Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the World Expo 2030 in the kingdom's capital, Riyadh, with the event scheduled to take place from October 2030 to March 2031, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
"This momentous announcement was met today by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which designated the Kingdom as the host for this global event, scheduled to take place from October 2030 until March 2031 ... World Expo 2030 in Riyadh ... We welcome the world to our capital Riyadh," the ministry said in separate posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has extended his congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the occasion, the ministry said in a statement posted on X.
"The Kingdom's selection as the host of the World Expo 2030 underlines its influential and leading role and the international confidence it enjoys. Saudi Arabia has become an ideal destination for hosting major international events, including the esteemed World Expo ... The World Expo 2030 coincides with a crucial year for the realization of the goals and plans outlined in Saudi Vision 2030," the ministry quoted the prince in the statement as saying.
The crown prince also "emphasized the importance of being an active and positive role model in the drive to shape a brighter future for humanity," the statement said, adding that the Expo "is bound to provide a global platform that leverages cutting-edge technologies and brings together the brightest minds to capitalize on opportunities and address the challenges that the planet faces today."
The prince said the kingdom's capital is ready to welcome the Expo and "fulfill obligations stipulated in the bid to achieve the main theme of the expo: 'The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow," the release said.
The prince also told a press conference that he has instructed a team to engage with Riyadh's partners to "understand what their expectations are of Expo and work with them to build our proposal based on that."