Saudi Pavilion at Expo celebrates National Day with spectacular festivities

The ֱ Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrated the Kingdom’s 95th National Day on September 23. (ANJ and X/@KSAexpo2025)
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  • Around 2,000 VIP guests, international delegates, media, and Japanese public attended the ceremony
  • The event featured cultural performances, including the Ardah, a traditional Saudi sword dance with live music

OSAKA: The ֱ Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrated the Kingdom’s 95th National Day on September 23.
This milestone showcased ֱ’s rich culture and heritage, as well as its dynamic transformation under Vision 2030, emphasizing national pride and achievements.
Around 2,000 VIP guests, international delegates, media, and Japanese public attended the ceremony at the Expo Hall “Shining Hat,” featuring the national anthems and addresses from dignitaries.
Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of ֱ, stated, “On the 95th National Day, we celebrate our nation’s unity and the seventy years of friendship with Japan.
This partnership has strengthened our economies and ties. At Expo 2025 Osaka, we proudly showcase our heritage through the Saudi Pavilion, bridging our peoples. Guided by King Salman and Vision 2030, ֱ is moving toward a prosperous future.”
Dr. Ghazi bin Faisal Binzagr, ֱ’s Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, remarked, “Celebrating Saudi National Day at Expo 2025 is a proud moment for the Kingdom, highlighting our strong partnership with Japan.
“This day allows us to share our history, present significance, and future aspirations while showcasing our transformation under Vision 2030. We celebrate our achievements on a global stage and continue to foster partnerships for a peaceful and sustainable future.”
The event featured cultural performances, including the Ardah, a traditional Saudi sword dance with live music. Visitors enjoyed an engaging experience, exploring ֱn culture through sound, crafts, and performances on pop-up stages throughout the Expo site.
A capacity Expo 2025 Osaka crowd then lined the Grand Ring to witness the ֱ Parade, a vibrant display of Saudi culture and heritage. The parade, with performers starting from the Expo Hall, ‘Shining Hat,’ stopping in front of the ֱ Pavilion for a cultural performance, and continuing to the Expo Arena, ‘Matsuri,’ was a highlight of the day.
Visitors then gathered at the National Day Hall, ‘Ray Garden,’ for a special screening of Films from ֱ, produced by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
The screening was a unique opportunity to experience the richness of Saudi cinema and its contribution to the global cultural landscape.
The festivities concluded with an impressive evening at the Expo Arena “Matsuri.”
The National Day Concert showcased a blend of traditional and modern creativity, featuring the Ardah rhythms and performances by emerging Saudi artists.
A unique collaboration included a Japanese Noh player, a Saudi Nay player, and drummers from both cultures.
A highlight was the special National Day edition of “Tales of Water,” nominated for the World Expo award for ‘Best Presentation.’
This dynamic show combined live performance and immersive projection mapping to compare Japan’s Ama divers with ֱ’s pearl divers on a quest for the largest pearl.
Saudi National Day is part of over 700 events at the ֱ Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka. Visitors can explore Saudi culture, heritage, and art through programs like Ahlan Wa Sahlan and The Botanist Augmented Reality experience, as well as musical performances at the Cultural Studios.
The pavilion features immersive galleries showcasing The Evolving Cities, Sustainable Seas, Unlimited Human Potential, and The Pinnacle of Innovation, highlighting the Kingdom’s global impact.