Bahrain's national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, designed by Lina Ghotmeh, will highlight the kingdom's rich maritime history and innovative sustainability efforts, celebrating its cultural heritage and relations with Japan.
Bahrain will have a national pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, next year boasting the island’s rich maritime history as a major port of trade.
This is the kingdom’s fourth participation at the Expo, following its involvement in Shanghai in 2010, in Milan in 2015 and in 2020 in Dubai.
"In the midst of today's rapidly evolving world, our collaborative efforts are aimed at establishing the Kingdom of Bahrain as a frontrunner in the realms of innovation, creativity, and sustainability,” said Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. He is also the General Commissioner of Bahrain's National Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 .
He added, “Our participation in the World Expo is pivotal, as it presents a unique platform for us to demonstrate our diverse capabilities, rich cultural heritage, and innovative solutions that could address many of the global challenges”.
The Pavilion is designed by the Lebanese French architect Lina Ghotmeh, with her Paris based studio Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture. It will be located in the " Empowering Lives" area facing the sea.
Lina explained that the design draws inspiration from traditional Bahraini boats, reinterpreting millennial boat building techniques that showcase Bahrain’s rich craftsmanship and manufacturing heritage. This will be alongside Japanese wood artistry in a celebration of the bilateral relations between both countries.
“The pavilion’s shape reminisces the vessels that once navigated the coasts of Eastern Arabia and East Africa, weaving enchanting tales of a seafaring Bahraini nation,” she said.
It will be constructed out of wood, with an outer structure made of aluminium, aligning with Bahrain's vision to promote sustainability. The Pavilion will be fully recycled after the Expo. It also utilizes its proximity to the sea for cooling and ventilation.
The interior design and exhibition will be led by the Bahraini design studio Shepherd Studio. There will also be a dedicated business space.
The Expo will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025, under the theme ‘Designing Future Society for our Lives’.
The three sub-themes are ‘Saving Lives’, ‘Empowering Lives’, and ‘Connecting Lives’. Organizers expect more than 28 million visitors to explore the contributions from around 150 countries. There will also be various events and each pavilion will have the opportunity to designate a national day during the Expo to celebrate its culture and values.
Uncovering History
