Saudi Arabia advances preparations for Riyadh Expo as it gives progress report in Paris

Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 will be “by the world, for the world,” the team behind the event have said during the first progress report since Riyadh was elected as host city.

Speaking at the 174th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris, Abdulaziz Alghannam, director general of the Riyadh Expo 2030 office at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, emphasized ongoing efforts for Expo registration and preparation for creating the legal framework to enable international participation in the event.

According to a post by Riyadh Expo on X, the delegation also included representatives from the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.

https://x.com/bieparis/status/1803000273683513418

Saudi Arabia was elected as host for the 2030 event on Nov. 28, 2023, during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, and the Expo is set to take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031.

It aims to host 197 countries and 29 international organizations.

The theme – “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow” – encapsulates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to using the Expo to accelerate progress toward the planned sustainable development goals. The event will focus on harnessing science and innovation for a better future, structured around three inclusive sub-themes.

Since the Kingdom was elected host, preparations have been underway at the highest levels, including infrastructure development and drafting the registration dossier.

This document will detail the Expo’s legislative and financial measures, the master plan for the Expo site, and legacy plans.

Once submitted and reviewed, the BIE General Assembly will formally register Expo 2030 Riyadh, allowing Saudi Arabia to invite international participants and advance preparations.

In early May, BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes completed a technical visit to Riyadh, marking the first such trip since Saudi Arabia’s election as host.

The four-day visit included technical meetings and discussions on the Expo’s plans and the preparation of the registration dossier.

Kerkentzes met with key Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and ministers involved in the project.

The BIE official praised Saudi Arabia’s commitment and expressed eagerness to see the project gain momentum as the registration dossier is completed.

The most recent event, Expo 2020 Dubai, saw over 24 million visits. The next World Expo, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, will run from April 13 to Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”