Saudi Arabia will strive to host the World Expo 2030

Riyadh – Saudi Arabia will strive to host the World Expo in 2030. This was announced by its crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman. In addition to Saudi Arabia, four other countries are currently interested in hosting. Expo 2020 is currently taking place in Dubai.

Candidates must submit their projects for 2030 to the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE). Saudi Arabia wants to organize the exhibition titled "The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Propitious Tomorrow".

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, supported the Saudi plan on Twitter. "We will share our experience and knowledge gained from the seven-year preparation of Expo 2020," he wrote.

The Saudi crown prince stated that if the exhibition were held in 2030 in Riyadh, it would coincide with the peak of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program. Its aim is to free the local economy from dependence on oil and generally improve the quality of life. The program also includes reforms in education and culture.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Russia, Korea, Italy, and Ukraine are interested in hosting the 2030 exhibition. The BIE will assess the initial submitted proposals at its December meeting. Projects will be evaluated over a year and a half. All candidates must present detailed proposals, and the winner will be voted on in 2023. World Expos are held every five years and usually last for six months. Individual countries present their exhibits mostly in their own pavilions, attracting tens of millions of visitors. The current exhibition is taking place with a one-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. The next one is scheduled to be held in 2025 in Osaka, Japan.