RIYADH — The Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri Kerkentzes, conducted a technical visit to Riyadh to assess Saudi Arabia's preparations for World Expo 2030, a little over a year after the Kingdom was elected as the host country. During a series of technical meetings, the BIE delegation and Saudi officials discussed the framework and strategic direction for Expo 2030 Riyadh, focusing on finalizing the Registration Dossier—a comprehensive implementation plan that outlines operational dates, legislative and financial measures, the Expo site Master Plan, conditions for international participation, and legacy initiatives. Once the dossier is submitted to the BIE and reviewed by the organization's Secretariat and Member States, the General Assembly of the BIE will formally register Expo 2030 Riyadh. This registration will allow Saudi Arabia to begin extending official invitations to international participants and ramp up its preparations. The BIE delegation met with key officials involved in the Expo 2030 project, including Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of State and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan, and Secretary of the Expo Higher Committee Mohammed Al-Suraysri. Kerkentzes commended Saudi Arabia's progress since being elected as the World Expo 2030 host, stating: "With meticulous coordination at the highest levels, Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to be a remarkable opportunity for the world to discover Saudi Arabia and for Saudi Arabia to welcome the world." Saudi Arabia secured the right to host World Expo 2030 during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE in November 2023. Under the theme "Foresight for Tomorrow," the Expo aims to welcome over 200 countries and international organizations between October 1, 2030, and March 31, 2031. World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global events held every five years that address major contemporary challenges through immersive experiences, country pavilions, and large-scale international collaboration. The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, hosted under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," attracted over 24 million visitors. The upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."
