Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that it has officially submitted a request to the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) to host the "Expo 2030" in Riyadh, under the theme "Era of Change: Moving Our Planet Towards a Forward-Looking Future," from October 1 to April 1, 2031. This was conveyed in a letter from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, to the Secretary-General of the BIE, Dimitri Kerkentzes, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In his letter, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that this nomination "represents an important and symbolic challenge for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," expressing confidence in "the kingdom's ability and commitment to hosting a historic edition of the World Expo with the highest levels of innovation, providing an unprecedented global experience in the history of organizing this international event."
He added, "We believe that providing the opportunity for first-time bidding countries to host the World Expo will enhance the esteemed role of the International Exhibitions Bureau as a platform for understanding between cultures and human exchange, reflecting the changing nature of our evolving world." He emphasized that "the world today is in an era of change and faces an unprecedented need for human solidarity in light of the challenges of climate change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, social justice, and even the global pandemic, which necessitates collective action to envision the future, address challenges, and seize opportunities stemming from this change using the best minds and capabilities."
Regarding the timing of the Kingdom's request to host the World Expo, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that hosting Expo 2030 in Riyadh "will coincide with a year in which we celebrate the culmination of our efforts aimed at achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030." He explained that Expo 2030 "will provide a unique opportunity to share with the world our lessons and the outcomes of our efforts related to this unprecedented transformation brought about by the Vision, which represents a strategic framework aimed at reducing the Kingdom's dependence on oil, promoting economic diversification, and developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, entertainment, and tourism."
He continued, "Vision 2030 represents the Kingdom's ambition for the future, relying on the unlimited energy of our youth to create a more sustainable future for the benefit of future generations. It is imperative for the Kingdom to envision the future, leverage its advantages, and unleash its economic potential across all sectors and fields, relying on the efforts of its people and working with our partners around the world."
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, led by the Crown Prince, will spearhead the Saudi bid to host the World Expo 2030. Additionally, further details regarding the hosting request will be submitted to the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris in December of this year, as it is responsible for supervising and organizing international exhibitions since 1931.
It is noteworthy that the International Exhibitions have been held since 1851 and serve as the largest global platform to showcase the latest achievements and technologies, promote international cooperation in economic development, trade, arts, culture, and disseminate science and technology.
