Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was selected as the host city for the 2030 World Expo. The decision came after Riyadh presented a compelling bid that emphasized the creation of a prosperous and sustainable future. In a competitive race against Rome and the South Korean port city of Busan, Riyadh emerged victorious and is now set to welcome millions of visitors to this highly anticipated event.
In addition to Riyadh, South Korea’s Busan and Italy’s Rome were also contenders in the race to host the world fair, a recurring event held every five years that draws millions of visitors and attracts significant investments worth billions of dollars.
Riyadh City, a rapidly expanding capital and vibrant metropolis, is at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision masterplan for transformation. As part of this vision, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City has put forward a bid to host the World Expo 2030, supported by a budget of €7.2 billion ($7.8 billion). World Expos are global gatherings that seek to address humanity’s challenges and provide a dynamic platform for driving change.
Read more: Expo 2030: The awaited day arrives
During a closed-door meeting held in the suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux, members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) awarded Riyadh the host city status for the 2030 World Expo. The decision was made by a majority vote, with 119 out of 165 votes in favor of Riyadh. Moreover, the competing cities, Busan and Rome, received 29 and 17 votes respectively. The announcement was met with jubilation and cheers from the Saudi delegation, celebrating their successful bid.
Influential leading role
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz extended congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz for Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh.
The Crown Prince expressed gratitude to the nations that supported Saudi Arabia’s bid, as well as to the two competing countries. He highlighted that the selection of the Kingdom as the host of the World Expo 2030 emphasizes its influential and leading role, as well as the international confidence it enjoys.
“Saudi Arabia has become an ideal destination for hosting major international events, including the esteemed World Expo.”
Additionally, the Crown Prince Mohammed reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to organizing an extraordinary and unparalleled edition of the World Expo. He stressed the importance of setting an active and positive example in shaping a brighter future for humanity. The Expo will provide a global platform that harnesses cutting-edge technologies and brings together the brightest minds to seize opportunities and address the challenges facing our planet today.
Expression of trust
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi’s foreign minister, welcomed the vote as an “expression of the trust that the international community has in what we have to offer… but also in its alignment with our own vision (for) 2030 and everything that we advocate for, which is a shared pathway to prosperity for all of the countries of the world.”
Furthermore, Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to meeting and exceeding expectations by delivering an extraordinary World Expo.
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