Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh has been chosen to host the World Expo 2030, beating South Korea’s Busan and Italy’s Rome.
The event, which is expected to attract millions of visitors, will be taking place from October 2030 until March 2031.
The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) revealed that the hosting bid had a secret ballot in which Riyadh received 119 votes, Busan 29, and Rome 17.
Mr. Giampiero Massolo, head of the Italian Expo bid, remarked that, “This huge result for Saudi was unexpected in those proportions. It is no longer about the merits but about transactions.”
The win coincides with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 programme, which aims to wean the country off its oil dependency.
The Crown Prince stated that, “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.”
“This Expo represents a remarkable opportunity to share with the world the lessons learned from our unprecedented journey of transformation,” The Crown Prince added.
The World Expo has a rich history of uniting nations to exhibit technological innovations and cultural achievements. Since the inaugural event in 1851, Expos have served as venues for introducing groundbreaking inventions, including the light bulb, and the Ferris wheel.
The last World Expo was held in Dubai, which convened 192 countries and millions of visitors from across the world. The next Expo is scheduled to be held in Osaka, Japan, in 2025.
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