Expo 2025 UAE Pavilion Materials to Be Used in Post-Quake Japan Site

Materials used in the Expo 2025 Osaka UAE Pavilion are set to be repurposed for a community centre in Wajima City on the Noto Peninsula, an area affected by the 2024 earthquake.

Salvaged date palm fronds from the pavilion will be transformed into engineered strand boards being considered for use in the building’s walls, while “Datecrete” paving blocks developed in the UAE from crushed date seeds and reclaimed palm material are planned for outdoor areas.

The pavilion featured 90 palm rachis columns as part of its architectural design. Officials said reusing these materials extends the project beyond the Expo site and into community-focused applications.

Earlier in 2026, components from the pavilion pergola were also relocated to Tottori Prefecture, where they were repurposed as a public gathering space.

According to organisers, the initiative builds on collaboration between the UAE Embassy in Japan and Shigeru Ban Architects, which previously delivered housing units for families affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

The Wajima community centre remains in the design phase and is expected to function as a shared public facility for residents, with UAE-developed materials under consideration throughout the project.

During Expo 2025 Osaka, the UAE Pavilion received more than five million visitors, making it the most visited national pavilion at the event.