Recognised at the iF Design Awards for outstanding interior architecture and visitor experience.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has won Gold at the iF Design Award 2026 in the Interior Architecture – Trade Fairs / Temporary Exhibitions category, joining a select group of globally recognised design projects.
The pavilion was selected from more than 11,000 entries worldwide, with only a small number receiving the Gold distinction. The award is widely regarded as one of the most respected benchmarks in global design.
A journey from Earth to Ether
Designed under the theme “Earth to Ether,” the UAE Pavilion presented progress as a continuous human journey, connecting heritage, community and knowledge with science and future ambition.
Visitors experienced a carefully designed journey where architecture, landscape, and storytelling were seamlessly integrated. The pavilion guided guests through evolving light, materials, and immersive environments that reflected the UAE’s past, present, and future.
Design rooted in heritage and craft
At the centre of the UAE Pavilion stood 90 palm rachis columns reaching up to 16 metres, forming a shaded canopy and creating a calm gathering space within the busy Expo site.
Traditional materials were reinterpreted using modern construction techniques, developed in collaboration with Japanese craftsmanship, highlighting a shared emphasis on detail, culture and precision.
Rather than separating tradition from innovation, the pavilion presented them as a continuous narrative, where cultural memory informs and supports future thinking.
Leadership and collaboration
Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion, said the recognition reflects strong collaboration across disciplines and countries.
He added that the pavilion was designed to bring architecture, materials and visitor experience together in a cohesive and meaningful way.
Shihab Alfaheem added that more than five million visitors experienced the UAE Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, describing it as a journey through the UAE’s history, people and ambitions.
Among the most visited pavilions
During the Expo, the UAE Pavilion recorded over five million visitors, making it the most visited national pavilion at the event.
Guests moved from shaded outdoor spaces into immersive storytelling areas that showcased the UAE’s development, ideas, and future ambitions through a multi-sensory experience.
Part of wider international recognition
The iF Design Award 2026, established in 1954 and presented annually in Germany, is one of the world’s longest-running design honours, recognising excellence in concept, creativity and execution.
The UAE Pavilion has received multiple global accolades. It was ranked among the top three national pavilions for architecture and landscape by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), and earned recognition at the World Expolympics for sustainability, staff experience, and large pavilion design.
It has also been honoured at the DFA Design for Asia Awards and the German Design Award, further adding to its growing list of international achievements.
