The 176th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has formally registered World Expo 2030 Riyadh today. The registration formally recognises and confirms Saudi Arabia as the host of Expo 2030.
Organised under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow,” Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place in the capital of Saudi Arabia from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031.
BIE member states, gathered in the General Assembly in Paris, unanimously approved the registration of Expo 2030 Riyadh, following the recommendation of the BIE’s executive committee. The registration confirms the status of Expo 2030 Riyadh as an international registered exhibition and enables Saudi Arabia to begin the implementation phase, which includes the official invitation of international participants through diplomatic channels.
Following the granting of formal registration by the General Assembly, the flag of the BIE and Expos was symbolically handed to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Al Sultan to mark the occasion.
Saudi Arabia was elected host country of World Expo 2030 during the BIE 173rd General Assembly in November 2023. Following this, it has undergone a process to formalise the Expo project, submitting a registration dossier to the BIE presenting a detailed plan for the implementation of the World Expo. The Dossier serves as a document that sets out the scheduled operational dates, legislative and financial measures, the Expo site Master Plan, the conditions for international participation and legacy plans.
The BIE Secretary General, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes commented: “Expo 2030 Riyadh will bring the world together under the visionary theme of “Foresight for Tomorrow,” fostering global collaboration to anticipate and address future challenges. It will act as a pioneering platform for innovation and exchange, where ideas and technologies converge. The formal registration of Expo 2030 Riyadh empowers Saudi Arabia to move forward and welcome the world to Riyadh for six months of dialogue, discovery and collective efforts to shape a resilient and inclusive future for all.”
In his remarks Al Sultan, said: “The adoption of our Registration Dossier by the BIE reflects the confidence that the international community places in Saudi Arabia’s ability to organise an unprecedented edition of a World Expo, and in Riyadh’s readiness to host it in 2030. We are currently working on delivering a global event, suitable to the Kingdom’s position on the global stage.”
Expo 2030 Riyadh aims to welcome 197 countries and receive over 40 million visits over its six-month opening period. Its theme, “Foresight for Tomorrow”, is supported by three sub-themes: Transformational Technology, Sustainable Solutions and Prosperous People. The Expo site, spanning 6km2 with a 2km2 gated area, is shaped by the natural contours of the Wadi Al Sulai natural rainwater drainage basin, and is strategically located near King Khalid International Airport.
World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing the world’s contemporary universal challenges. The unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. The ongoing World Expo – Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai – is taking place under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”