EXHIBITOR MAGAZINE'S WORLD EXPO AWARDS BEST STAFF: UAE PAVILION

DESIGN: Earth to Ether Design Collective, RIMOND Japan KK

FABRICATION: RIMOND Japan KK, UAE Expo Office, Atelier Brückner, Process Iguchi, Shelter, R/O/U/Y/A, SLA

Cultural storytelling can be the tide of connection, which is precisely what the winners of the Best Staff at World Expo 2025 accomplished. UAE Pavilion's Youth Ambassador Programme was the realization of a quest to cultivate a team of 46 ambassadors who embodied the UAE's unwavering allegiance to global engagement.

The journey to Osaka began months prior to opening day. A rigorous, multi-tiered training curriculum started with more than 5,400 hopeful applicants. An extensive process involving 309 interviews distilled the ocean of thousands to a pool of less than 50 unique candidates who would represent the UAE. This elite group of young leaders included 24 Emiratis, 20 Japanese, and two expatriates. Fluent in seven languages — including Japanese, English, Arabic, Korean, French, Tagalog, and Chinese — the final crew became the voice of the UAE to the global community.

Before stepping onto the world's stage, the small team engaged in a cultural deep dive in Emirati tradition paired with specialized training in Japanese customs. They experienced informative site visits at the Expo and engaged in navigating the waters of role-play training. By the time they surfaced in the UAE Pavilion, the tight-knit group was dripping with authentic hospitality.

The Youth Ambassadors circulating in the UAE Pavilion exhibit were more than booth staff. They were cultural diplomats, rich with storytelling abilities in global tongues. Their passion for engagement washed every connection with Emirati warmth, making every visitor feel a part of the UAE's story. Even when attendance surged to an impressive 32,000 guests in a single day, their commitment to courtesy never drifted. One judge said, “Even with thousands of people walking through the UAE pavilion every day, the Youth Ambassadors seemed able to make each person feel like a cherished guest.”

What began as an innovative approach to team building cascaded into something greater: a reimagining of cultural diplomacy. The Youth Programme set a new high-water mark that defined a legacy of global engagement.

By Exhibitor magazine: Linda Armstrong, Sean Carlson, Danelle Dodds, Emily Olson, Nancy Olson, and Charles Pappas