[Expo 2025 Osaka UAE Pavilion] Introducing the Youth Ambassador Program at Keio University

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka held a special session at Keio University's Hiyoshi Campus as part of its post-Expo legacy activities. The session introduced the "Youth Ambassador Program," showcasing how it fostered leadership, cultural exchange, and international dialogue throughout the Expo. Held as part of the lecture "Regional Cultural Theory: The Arab World," the event also commemorated the first anniversary of the Sheikha Fatima Arabic Learning Center, established at Keio through a partnership between Keio University and UAE University. HE Shihab Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan and Government Representative of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, delivered a keynote address. He discussed the Expo's role in promoting international cooperation and cultural diplomacy, while highlighting how the UAE Pavilion communicated its vision for the future through storytelling, architecture, and youth-led programming. The Youth Ambassador Program, a core initiative, aimed to cultivate young people capable of sharing UAE's values globally. It consisted of 46 ambassadors: 24 from the UAE, 20 from Japan, and two from other countries living in Japan. Structured around four pillars—leadership, cultural diplomacy, international exchange, and self-growth—the program enabled ambassadors to support pavilion operations and engage with visitors from around the world, contributing to mutual understanding between the UAE and Japan. HE Al Faheem remarked, "The Youth Ambassador Program embodies the UAE’s long-term commitment to investing in future leaders." He emphasized the significance of continuing these dialogues within educational institutions like Keio University. During Expo 2025 Osaka, the UAE Pavilion, themed "Earth to Ether," welcomed over 5 million visitors—the most among all international pavilions—and received high international acclaim for its management approach.