Saudi Pavilion Concludes Expo 2025 Osaka with Record Visitor Numbers and International Praise

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has concluded its participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka - SPA
Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has concluded its participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka - SPA
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Saudi Pavilion Concludes Expo 2025 Osaka with Record Visitor Numbers and International Praise

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has concluded its participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka - SPA
Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has concluded its participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka - SPA

Saudi Arabia’s pavilion has concluded its participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka, held from April 13 to October 13, with a closing ceremony attended by officials and distinguished guests from several nations.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Kingdom’s pavilion Dr. Ghazi Binzagr said that the Kingdom’s pavilion offered the world an opportunity to experience the Kingdom up close.

It symbolized a journey of transformation, innovation, and cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and the global community, SPA reported.

He expressed gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their warm hospitality and hoped to welcome visitors again at Expo 2030 in Riyadh. Over the six-month period, the pavilion welcomed over three million visitors, who engaged with Saudi culture, heritage, and future vision through unique events, performances, and cross-cultural exchanges.

The pavilion received numerous awards and international acclaim, with CNN ranking it among the top 10 pavilions to visit.
Ahead of the expo, Saudi cultural tours were held from February to March across seven Japanese cities—Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Tokyo—bringing the flavors of Saudi cuisine, the sounds of its music, and the warmth of its hospitality to the Japanese public, setting the stage for the pavilion’s grand opening.

As one of the largest national pavilions at the expo, second only to Japan’s own, the Saudi pavilion’s architecture embodied the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and community empowerment.

Constructed using lightweight Saudi stone sourced from within the Kingdom, the design offered visitors an immersive experience that evoked the spirit of Saudi cities and towns and celebrated its rich cultural heritage.

Visitors enjoyed interactive exhibits showcasing the Kingdom’s achievements in culture, clean energy, technology, tourism, space exploration, human potential, and sustainability.

With Expo 2025 Osaka concluded, Saudi Arabia is now preparing to host Expo 2030 Riyadh, aiming to build bridges of international cooperation and foster innovation under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow.”

The upcoming event is expected to have participation from over 195 countries and 29 international organizations, focusing on addressing global challenges and presenting innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.



Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
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Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour Dies at 79

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)
Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour and his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships". (Sliman Mansour on Instagram)

Painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour, one of the most prominent names in Palestinian art, has died at the age of 79, his family announced.

Mansour, whose vivid artwork depicted both Palestinian traditions and his people's struggles under Israeli occupation, died on Monday at his home in east Jerusalem, his family said.

"The final chapter has been written. With hearts gripped by sorrow beyond description, we announce that our dear father has left this world," the family said in a statement.

"For the world, he leaves behind a life filled with beauty and memories, and a legacy that will continue through everyone whose lives he touched. As for us, we have lost a father who was the source of our love, our strength and our refuge."

Mansour was born in Birzeit, north of Ramallah, in 1947 and studied art and design in Jerusalem, graduating in 1970.

The Palestinian Culture Ministry mourned Mansour, calling him "one of the most important pillars of contemporary Palestinian visual art, whose career over decades formed part of the Palestinian visual and national memory".

The ministry hailed his landmark 1973 painting, "Camel of Hardships", depicting an elderly Palestinian porter carrying the city of Jerusalem on his back, as "an artistic and national icon", adding that his work served "as witness to Palestinian history and guardian of identity".

Mansour was the recipient of numerous awards, among them the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2019.


Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris
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Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

Saudi Arabia Establishes Cultural Center in Paris

The Saudi Ministry of Culture announced on Monday the establishment of a Saudi cultural center in Paris on the sidelines of the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to France.

The center will serve as a platform for promoting Saudi culture and highlighting its historical depth and creative diversity through high-quality cultural programs and initiatives involving French practitioners, institutions and the public.

It will support the international presence of Saudi cultural practitioners, strengthen communication between intellectuals and creative professionals in the two countries, and build strategic partnerships between Saudi and French cultural institutions, facilitating the exchange of expertise and implementation of joint cultural initiatives.

The establishment of the center reflects the continued development of Saudi-French relations and underscores the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its international cultural presence and presenting an authentic cultural image that introduces the world to its rich heritage and contemporary creative output.


Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla Underlines Commitment to Deepen Partnership

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (third from left) and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (third from right) during the meeting of the joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla on Monday. (SPA)

The joint Saudi-French Ministerial Committee on AlUla held a meeting in Paris on Monday, chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif, and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission for AlUla Abeer Al-Akel. Also present were French Minister of Culture Catherine Pegard, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Roland Lescure, and Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The officials welcomed the signing of an agreement to extend and amend the agreement concluded between the Saudi and French governments on the cultural, environmental, tourism, human, economic, and heritage development of AlUla Governorate.

They reviewed the partnership's achievements and discussed avenues for future cooperation, reflecting the strength of relations between the two countries and affirming AlUla's position as a meeting point of civilizations and a global destination for culture, creativity, and sustainable development.

They underlined their commitment to further deepening the partnership, which has become a global model for international cooperation based on the exchange of mutual benefits and knowledge, contributing to the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development goals.

The meeting reviewed the scale of joint investments and areas of ongoing cooperation in the sectors of archaeology, arts, culture, sports, hospitality, and human-capital development.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development through strategic projects, such as the AlUla Tram and the Sharaan Resort, designed by Jean Nouvel, as well as investments in renewable energy, water, and mobility, supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to attract one million visitors and global investments while preserving AlUla's cultural and natural heritage.