Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that Saudi Arabia will seek to host the Expo 2030 World Fair. It’s part of a larger effort to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil.
The Saudi capital Riyadh has submitted a formal request to host Expo 2030 under the theme ‘The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Foresighted Tomorrow’.
Gulf neighbour the United Arab Emirates, which is increasingly in economic competition with Saudi Arabia, is currently hosting the Expo 2020 World Fair, which was postponed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City will lead the bid
The UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum tweeted his support for the Saudi bid, saying “We will give our brothers access to the knowledge and experience we gained throughout seven years of preparation for the Expo.”
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City will lead the bid, which was submitted to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organizers of the Expo.
The 2030 Expo in Riyadh, said Prince Mohammed, will coincide with the culmination of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic reform initiative, allowing Saudi Arabia to share lessons learned.