SAUDI ARABIA PAVILION Theme: An Epic Journey of New Discoveries Size: 3,500 m² Entrant: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture URL: www.ksaexpo2025.sa Design: Fosters + Partners Fabrication: Tanseisha Co. Ltd Additional Contributors: Ando Hazama, Insignia Worldwide, Squint Opera, 59 Productions, Done + Dusted, THA & Beyond Limits, BeWunder, Tait, TGP International Photos: Saudi Arabia Pavilion Videos: Saudi Arabia Pavilion
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pavilion offers an Epic Journey of New Discoveries, immersing visitors in Saudi Arabia’s past, present, and future through storytelling, architecture, and performance. Rooted in culture and heritage, while creating a sustainable building that embodies a commitment to a better world, the pavilion showcases the country’s deep traditions and bold transformations.
Inspired by the architecture of Saudi towns and villages, the design guides guests through a Forecourt with native flora and stone-lined streets into the central Saudi Courtyard. This open-air space transforms daily into a multisensory theatre, featuring “Tales of Water” — a 360-degree audiovisual performance that blends live music, projections, and storytelling about endurance and reunion, inviting emotional participation from all.
Surrounding the Courtyard are interactive experiences, from The Botanist Augmented Reality Garden, which transforms waiting times into environmental learning, to Cultural Studios where visitors connect with Saudi artists and musicians. These creative encounters feed into the lively evolving nightly show, ensuring the pavilion remains ever-changing and vibrant.
Embark on a journey at Irth Café and Restaurant, where Saudi’s culinary heritage is experienced through a 45-minute tasting menu of 16 authentic dishes. The vibrant retail Souk, inspired by traditional markets, features merchandise reflecting Saudi heritage and artisanal craftsmanship.
The Pavilion’s thematic arc aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Expo 2025 Osaka’s theme Designing Future Societies for Our Lives, with the immersive galleries devoted to sustainability, urban transformation, and human potential. Highlights include marine regeneration with 3D-printed coral, and innovations in genomics, space, and renewables.
Using low-carbon materials and passive cooling, achieving net-zero operation, the pavilion features integrated sustainability throughout the venue design. Renewable materials and innovative practices, including lightweight insulation and a reusable structure, are incorporated to reduce the pavilion’s environmental load.
Universal design ensures accessibility, with sensory signage and calm rooms for neurodivergent visitors. Through innovation, meaningful interaction, and warm hospitality, the pavilion invites visitors to discover Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and ambitious future.
