Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, has been selected as the host city for the Expo 2030 world’s fair. This decision marks another significant event hosting achievement for a Gulf country, following Qatar’s staging of the football World Cup last year.
The selection process involved competition with other global cities, including Busan in South Korea and Rome in Italy. Riyadh secured the hosting rights with 119 votes, compared to Busan’s 29 and Rome’s 17, as per the voting results from the 182 members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Achieving a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, Saudi Arabia emerged as the chosen location for this event, which occurs every five years and attracts millions of visitors along with substantial financial investment.
The selection of Riyadh aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader development goals, particularly the Vision 2030 programme spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative aims to diversify the Saudi economy beyond its traditional reliance on oil revenues.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud acknowledged the efforts of the Saudi team in engaging with international counterparts to gain support for their bid. He emphasized the active approach taken to understand and meet the expectations of the voting members.
The choice of Riyadh for Expo 2030 is also seen in the context of Saudi Arabia’s increasing interest in hosting major international events. The country has declared its candidacy for the 2034 World Cup and is considering a bid to host the Olympics. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance the country’s global standing and diversify its economic and cultural profile.
In their bid presentation, Riyadh enlisted the support of football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the city’s Al Nassr club. The proposed dates for the Expo 2030 in Riyadh are from October 2030 to March 2031.
This selection has been received with varying reactions, reflecting the complex dynamics of international event hosting and the geopolitical considerations involved.
Stay informed on supply chain news at The Supply Chain Report. Free international trade tools are at ADAMftd.com.
#RiyadhExpo2030 #SaudiArabiaVision2030 #Expo2030 #RiyadhWorldFair #SaudiLeadership #InternationalEvents #CristianoRonaldo #SaudiForeignMinister #Vision2030 #ExpoBid #GlobalEvents #MiddleEastGrowth #SaudiArabia #AlNassr #SaudiDiplomacy #FutureOfSaudiArabia #EconomicDiversification #Riyadh2030 #GulfCountries #Expo2020Success #WorldCup2034 #OlympicsBid
