptly named “Earth to Ether,” takes visitors on a multisensory journey through the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and groundbreaking innovations in fields such as space exploration, healthcare, and sustainable technology. As Al Nuaimi toured the Pavilion, the connection to both the UAE’s past and future was palpable, reinforcing the nation’s role in shaping global dialogues on progress and collaboration.
Accompanied by Shihab Al Faheem, the UAE Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of Expo 2025, Al Nuaimi also interacted with the 46 Youth Ambassadors, who play a key role in representing the UAE’s story at the Expo. The experience was made even more poignant by his remarks about the UAE’s first foray into the global stage at Expo 1970, where the country’s resilience and vision for the future were first showcased.
This visit wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was about reflecting on how far the UAE has come and how deep the cultural ties between Japan and the UAE have grown. Al Nuaimi’s return to Osaka stands as a powerful reminder that even decades later, these two nations continue to build on their shared vision for innovation, collaboration, and mutual respect.
