Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo wins New York Architectural Design Awards
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai was awarded the Gold Prize in the Cultural Architecture – Interactive and Experiential Spaces category by the New York Architectural Design Awards.
For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle
The prize recognizes the pavilion's design and architecture, which offers visitors an immersive experience and insight into Saudi Arabia's heritage.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the pavilion was spearheaded by the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission and was led by CEO Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman and Project Manager Fatima Al-Doukhi. It was also designed by the renowned global firm Foster + Partners.
The design highlights the cultural similarities between the kingdom and Japan, while focusing on sustainability, employing passive cooling strategies enhanced by the strategic placement of structural blocks to facilitate wind movement.
The pavilion features low-carbon materials, energy-efficient lighting and solar energy technologies, SPA reported. It also features Braille signage and pathways for visitors with disabilities, making the building accessible and inclusive.
Saudi Arabia's pavilion has already attracted over half a million visitors since its launch on April 13.
It has also hosted over 175 events, including cultural performances, business events, media and over 400 VIP delegations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
34 minutes ago
- Arab News
Saudi royal reserve tightens entry, picnic rules
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has updated entry and picnic regulations for the Al-Suman and Al-Dahna areas within the location. The updates aim to protect the environment, vegetation, and wildlife while encouraging ecotourism through public excursions and outdoor activities. Visitors can access the reserve daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with prior authorization via the authority's website, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. Permit requests must be submitted at least two days in advance and include visitor details, companion information, vehicle type, and a commitment to follow environmental rules. Registered residents of administrative centers within the reserve are exempt from this requirement, the SPA added. The authority stressed the importance of complying with regulations, including bans on hunting, wood gathering, open fires, driving over vegetation, littering, noise, visual pollution, and any other harmful activities. These measures aim to limit environmental damage, especially in ecologically rich areas showing notable recovery in recent years. The update aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for royal reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative, which seeks to protect recent environmental gains and promote wildlife and plant growth in thriving basins and meadows.
Al Arabiya
36 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
What countries will be most affected by Iran's closure of Strait of Hormuz?
Around 84 percent of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for Asia, leaving the economies of China, India, South Korea and others vulnerable should Iran blockade the crucial trading route over US strikes on its nuclear sites. Around 14.2 million barrels of crude oil and 5.9 million barrels of other petroleum products pass through the strait per day -- representing around 20 percent of global production in the first quarter, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). And crude oil from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran almost exclusively passes through the corridor. Here are the main Asian countries where oil exported via the strait is destined: China More than half of the oil imported by East Asia passes through the Strait of Hormuz, experts estimate. China is one of the largest buyers, importing 5.4 million barrels of crude oil a day through Hormuz in the first quarter this year, according to the EIA. Saudi Arabia is China's second-largest supplier of crude oil, accounting for 15 percent of its total oil imports -- 1.6 million barrels a day. China also buys more than 90 percent of Iran's oil exports, according to the analysis firm Kpler. It imported 1.3 million barrels of Iranian crude oil a day in April, down from a five-month high in March. India India is highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, importing 2.1 million barrels of crude a day through the corridor in the first quarter, EIA data shows. Around 53 percent of India's imported oil in early 2025 came from Middle Eastern suppliers, particularly Iraq and Saudi Arabia, local media reported. Wary of an escalating conflict in the Middle East, New Delhi has increased its imports of Russian oil over the past three years. 'We have been closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East since the past two weeks,' India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday. 'We have diversified our supplies in the past few years and a large volume of our supplies do not come through the Strait of Hormuz now,' he wrote on X, adding 'We will take all necessary steps to ensure stability of supplies of fuel to our citizens.' South Korea Around 68 percent of South Korea's crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz -- 1.7 million barrels a day this year, according to the EIA. South Korea is particularly dependent on its main supplier Saudi Arabia, which last year accounted for a third of its oil imports. Seoul's trade and energy ministry said there have been 'no disruptions so far in South Korea's crude oil and LNG imports' but 'given the possibility of a supply crisis', officials were 'planning for potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.' 'The government and industry stakeholders have prepared for emergencies by maintaining a strategic petroleum reserve equivalent to about 200 days of supply,' the ministry said in a statement. Japan Japan imports 1.6 million barrels of crude oil a day through the Strait of Hormuz, the EIA says. Japanese customs data showed 95 percent of crude oil imports last year came from the Middle East. The country's energy freight companies are readying for a potential blockade of the strait. 'We're currently taking measures to shorten as much as possible the time spent by our vessels in the Gulf,' shipping giant Mitsui OSK told AFP. Others Around 2 million barrels of crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz each day in the first quarter were destined for other parts of Asia -- particularly Thailand and the Philippines -- as well as Europe (0.5 million barrels) and the United States (0.4 million barrels). Limited alternatives Asian countries could diversify their oil suppliers, but it is difficult to replace the large volumes coming from the Middle East. In the short term, 'elevated global oil inventories, OPEC+'s available spare capacity, and US shale production all could provide some buffer', experts at MUFG Bank said. 'However, a full closure of the Hormuz Strait would still impact on the accessibility of a major part of this spare production capacity concentrated in the [Arabian] Gulf,' they said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have infrastructure to bypass the strait, potentially mitigating disruptions, but their transit capacity remains very limited -- around 2.6 million barrels a day. And the Goreh-Jask pipeline built by Iran to export via the Gulf of Oman, which has been inactive since last year, has a maximum capacity of only 300,000 barrels per day, according to the EIA.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
PIF launches commercial paper program to diversify funding sources
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has launched its first commercial paper program, introducing a new tool to diversify its funding sources and enhance short-term liquidity management. A commercial paper is a debt instrument used to raise short-term funding, offering faster access to funds than traditional loans. It is widely used in global financial markets, offering PIF greater flexibility in meeting its needs while aligning with its dynamic investment priorities. The CP program will enable PIF to issue short-term debt through offshore special-purpose vehicles, enhancing its liquidity management and complementing its long-term capital-raising initiatives. According to a press release, the initiative, which includes US and Euro CP sub-programs, has received top-tier credit ratings of Prime-1 from Moody's and F1+ from Fitch, underscoring its strong financial standing. PIF has consistently demonstrated its ability to pioneer new financial instruments. In 2022, it became the first sovereign wealth fund globally to issue a green bond, including a landmark century green bond, followed by a successful $3.5 billion sukuk issuance, according to the fund. PIF's Head of Global Capital Finance and Investment Strategy and Economic Insights, Fahad Al-Saif, emphasized the program's role in strengthening the fund's resilient and adaptive financial framework. 'The establishment of our CP program reflects the continued strength and depth of PIF's capital raising strategy; one that is dynamic, resilient, and fit for purpose, aligning funding solutions with our long-term investment priorities,' he said. In a press release, Moody's Ratings said that the programs will operate under newly established special purpose vehicles, CPDE Investment Co. and CPNL Investment Limited. 'PIF has an excellent liquidity profile,' Moody's said in its rating rationale, citing the fund's cash reserves of SR106 billion ($28 billion) and undrawn credit facilities as key strengths. According to the agency, the USCP program will support maturities of up to 397 days, while the ECP program will cover maturities of up to 364 days, with proceeds earmarked for general corporate purposes. PIF is Saudi Arabia's primary investment arm, tasked with advancing economic transformation under Vision 2030. Through strategic partnerships and investments, the fund aims to build future-ready industries, create employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development. As the driving force behind Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, PIF has established 103 companies since 2017, fostering economic diversification and sustainability.
