When this 10-year-old Saudi girl walked over to me at Cafe Bateel, a trendy coffee place next to my Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, this little girl offered me a piece of her chocolate with a big innocent smile. Her mother and father in traditional clothing behind her did not speak much English but said:

“Welcome to Saudi Arabia”

I knew from that moment Saudi Arabia was a different place. Welcome is not just a word, but behind saying this world there is a deeper meaning coming from the heart. It also showed me the open and friendly curiosity Saudi people have towards visitors. As long as they were unable to meet us tourists from the west, as long we were not able to meet them in their home.

At that moment I wished the world was able to see this interaction. In 2030 the entire world may have a chance to experience this unique and powerful sign of hospitality when World Expo 2030 has a chance to be hosted in the Saudi Capital.

In 2030 countries of the world may turn such interaction into a positive lesson of human understanding, peace, and tourism.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working on all fronts to win the bid, so they can host World Expo 2030.

There is a good reason for the world to award the Kingdom the hosting of this Expo.

A Kingdom that was hardly known and closed to non-Muslims until it opened its gates wide and prominent on September 27th, 2019. Tourism was the new way for Saudi Arabia to show its welcoming face to the world, proudly and prominently.

When COVID Hit, Saudi Tourism came to the Rescue

When COVID took over the world and poundered global tourism this brand new tourism destination in the world responded to emergency calls by tourism ministers from around the world becoming the go-to country for hope, help, and tomorrow. Today it is the latest hotspot in the global travel and tourism arena.

Even the Saudi Tourism Minister put a Lime in the Coconut

Lime Coconut — World Expo 2030: For the Smiling Chocolate Girl in Riyadh!

Saudi Arabia’s progressive tourism minister showed his friendly face everywhere. Together with one of the most prominent global government faces and tourism ministers in the world, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett from Jamaica the Saudi Tourism Minister His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb put a Lime in the Coconut while in Jamaica.

Saudi Arabia at the same time opened its welcome mattress to organizations, such as the World Travel and Tourism Council, such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and many more organizations, initiatives, and events not only in the tourism sector.

Kingdom of Unlimited Possibilities

One Mega project after another was announced to the world, giving the Kingdom the nickname of the Kingdom of Unlimited Possibilities. With former WTTC CEO and Mexican Minister of Tourism, HE Gloria Guevara, the Saudi Minister appointed the most powerful woman in tourism to lead the new Global Sustainable Center.

Saudi Vision 2030 goes with World Expo 2030

The young generation in the Kingdom is excited. 63% of Saudis are under 30 years old, Saudi expatriates are moving back home to be part of the new Saudi Arabia.

All of this is based on Vision 2030.

Saudi Vision 2030 is a government program launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, socially, and culturally, in line with the young and progressive vision of the 39-year-old Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

World Expo 2030 and Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia deserves the opportunity to host World Expo, and this is World Expo 2030. Every major project in the Kingdom has a connection or is based on Vision 2030.

2030 is a focus year for Saudi Arabia. Combining this goal with the hosting of the World Expo is poised to be a winner and a vision of hope and inspiration way beyond Saudi Arabia.

What cities are competing for Expo 2030?

Riyadh is competing with Rome, Italy, and Busan, South Korea. Rome should not be part of a big competition since Milan in Italy just hosted a successful World Expo in 2015.

Unless it becomes a political decision dividing Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Riyadh should be able to unite the world with the excitement of welcoming World Expo 2030 in the Saudi Arabian capital.

Party until you drop in Riyadh and dream the Saudi Vision 2030

No competitor city would get close to the uniqueness Riyadh will bring to the plate. The venue is the most unique, the curiosity is there for everyone, and the resources to make Expo 2030 Riyadh a mega success is a given – it goes with Vision 2030, and the budget is not the issue.

The city is already booming. Tourists and locals can party as they drop, dreaming of the Saudi Vision.

Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air, the new National Airline of Saudi Arabia is already born, will be based in Riyadh, and poised to become the largest airline, operating from the largest airport in the world- in the future Riyadh.

Driyah

The rebuilding of Driyah will be finished in 2030. From the heart of a green oasis filled with orchards, farms, and fruitful palms in the middle of an Arab desert on the banks of Wadi Hanifa, Historical Diriyah is located in the northwest of Riyadh, 20 km away. It is where Imam Muhammad bin Saud laid down the foundations of the rule of the first Saudi state, which resulted in an unprecedented prosperity of human civilization in the region. Its impact extended for hundreds of years.

