Expo 2030: Saudi Arabia submits bid to host the World Expo
Today (Friday) Saudi Arabia announced its submission of an official request to host the “Expo 2030” exhibition in the city of Riyadh under the slogan “The Era of Change: Moving Our Planet Toward Forwarding the Future” during the period from October 1, 2030, to April 1, 2031.
This came in a letter from Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh, to Dimitri Korkentzes, Secretary-General of the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE), the organizing body for the World Expo.
In his speech, Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed that this candidacy is an important and symbolic challenge for Saudi Arabia, expressing his confidence in its ability and commitment to establish a historic version of the World Expo with the highest levels of innovation and to provide an unprecedented global experience in the history of organizing this global forum.
He added, “We believe that providing the opportunity for first-time bidders to organize (the World Expo) will enhance the esteemed role of the BIE as a platform for intercultural understanding and human exchange, and reflect the changing nature of our developing world.”
The Saudi Crown Prince stressed that the world today is living in an era of change and faces an unprecedented need for humanity to unite in light of the challenges of climate change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, social justice, and even the global pandemic, which requires the world to work collectively to anticipate the future, address the challenges and seize the opportunities resulting from this change. Using the best minds and abilities.
Regarding the timing specified by Saudi Arabia in its candidacy to host the World Expo, Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “Our hosting of (Expo 2030) in Riyadh will coincide with a year in which we celebrate the culmination of our efforts to achieve the goals of (Vision 2030).
He explained that “Expo 2030 will constitute a unique opportunity to share with the world our lessons and the results of our efforts related to this unprecedented transformation produced 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.”.
The Crown Prince stressed that “(Vision 2030) represents Saudi Arabia’s ambition for the future, a vision that relied on unlimited energy for our youth intending to create a more sustainable future for the benefit of future generations.” 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, which is responsible for the city of Riyadh and whose board of directors is chaired by the Crown Prince, will lead the Saudi bid to host the World Expo 2030, and in December of this year, additional details about the hosting request will be submitted to the International Bureau of Exhibitions in Paris. As the body responsible for supervising and organizing international exhibitions since 1931.
It is noteworthy that the World Expos have been held since 1851, and constitute the largest global platform for presenting the latest achievements and technologies, and promoting international cooperation in economic development, trade, arts and culture, and the dissemination of science and technology. The latest of which is the Expo 2020 Dubai.