Riyadh wins Expo 2030 bid in crowning achievement for Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom's winning bid to host Expo 2030 brings the world one step closer to a sustainable future

Eduardo Ramon

The central theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, "Together we look forward to the future," reflects the depth of the Kingdom's aspirations and its readiness to play a leading role on the global stage.

Riyadh wins Expo 2030 bid in crowning achievement for Saudi Arabia

Shujaa Albogmi

last update on 28 Nov 2023

With the big win for Saudi Arabia today, Riyadh gets ready to launch the process of construction and preparation to host an exceptional edition of Expo.

In the heart of the Saudi capital, and on an area of 6 million m2, the world will witness the largest gathering in 2030, with 30-40 million visitors expected. Riyadh also aims to achieve around 1 billion VR (virtual reality) visits.

Riyadh's victory in hosting Expo 2030 comes amid popular support for the Saudi application from countries worldwide and heightened interest from investors, companies, and specialists.

2030: The year of vision and excellence

This exceptional edition of Expo coincides with the date of achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. This ambitious national vision has been accompanied by legislative, regulatory, and economic reforms, which have boosted the appetite for investment and supported the process of economic diversification.

Vision 2030 has seen many quality, unique, and innovative projects come to fruition that have improved the quality of life for Saudi citizens and residents alike.

The promise of Expo 2030 is to merge the future with heritage.

No sector has gone untouched. Today, we are witnessing massive investment in sports, entertainment, tourism, transport, and logistics, in addition to the development of many airports and ports, thus ensuring the accommodation of a larger volume of passengers and commercial traffic.

Saudi Vision 2030 is based on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. Together, they represent a strong point for many national programmes and qualitative initiatives reflected in the vitality, effectiveness, and diversification of the economy and achieving a number of their goals ahead of schedule.

Saudi Arabia submitted its bid to host Expo 2030 against the backdrop of Vision 2030. Since then, the Kingdom's global weight and standing has only grown.

It has continuously proved itself to be a global leader. This was demonstrated when Saudi Arabia hosted an emergency summit in 2020 to rally international efforts to combat the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saudi Vision 2030 is based on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. Together, they represent a strong starting point for many national programmes.

A futuristic city built around an ancient valley

The Riyadh Expo 2030 site is uniquely designed as a futuristic city around an ancient valley. It combines the concepts of "oasis" and "garden" (Riyadh means gardens) and reflects the Kingdom's vision for a sustainable future.

Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh — The exhibition's estimated 226 pavilions were designed with a globe-like design.

The expo will allow local and international companies to participate in its construction. Available information indicates that exhibition grounds will be ready before 2030.

To ensure that everyone benefits from the pavilions' world-class readiness in February 2028, the Kingdom will facilitate the import of construction materials and operations, visa procedures for teams and families, and provide diverse housing options and banking, health, and education services that follow the highest standards.

Participating countries can choose from a diverse selection of pavilions of all sizes. They range in size from 500 to 6,000 m2, with five distinct options to choose from, and all pavilions will be in entirely independent spaces.

The central theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, "Together we look forward to the future," reflects the depth of the Kingdom's aspirations and its readiness to play a leading role on the global stage to explore innovative solutions that contribute to addressing the world's challenges to create a better tomorrow.

Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to witness the participation of more than 226 countries and international organisations along with companies, non-governmental organisations, universities, businesspeople, artists, and innovators.

It will foster a distinctive cultural environment where imagination, science, and technology intertwine.

The exhibition area is over 6 million m2. It is located in the north of Riyadh, close to its international airport, making it easily accessible to visitors who want to see Riyadh and its landmarks. The hotel sector will also be prepared to host tens of thousands of guests for this global event.

Riyadh already has the infrastructure in place to host a global event of this magnitude. It has ongoing development projects already being constructed and scheduled for handover ahead of the expo.

The exhibition area is over 6 million m2. It is located in the north of Riyadh, close to its international airport, making it easily accessible to visitors who want to see Riyadh and its landmarks.

Riyadh to host headquarters of multinational companies

Saudi Arabia has stipulated that multinational companies move their headquarters to Riyadh from the start of 2024 as a condition for their government to work with them. The decision helps build confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to host important global events, the most important being Expo 2030.

The Kingdom has also boosted the private sector by ensuring the country has significant competitive advantages. Riyadh has emerged as a desirable destination for investors, providing ample opportunities for investment through qualitative partnerships with local companies.

Riyadh Expo 2030 offers a space for the meeting of minds. It boosts growth opportunities for other countries in the region to benefit from innovative solutions in various sectors, especially through technology adoption.

Riyadh has emerged as a desirable destination for investors, providing ample opportunities for investment through qualitative partnerships with local companies.

Unique geographical location

Saudi Arabia has a unique geographical location, as it connects three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), making it a global logistics centre capable of contributing positively to the growth of the global economy. This also puts the country in an advantageous position to insulate it from global economic crises.

The King Salman International Airport (in Riyadh) represents a new qualitative leap at the level of the world's airports, as it's considered a global model to be followed.

The master plan of the airport starts from where the world's largest airports ended: it will be a milestone in the transport and logistics sector locally, regionally, and globally, especially through special economic zones and new logistics centres.

The proximity of the Expo 2030 site to the airport helps ensure the success and vitality of the exhibition, as the airport is working to increase its capacity to accommodate 120 million travellers in 2030.

In summary, Saudi Arabia's winning bid to host Expo 2030 brings the world one step closer to addressing and solving its most pressing challenges, whether it's sustainable development, climate action, or inclusive growth.

Riyadh Expo 2030 is well-positioned to tackle these challenges.

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