From space engineers to publishing editors, young Emirati and Japanese citizens representing their countries at the Expo 2025 Osaka tell of strong bonds that date back generations.
Twenty UAE citizens and the same number of Japanese enthusiastically explained the sustainability message of the date palm oasis created in the glass-encased UAE pavilion, as The National paid a visit after the official opening on Sunday.
The team of young ambassadors speaks Japanese, Arabic and English fluently and interact seamlessly with streams of visitors coming into the pavilion that also showcases the history of the Emirates, from its rich pearl-diving heritage to modern advances in space exploration and solar energy.
Ahmed Al Darei captures the attention of visitors as he describes the date palm as the “hero” of the pavilion and connects this to the resilience of the people of the UAE. “That’s also the story of the people of the UAE. We are rooted in tradition, plus we always look to the sky, to space, for achievement and ambitions,” he told The National.
Watch: UAE heritage meets innovation at Expo 2025
Giving back
Mr Al Darei has strong links with Japan having studied computer science and systems engineering at Tokyo University of Technology. Now working for the UAE Space Agency, the Emirati described it as an honour to give back to a country that has provided him with a strong foundation.
“I’m working in the UAE but I’m back in Japan for six months of the Expo and, for me, it’s a tiny way for me to give back because the UAE opened up the best education, health care, and a happy and safe life for me,” he said. “Being an ambassador at the UAE pavilion is a small contribution from my side and it’s one of my most honoured journeys.”
He enjoys telling visitors about the country’s space exploration programme and also introducing them to Emirati cuisine in a restaurant within the pavilion, including chicken machboos, a spiced rice dish cooked in chicken broth.
“Not many people know about our impressive space programme,” he said. “They all know about our oil so I tell them that, yes, we are blessed with oil but we have diversified in many sectors from sustainability to healthcare and space. It’s great to show people more.”
Opening up to the world
Yuri Yamamoto, a resident of Osaka, has learnt about the more than 200 nationalities that live and work in the UAE and is passionate about telling visitors from Japan about the need to be open and learn from other cultures.
The 31-year-old worked in the publishing sector and is enjoying meeting people from different countries at the UAE pavilion.
“It’s been really amazing also because this exhibition shares my values on sustainability and the importance of highlighting women in different fields,” she said. “I think it’s an inspiration to speak about women who have succeeded in different fields in the UAE in space, business and the arts. I hope the Japanese visitors will be inspired by how the UAE learns from and welcomes so many different expatriates. You can discover so much about yourself and the world when you open up and communicate with the rest of the world.”
On the second day of the world’s fair, Ms Yamamoto also met family members who were among the tens of thousands of visitors at the Expo site on an artificial island of Yumeshima.
“This is the first time in my life that I’m interacting with people, as I’ve always had a back-office job with editing, so I’m learning a lot,” she said. “It’s important to me to interact with diverse cultures as it changes your mindset and helps everyone in the world to learn from others and to be better people.”
Links between nations
Alia Aleissaee is living her dream guiding people and explaining exhibits from handweaving looms, ancient daggers, date palms and nose clips worn by pearl divers.
A sales engineer who works in a Japanese firm in the UAE, the 29-year-old taught herself Japanese and enjoys putting her skills to the test with visitors. “I love the Japanese language and I learnt it by myself, so when I saw the application open for Expo, this was my chance to represent my country that I love in a place where I can speak the local language.”
She finds similarities between the cultures of both countries, from hospitality, modest dressing to respect for the elderly. Ms Aleissaee tells visitors how the strong bonds between the two countries date from before the UAE was formed, as Abu Dhabi participated in the 1970 World Expo, the first time Japan hosted the global event in Osaka.
“Most visitors are fascinated that the UAE has seven emirates, that is one of the questions we are asked,” she said. “I’m living my dream and representing my country on a global stage, and this is really exciting for me.”
UAE Pavilion opens at Expo 2025 - in pictures
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
