Riyadh officially confirmed as Expo 2030 host: Saudi Arabia received the final stamp of approval from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on Tuesday to officially host Expo 2030 in Riyadh. The green light means Saudi Arabia can now move into the implementation phase, including sending out official invitations to international participants for the event, scheduled to run between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031.

The details: The Expo is an International-Registered Exhibition with a core theme of “Foresight for Tomorrow,” aiming to tackle global challenges, showcase innovative solutions for a sustainable future, and highlight Saudi Arabia’s advancements to the world. The exhibition is expected to draw some 42 mn visits to see contributions from over 195 countries and 29 organizations, housed within 230 pavilions, according to its official website.

The Expo site, located around Wadi Al Sulai north of Riyadh, will span approximately 2 mn sqm of gated area for exhibitions and activities, divided into five distinct districts — the Prosperous People, KSA, Transformational Tech, Global Collaboration, and Sustainable Solutions districts. The site is located one metro stop away from the new King Salman International Airport, with only 10 minutes separating the two.

Getting ready: Riyadh has over 426k new hotel rooms planned ahead of the event, targeting USD 80 bn in private tourism investment by 2030. Meanwhile, National air carrier Saudia plans to double its fleet ahead of the Expo by adding 191 aircraft, while Humain partnered with Cisco to develop AI-driven digital infrastructure.

ALSO- The Kingdom is working on launching a dedicated Expo App for concierge and travel information, an Expo Visa for simplified entry, and shuttle services to key hubs.

Following the Expo, the host site will undergo a post-Expo transformation into a Global Village, serving as a permanent innovation and knowledge hub, according to the website.

Big tickets: The Kingdom allocated a budget of USD 7.8 bn for the event in its candidacy brochure (pdf), while government officials estimated back in 2023 that infrastructure and development investments to prepare for the event will be over USD 90 bn.

Contributing to the deficit? Large public investments building up to events like Expo 2030, the 2034 World Cup, and the Asian Winter Games in 2029 were cited as a major contributor to an average deficit of 4.2% of GDP between 2025-2028, S&P Global Ratings said in its March credit assessment. Recent fluctuations in oil prices have reportedly prompted comprehensive reviews of the Kingdom’s biggest planned investments, including Neom, in a bid to keep deficits and debt levels at a minimum.

BUT- Officials are saying recent government reassessments will still see Riyadh prioritize spending on time-sensitive events like the Expo and the World Cup.

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