Saudi Arabia has unveiled its proposal to host Expo 2030 to the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.
The Saudi plan, presented by the Kingdom’s delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, outlines a comprehensive strategy for the event with a budget allocation of $7.8 billion and a theme focused on global togetherness.
Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, is prepared to welcome an estimated 120 million visitors if selected as the host country.
Prince Faisal emphasized the unique position of Saudi Arabia as a bridge connecting different regions of the world, citing its strategic global and regional significance.
Ibrahim Al Sultan, chairman of the Royal Commission for Riyadh, stated that the city aims to accommodate over 120 million people during Expo 2030, provided that the bid is successful.
He added that preparations for the event would be completed by 2028, demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s readiness to move forward immediately.
Riyadh faces competition from the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, Italy’s capital Rome, and the South Korean port city of Busan in securing the rights to host Expo 2030. The UAE, with Expo 2020 Dubai, was the first country in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region to hold a World Expo. Despite pandemic-related delays, Expo 2020 Dubai attracted more than 24 million visits during its six-month run, further highlighting the potential success of future expos in the region.
