OSAKA – Qatar’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka serves as a key pillar to dismantle stereotypes and strengthen its position as a proactive global partner committed to sustainable development, according to pavilion director Faisal Abdulrahman al-Ibrahim.
“It’s an opportunity for the State of Qatar to break any stereotype that people might get from the social media. We’re looking into the achievements that Qatar has made within the last 10 years, that highlighted only the capital of Qatar which is Doha, not knowing the other cities which has played a huge role in shaping the Qatar vision,” al-Ibrahim told Gulf Times.
He noted that the Qatar pavilion, also aligned with the “Empowering Lives” sub-theme, addresses global perceptions often limited to the nation’s energy sector or recent mega-events.
Al-Ibrahim pointed out that Qatar’s participation is firmly aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, highlighting comprehensive sustainability – a theme he stressed must extend across all sectors, including economic, educational, and environmental stewardship. The concept of “Empowering Lives”, he said, is defined holistically, applying not only to human advancement but also to all living creatures.
According to al-Ibrahim, such strategy centres on showcasing how Qatar is first solving global issues internally, then scaling those solutions internationally through collaborations and contributions.
“The entire world is moving towards sustainability. It’s better to understand how we can manage these resources to sustain for the upcoming generations, and the Expo is key to increasing awareness,” he said.
Al-Ibrahim pointed out that the success of this diplomatic endeavour is being measured by the response of visitors at the Expo, citing a dramatic shift in perception among the public.
“The entire prospective of the visitors I would say 90% of them has changed into a proper understanding of our culture, our hospitality, our history and also our vision towards the future,” he said.
The pavilion director said many visitors expecting a country based on “the desert only with the camels” are surprised by the reality of Qatar’s coastal focus, the history of its booming pearl industry, and its advanced social infrastructure, including its world-class education and healthcare systems.
About the Expo, he said Qatar views the six-month global showcase as an ongoing, continuous legacy, not a standalone event. Having recently hosted the Horticultural Expo previously in Qatar (October 2, 2023, to March 28, 2024), he noted that the participation in Osaka builds on previous experiences and serves as a springboard for future engagements, including specialised expos and the main World Expo in Riyadh in 2030.
“We are looking for sustainability of all the resources and hoping that we are capable of highlighting the achievements and to work together with other countries and entities to achieve peace, sustainability, and a happy world at the end,” he stressed, positioning Qatar’s Expo investment as a vital mechanism for long-term global influence and soft power projection.
The investment, al-Ibrahim added, is expected to yield significant returns, particularly in tourism, capitalising Qatar Airways’ stopover plans to bring Japanese visitors to Doha for major upcoming mega and sports events.
“We will be welcoming lots of visitors from Japan, I would say after the Expo (in Osaka), especially when the big events (in Qatar) will take place in November and December, the FIFA Arab Cup, the FIFA Youth 17 and the Intercontinental Cup as well, so I wish them an enjoyable experience in Qatar and to know us more in depth,” he said.
AloJapan.com