The project, developed by Kengo Kuma and Associates + OMA*AMO, is inspired by the shape of a dhow, the traditional sailing vessel of Qatar and its region, and employs traditional Qatari and Japanese woodworking techniques, merging the maritime heritage of both nations. Within the Pavilion, the central exhibition space presents a panorama of the Qatari coastline, where visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the earth with sands of various hues, characteristic of the desert landscapes of the country's interior.
Closely aligned with the main theme of Expo 2025, "Designing the Future Society for Our Lives," the proposal highlights the central role of the Qatari people in the development of their nation. Carefully selected materials, along with multimedia imagery, illustrate how Qatar's different sectors have complemented each other to empower and enrich the lives of Qataris.
The Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka by Kengo Kuma and Associates + OMA*AMO. Photograph by Iwan Baan. Courtesy of Qatar Museums.
Project description by Kengo Kuma and Associates + OMA*AMO
The Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka officially opened today, bringing a vision of the relationship between land and sea to the global audience gathered for this World Exposition. The Pavilion was commissioned by Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry with creative and content direction led by the Qatar Blueprint, a think tank within Chairperson’s Office of Qatar Museums.
Housed in an extraordinary structure designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, a multimedia exhibition conceived by the international architecture and urbanism firm OMA*AMO explores how the nation’s 563-kilometre (360-mile) coastline has shaped the culture, heritage, identity, and industry of Qatar. The Pavilion is the nation’s official contribution to Expo 2025 Osaka, which is dedicated to helping the world achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The Qatar Pavilion will remain on view through 13 October 2025.
“For centuries, the people of Qatar have drawn both sustenance and meaning from the coastline. The dynamic harmony between land and sea has inspired our culture and heritage, provided our livelihoods, and helped transform our nation into what it is today, a global hub for trade and diplomacy. We are proud to share these experiences with the international audience at Expo 2025 Osaka. Congratulations to the Qatar Pavilion Commissioner-General H.E. Mr. Jaber Jarallah Al-Marri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Japan, and H.E. Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, Deputy Commissioner-General and Chairman of the preparation committee. Thank you to the brilliant design teams at Kengo Kuma & Associates and OMA*AMO.”
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums.
Kengo Kuma’s design for the Qatar Pavilion recalls the form of a dhow, the traditional sailing vessel of Qatar and its region. The lightweight timber structure wrapped in flowing white fabric employs both traditional Qatari and Japanese wood-joinery techniques, linking the nations’ maritime heritage in tribute to the close relations between the two nations, both of which have established pearling histories.
Approaching the Pavilion’s entrance, an outdoor vitrine welcomes visitors with poems by Qatar’s Founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, and Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hassan Al-Muhannadi printed on representations of the coast. The images evoke the spectacular color gradient—from the deep blue of the sea to the shimmering turquoise of the sandy shores—that greets voyagers as they approach Qatar.
Inside the Pavilion, visitors reach the “land” with sands of various hues representing the desert landscapes of inland Qatar and backlit wall graphics that showcase rock carvings discovered on the coastal region of Al Jassasiya during archaeological surveys from the 1950s to the 1970s. Two maps illustrate Qatar’s historical trajectory and modern development, visually illustrating 200 years of dramatic coastal transformation.
The exhibition’s main space features a panorama of the Qatari coastline and a “Sea Curtain” designed by interior architecture firm Inside-Outside that wraps around the Pavilion’s interior representing the maritime boundary that cradles the nation. Central to the exhibition is a three-screen film by The Explorers that tells the story of Qatar’s journey from the past into the present through archival footage and contemporary imagery.
In line with Expo 2025’s overarching theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the exhibition highlights the central role of the Qatari people in shaping the nation’s development and vision for the future and illustrates how different sectors in Qatar have complemented each other to empower and enrich the lives of Qataris.
The section titled Land & Sea – Navigating the Journey, curated by the National Museum of Qatar, focuses on the pearl divers (ghawaseen) who for centuries risked their lives along the coast, and the pearl merchants (altawash) who brought Qatari goods to international markets. It also looks at the role of women in these communities through objects found in coastal houses across the Arabian Peninsula.
The Pavilion’s second floor features a library curated by Qatar-based Atlas Bookstore and a meeting room, or majlis, with seating by Qatari designer Maryam Al Homaid. A special display celebrates Qatar-Japan relations as well as artworks by Yousef Ahmed (Qatar) and
Hayaki Nishigaki (Japan), created as part of Qatar–Japan 2012 Year of Culture. The second floor’s flexible layout allows it to host events, lectures, workshops, and more.
