Riyadh Expo 2030

The Riyadh Expo 2030 is a major upcoming event scheduled to take place between October 1, 2030, and March 31, 2031¹. The Expo is set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the second occasion an Arab city hosts the event after Dubai in 2020²​​.

The main theme of the Expo is “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” encapsulating a vision focused on nurturing a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation³. This theme aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a roadmap for national transformation, which the Expo aims to showcase to the global public as a significant global milestone​​​​⁴.

Branching from the main theme, the exhibition will revolve around three main sub-themes:

• “A Different Tomorrow”: This theme envisions a future where scientific and technological advancements foster resilience and serve humanity responsibly.
• “Climate Action”: It emphasizes accelerating innovation through global collaboration to protect natural ecosystems and provide sustainable solutions for everyone.
• “Prosperity for All”: This theme focuses on tackling inequalities and fostering a world where every nation contributes to a collective future, respecting each culture’s uniqueness and aspirations⁵.

The Riyadh Expo 2030 will be located on a site measuring 6 square kilometers near King Salman International Airport, accessible via the Riyadh Metro⁶. The masterplan of the site, according to the winning bid entry, is “Designed as a futuristic space built around an ancient wadi,” reflecting the origins of Riyadh and its vision towards sustainability ⁷.

Specifically, the masterplan features around 226 exhibition pavilions, designed in a circular layout, intersected by an ‘equator line’ which symbolizes equality among participants and connectivity ⁸. This layout promotes easy access between the exhibitions, public spaces, cultural, and innovation facilities, with shaded pathways inspired by Riyadh’s architectural heritage for visitor convenience⁹. The heart of the masterplan is a “prominent landmark” symbolizing the theme “Responsibility for Protecting the Planet”¹⁰. This structure features 195 columns representing the number of countries participating in the exhibition, surrounded by three pavilions representing each of the exhibition’s three sub-themes¹¹. Sustainability is further emphasized in the project with the plan to repurpose the site post-Expo “with the aim of developing an innovative urban model that guarantees sustainability and enhances innovation and creativity¹².”

In terms of program, the Expo will host a rich program of entertainment, with parks, E-game facilities and large performances¹³. A novel feature of the Expo will be the introduction of a World Expo Metaverse platform, highlighting the innovative spirit of the event¹⁴.

The Expo is organized and sanctioned by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which elected Saudi Arabia as host country of World Expo 2030 on 28 November 2023. The project is backed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)¹⁵. The Expo aims to attract 40 million site visitors, and 1 billion metaverse visits, demonstrating the scale and ambition of the event¹⁶. The estimated investment in the Expo is reportedly around $7.8 billion¹⁷.