PARIS: After overcoming competition from South Korea and Italy to host the esteemed event, Riyadh will serve as host for World Expo 2030.
The member governments of the Bureau International des Expositions, located in Paris, chose the Saudi capital with a majority vote of 119 out of 165.
Riyadh was officially confirmed as Osaka's replacement host in 2025 after an electronic secret ballot was used.
In a last-ditch effort to get votes, applicants gave their final Expo status updates to government-appointed delegates and member states during the BIE gathering in the French capital.
It is anticipated that the occasion will symbolize the realization of Vision 2030 and highlight the Kingdom's accomplishments, with a special emphasis on culture, hospitality, and tourism.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended an exhibition organized by the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh that highlighted Saudi Arabia's rich legacy and cultural depth during a June trip to Paris to promote the Kingdom's candidacy for the Expo.
High-profile French supporters of the proposal started to show their support; prominent senator Natalie Goulet declared that hosting the exhibition in the Saudi capital would be "the culmination of Vision 2030."
"I would like to thank the 130 countries that have already announced their support for the Kingdom's bid," stated Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Throughout the Kingdom's campaign, distinguished dignitaries, you have all been invaluable partners, offering guidance, criticism, and support.
The "unwavering commitment to collaborate with all nations to deliver an Expo built by the world for the world and to find new pathways for collective action and collaboration" was reiterated by the speaker on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
According to the foreign ministry, "a pool of 100 eligible countries will receive facilities packages of $348 million from the Kingdom."
Frédéric Bedin, the head of the public relations firm Hopscotch, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, the mayor of Riyadh, and Adel Al-Jubair, the Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, were among the prominent individuals who supported the effort.
Rasha Al-Khamism, vice president of the Saudi Arabia Boxing Federation, Rob Sobhani, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and Princess Lamia bint Majed, secretary-general of Alwaleed Philanthropy and UN Human Settlements Program Goodwill Ambassador, were among the other well-known backers.
However, the campaign had begun earlier when Paris said that it will assist Riyadh Expo 2030. This support was reaffirmed in June 2023 when the crown prince visited Paris and took part in the inaugural Summit for Financial Pact.
"Riyadh Expo 2030 will be a global platform that accelerates progress, toward the most urgent challenges, health and education, climate and the environment, trade and investment, peace and prosperity for all," stated Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, the Kingdom's ambassador to UNESCO, in response to the accomplishment.
For what reason is Riyadh? Because of the city's dynamic vitality and the several massive initiatives that are underway, sustainability and quality of life are now at the center of every conversation.
In addition to addressing these issues, the Expo 2030 site will provide sustainable solutions, such as clean mobility and renewable energy, for the cities of the future.
Building green neighborhoods—of which trees and water are the main facilitators—while restoring Riyadh's famed red sands desert is a crucial example of how to construct the "city of the future" while honoring cultural legacy.
With its Green Riyadh Program, Saudi Arabia is setting a higher standard for sustainability while also attempting to foster community, promote public transportation usage, and raise the proportion of green space in order to enhance air quality.
In order to promote public health, lower energy consumption, and ultimately rank Riyadh among the world's 100 most livable cities, the initiative also aims to raise the percentage of green space from 1.5 to 9.1%. Meanwhile, open spaces are created to improve quality of life.
In the first Arab city to host the global event, there is excitement, energy, and enthusiasm since 70% of Saudi citizens are under 30, and a skilled labor force across industries is driving the race to 2030.
In an interview with Arab News prior to the Expo 2030 announcement, Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Group, said that "Diriyah will be very famous by 2030, the city of Riyadh will be unrecognizable."
He said, "The crown prince wants to accomplish that in 15 years, what Singapore did in 60 years, what the Emiratis did just in tourism in 30 years."
A color-coded map featuring planned pavilions, performance venues, support facilities, and an exhibition village was revealed by Lamia Al-Muhanna and Nouf Al-Moneef, the directors of landscape design for the Royal Commission, during a symposium held in Paris earlier in November.
The world is yours to choose when you choose Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, according to Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, the deputy minister of tourism for Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi capital will see enormous infrastructural improvements in order to host Expo 2030, including the addition of 70,000 additional hotel rooms.
Access to the venue will be possible through a recently constructed subway that connects Expo City to the rebuilt King Salman Airport, which will span 57 million square meters and rank among the world's largest aviation hubs.
By 2025, Riyadh Air, the Kingdom's newest airline, will offer flights to 100 countries, greatly enhancing the accessibility of the capital.
Ghida Al-Shibl, a team member of Riyadh Expo 2030, stated, "As host, we will create a world-class site expo to enable you to build pavilions and experiences in a way that matches your national priorities and aspirations."
"Participant parcel and expo village will be open by February 2028," she stated. All prerequisites, such as imports, visas, and regulations, will be expedited.
As a round-the-clock concierge service to assist with "your move, and a variety of housing options for teams and families, in addition to access to excellent healthcare and education and banking services," Al-Shibl said that the Kingdom will open a participant lab in 2025 and run it until 2030.
