World Chooses Saudi Arabia to Host Expo 2030
Saudi Arabia has been selected as the host country for World Expo 2030, scheduled to take place from October 2030 until March 2031, after a secret ballot at the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) held in Paris today.
A total of 119 countries endorsed Riyadh’s candidacy, surpassing competing bids from Busan, South Korea, and Rome, Italy.
The Kingdom’s selection as the host aligns with the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and represents a significant achievement in realizing the developmental, economic, and social goals of the inspiring Saudi Vision 2030.
The expo serves as a testament to the national transformation towards a prosperous and sustainable future. The Kingdom’s bid was based on the directives of the Crown Prince, aiming to highlight the role, status, and developmental aspirations of the Kingdom for the future.
World Expo 2030 reflects the Kingdom’s ambitious national vision and its diligent pursuit of economic and social growth and prosperity. It exemplifies the integrated role played by government entities and the realization of national achievements, drawing inspiration from the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 and its remarkable developmental endeavors.
The Kingdom’s victory in hosting the expo signifies its position as a global hub, showcasing advancements in knowledge, science, technology, creativity, innovation, and its ability to successfully organize major international events.
Furthermore, this achievement highlights the Kingdom’s influential role in the interactive human community, to promote dialogue, communication, stability, and development, while shaping the present and future of the world.
Today, the Kingdom stands on the verge of a significant leap at the national level, particularly in the fields of economy and business. It creates investment opportunities at all levels and establishes itself as a competitive and influential state in the economy and business fields like no other.
Expo 2030 holds great importance for the city of Riyadh, specifically, and the Kingdom as a whole. It focuses globally on highlighting the cultural and social values that reflect the uniqueness of Saudi citizens, their distinct identity, rich history, civilization, and their adherence to noble societal values.
Moreover, hosting the expo solidifies the Kingdom’s leading and pivotal role along with the international trust it enjoys. It further establishes Saudi Arabia as an ideal host for prominent global forums, with the expo being a prominent example.
The Kingdom has ambitious plans for an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the expo, characterized by high levels of innovation.
Through the expo, the Kingdom aims to contribute actively to a brighter future for humanity by providing a global platform that harnesses the latest technologies and brings together the brightest minds.
The Kingdom also seeks through the expo to optimize opportunities and propose solutions to the challenges facing our planet today.
The exhibition will be from the world to the world, where equality will be established by allocating a pavilion for each country.
The Kingdom’s bid to host Expo 2030 has enjoyed the full and direct support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, starting from the Kingdom’s submission of its bid on October 29, 2021 to the BIE, the organizing commission of World Expo.
The Kingdom has a distinguished record of participation in World Expos that were held in different countries over the years, during which it organized many events about the ancient civilizational, cultural, and historical heritage, as well as urban and economic development and the natural and human components of the Kingdom.
During the World Expo 2000, which was held in Hanover, Germany, the Kingdom participated through the Islam Pavilion, organized shows about Islam and its values of tolerance and moderation, and displayed the most prominent services provided by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Islam and Muslims.
The Kingdom had a distinguished participation in World Expo 2005 in the Japanese city of Aichi, with its pavilion over an area of 972 square meters receiving a large turnout of more than 50,000 visitors.
At the World Expo 2010 in the Chinese city of Shanghai, the Kingdom had a distinctive pavilion with a unique design in the shape of a ship called the “Ship of Light,” erected over a distinguished location overlooking the Huangpu River. The Kingdom’s pavilion also saw a high turnout of more than 3.5 million visitors.
The Kingdom shared its historical treasures, natural wonders, and diverse ecosystems with the world at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Kingdom’s pavilion recorded the largest number of visits at the exhibition, hosting more than 4.8 million visitors and taking them on a journey through time to explore the natural and human treasures of the Kingdom.
The World Expo is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious exhibitions, held every five years and lasting over six months. The first edition was in 1851 in London and since then, the world gathering continued for more than 170 years. The most recent Expo was in Dubai.
The global event aims at raising awareness on global challenges and creates a solution-encouraging environment. World Expo is also a source of inspiration for all events and exhibitions, and it is the embodiment of the endeavor towards achieving excellence and bringing about change and cultural dialogue.
Source: Riyadh Daily
