Today, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, held a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. During the call, Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed for the UAE’s support of Saudi Arabia’s request to host Expo 2030. He congratulated the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on the success of Expo 2020 Dubai and wished the UAE and its people further progress and prosperity, according to the Saudi Press Agency "SPA".
**Call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid**
The Saudi Crown Prince also made a phone call today to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. During this call, he expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for the UAE’s support of Saudi Arabia’s request to host Expo 2030, highlighting the importance of the partnership and cooperation between the two countries. He also congratulated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the success of Expo 2020, which reflects the development and prosperity the UAE has achieved.
**Official Request**
It is worth noting that yesterday, Saudi Arabia announced its official request to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organization responsible for the World Expo, to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh under the theme "The Era of Change: Advancing Our Planet to Ensure a Sustainable Future," from October 1, 2030, to April 1, 2031, according to the Saudi Press Agency "SPA". This announcement came in a letter from Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes.
**Important and Symbolic Challenge**
The Saudi Crown Prince affirmed that this nomination represents an important and symbolic challenge for the Kingdom. He expressed confidence in the Kingdom’s ability and commitment to organizing a historic edition of the World Expo with the highest levels of innovation, providing an unprecedented global experience in the history of this international event. He added, "We believe that providing an opportunity for countries bidding for the first time to host the World Expo will enhance the esteemed role of the BIE as a platform for cultural understanding and human exchange, reflecting the changing nature of our evolving world."
It is noted that the International Expositions have been held since 1851, serving as the largest global platform to showcase the latest achievements and technologies, promote international cooperation in economic development, trade, arts, and culture, and disseminate science and technology.
