When Expo 2025 Osaka closed its doors, I, BeluBelu, the little cell who calls the Belgian Pavilion home, looked back on my travels across the world within a single site. Through every exhibition, every story, and every shared innovation, I witnessed humanity’s extraordinary diversity and unity. Here’s what I learned along the way.
Arab World: Heritage in Motion
When I floated into the Arab world at Expo 2025 Osaka, I felt something shift: the air seemed warmer, the light softer, and the stories older than time itself. Every pavilion here spoke of transformation: how ancient wisdom can guide the modern world, and how innovation can be deeply rooted in memory.
Each encounter reminded me that regeneration isn’t just biological (trust me, I would know): it’s cultural, emotional, and shared.
🇯🇴 Jordan: Weaving Possibilities
Jordan’s Pavilion felt like stepping into time itself. The exhibit, themed “Weaving Possibilities”, used real Wadi Rum sand to recreate the desert underfoot, while a 360-degree dome projected 10,000 years of history.
The experience blended ancient civilizations with digital design, turning the desert into a stage for innovation. I sat quietly amid the red sands, realizing how heritage can become the foundation for future creativity.
🇴🇲 Oman: Where Water Meets the Desert
Oman’s Pavilion, under the theme “Water, Land and People,” was both serene and sensory. The air was cool and fragrant, echoing the essence of frankincense, the country’s gift to the world.
Immersive projections showed how Omani life flows between desert, mountain, and sea, each connected by a respect for nature. As a cell, I could relate, survival through balance, adaptation through harmony.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Pathways to Tomorrow
The Saudi Pavilion rose like a modern village: layers of history, innovation, and community. Its architecture merged traditional textures with futuristic design, powered by renewable energy.
Interactive installations revealed Saudi Arabia’s transformation in sustainability, tourism, and culture. I admired how the pavilion invited visitors to reflect, not only on change itself, but on the values that shape it.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates: From Earth to Ether
The UAE Pavilion, a forest of date-palm columns crafted from recycled natural fibers, embodied the idea of life rising from the land. The structure was poetic and practical, blending areesh construction with Japanese craftsmanship.
Inside, stories of exploration unfolded: from Bedouin roots to space missions. It was a journey through time and imagination. As I looked up at the tall pillars, I felt hope expanding, much like the UAE’s theme, “Dreamers Who Do”.
🇧🇭 Bahrain: Woven by the Sea
Bahrain’s Pavilion was a tribute to craftsmanship, trade, and the islands’ bond with the sea. Inside, I followed paths that connected ancient pearl divers to modern innovators. Screens showed coral restoration projects, while the soft sound of weaving looms played in the background.
I realized that for Bahrain, progress and tradition aren’t opposites: they’re part of the same fabric. It was like watching the sea breathe: constant motion, but always returning home.
Across the Arab pavilions, a shared message pulsed through sand, sound, and structure: innovation is most powerful when guided by memory. The region’s contributions to Expo 2025 Osaka reminded me that the future can be built from the wisdom of the past and from a deep respect for nature’s rhythm.
🇵🇸 Palestine: Roots that Endure
The Palestine Pavilion was smaller than some, but it carried a quiet strength that filled the space. Its stone textures, olive motifs, and handmade art created a sense of peace and resilience. I paused in front of an embroidery display where every thread told a story: of family, of land, of continuity.
Here, regeneration wasn’t just a theme: it was lived experience. The exhibits spoke of sustainable farming, artisan revival, and education. As I left, I felt humbled by how hope, even under pressure, can take root like an olive tree and keep growing toward the sun.
As I floated out of the Arab world, I realized something: every pavilion here had taught me the same quiet lesson. It isn’t about rebuilding from nothing. It’s about remembering what endures. Whether through sand, sea, or story, these nations showed how heritage can be a compass pointing toward the future.
For a small cell like me, it was a reminder that even the tiniest spark of life carries history within it and the power to begin again.
I had the most amazing time travelling through Europe and the Arab countries, I wasn't done yet. Stay tuned for the final part of my journey!
