UAE Pavilion Osaka earns global acclaim after winning iF Design Award 2026 gold for its immersive architecture and visitor experience.
ABU DHABI: UAE Pavilion Osaka has secured one of the highest global design honours after being awarded Gold at the iF Design Award 2026, recognising excellence in interior architecture and exhibition design. The achievement places the pavilion among a select group of standout global projects chosen from more than 11,000 international entries.
The UAE Pavilion Osaka stood out in the category of Trade Fairs and Temporary Exhibitions, highlighting its seamless blend of storytelling, architecture and visitor engagement. Designed under the theme Earth to Ether, the pavilion presented a journey linking heritage, innovation and future ambition through a carefully curated spatial experience.
The UAE Pavilion Osaka welcomed around five million visitors during Expo 2025, offering an immersive environment shaped by light, materials and narrative flow. The design focused on creating emotional connections while showcasing the country’s cultural depth and scientific progress.
At the heart of the structure were ninety palm rachis columns rising up to sixteen metres, forming a shaded canopy that provided a calm and reflective space within the busy Expo grounds. Traditional materials were reimagined using modern construction techniques, developed in collaboration with Japanese craftsmanship to reflect a fusion of cultural heritage and precision engineering.
His Excellency Shihab Alfaheem said the recognition reflects strong collaboration across disciplines and geographies. He noted that the pavilion successfully brought together architecture, materials and guest experience to create a meaningful and engaging space for visitors.
The UAE Pavilion Osaka continues to be recognised as a symbol of design innovation, reinforcing the country’s global reputation for blending tradition with forward-looking creativity.
