Media Center

His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Governor of the Southern Governorate, inaugurated the Kingdom of Bahrain national pavilion, “Connecting Seas”, yesterday Sunday 13 April 2025, at Expo 2025 Osaka in the Kansai region of Japan.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Commissioner General of the Bahrain Pavilion; and His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Al Doseri Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Japan, in addition to a number of senior officials, ambassadors and commissioners general from Gulf and foreign countries, as well as architect Lina Ghotmeh, designer of the Bahrain Pavilion.
Bahrain’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka is commissioned and organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and it reflects Bahrain’s historical connection to the sea, drawing inspiration from the Kingdom’s seafaring heritage and traditional dhow construction, integrating Japanese joinery techniques.
During the inauguration, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Governor of the Southern Governorate, commended the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This comes in light of the significant success achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain's national pavilion “Connecting Seas” at Expo 2025 Osaka. His Highness noted that the Bahrain Pavilion’s outstanding participation was distinguished by exceptional organization and strong public interest, reflecting the Kingdom’s prominent position on the global stage — a point of great national pride.
On this occasion, H.E. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said: “Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects Bahrain’s continued commitment to sharing its cultural identity with the world. This fourth appearance at a World Expo, stems from our profound commitment to cultural openness and global dialogue. This commitment is guided by the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the forward-looking policies of the government chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who continue to place Bahraini culture and its people at the heart of national development.”
He added: “From its design to the experience it offers, the pavilion embodies the essence of the Bahraini identity, deeply rooted in our maritime heritage and defined by a long-standing openness to the world. The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has worked to ensure that every aspect of our participation reflects this—from the initial concept to the visitor journey.”
He concluded by thanking all contributing entities and individuals for their support. “The success of this pavilion enhances international understanding of Bahrain’s culture and capabilities. It also sends a clear message: through creativity, innovation and public-private collaborations, Bahrain is ready to face global challenges and contribute to shaping a better future for all.”
Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, “Expo 2025 Osaka is a unique opportunity to showcase Bahrain’s dynamic economy. As a strategic partner, we look forward to highlighting the Kingdom’s strengths as a competitive, diversified economy and a strategic hub for trade and investment. As we look to the future, Bahrain remains committed to enabling innovation, strengthening global partnerships, and creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth.”
The pavilion has silver sponsorship from Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), and Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund; Mumtalakat.
Expo 2025 Osaka will run until mid-October and is expected to attract over 28 million visitors from around the world, with participation from 160 countries.
For more information, please visit the Bahrain Pavilion’s official website at www.bahrainpavilion2025.bh and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities at www.culture.gov.bh. Stay connected through social media by following @CultureBah and @bahatexpo for the latest updates.