Of course, a world expo is more than tourism, but this alone should endorse Riyadh as the best choice.

Why Expo 2030 in Riyadh?

“Riyadh Expo 2030 would offer the perfect opportunity to showcase this to a global audience. Attendees of Riyadh Expo 2030 will be invited to envision a different future — prosperous, innovative, and sustainable.”

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia

Who and when? Voting for Expo 2030?

Eligible and present Member States of the BIE, represented by government-appointed delegates, will vote for the World Expo 2030 host country by secret ballot using electronic voting. Each Member State has one vote.

BIE rules stipulate that in the case of more than two candidates, a candidate must gather two-thirds of the votes cast to be elected outright. With three countries in the running to host World Expo 2030, if no candidate gathers two-thirds of the votes cast in the first round, the third-place candidate is eliminated and the two remaining candidates will immediately move into a second round. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by a simple majority.

World Expo History

From the World Expo 1988 in Brisbane onwards countries started to use expositions as a platform to improve their national image through their pavilions. Finland, Japan, Canada, France, and Spain are cases in point. A major study by Tjaco Walvis called “Expo 2000 Hanover in Numbers” showed that improving national image was the main goal for 73% of the countries participating in Expo 2000.

Pavilions became a kind of advertising campaign, and the Expo served as a vehicle for “nation branding”.

According to branding expert Wally Olins, Spain used Expo ’92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona in the same year to underscore its new position as a modern and democratic country and to show itself as a prominent member of the European Union and the global community.

At Expo 2000 Hanover, countries created their own architectural pavilions, investing, on average, €12 million each.

Given these costs, governments are sometimes hesitant to participate, because the benefits may not justify the costs. However, while the effects are difficult to measure, an independent study of the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated that the pavilion (which cost around €35 million) generated around €350 million of potential revenues for the Dutch economy.

It also identified several key success factors for world exposition pavilions in general.

The term “world’s fair” is commonly used in the United States, while the French term, Exposition universelle (“universal exhibition” is used in most of Europe and Asia; other terms include World Expo or Specialised Expo, with the word expo used for various types of exhibitions since at least 1958.

Since the adoption of the 1928 Convention Relating to International Exhibitions, the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions has served as an international sanctioning body for international exhibitions.

Four types of international exhibitions are organized under its auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos (regulated by the International Association of Horticultural Producers), and the Milan Triennial.

Astana, Kazakhstan, held the most recent Specialised Expo in 2017 while Dubai, United Arab Emirates hosted Expo 2020 (which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Belgrade, Serbia, which had been selected to host the next Specialised Expo in 2027 will take place from 15 May to 15 August 2027.

Since 1995, the interval between two World Expos has been at least five years. World Expo 2015 was held in Milan, Italy, from 1 May to 31 October 2015.

Specialized Expos

are smaller in scope and investments and generally shorter in duration. They usually open between three weeks and three months.

World Expos every 5 years

World Expos (formally known as International Registered Exhibitions) encompass universal themes that affect the full gamut of human experience, and international and corporate participants are required to adhere to the theme in their representations.

Registered expositions are held every 5 years because they are more expensive as they require the total design of pavilion buildings from the ground up. As a result, nations compete for the most outstanding or memorable structure. For example Japan, France, Morocco, and Spain at Expo ’92.

Sometimes prefabricated structures are used to minimize costs for developing countries or for countries from a geographical block to share space (i.e. Plaza of the Americas at Seville ’92).

The vision in Saudi Arabia to showcase to the world is not stopping with World Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia is the Sole Candidate to Host the 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia’s Vision Towards Sports and Entertainment:

Saudi Arabia aspires to be a global hub for sports and entertainment, aiming to attract more international sporting events to the hashtag#Kingdom in the coming years. These events will contribute to increasing financial revenue, the number of visitors, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global tourist destination.

World Cup 2034:

The 2034 World Cup is a significant sporting event that will greatly contribute to achieving Saudi Arabia’s goals of becoming a global center for sports and entertainment. The event will attract millions of visitors from around the world, contributing to increased financial revenue and supporting the tourism sector in the Kingdom.

Financial Revenue from Sporting Events in Saudi Arabia:

The sources of financial income from sporting events in Saudi Arabia vary, including ticket sales, sponsorships, television broadcasting, and sports-related products and merchandise. In general, the sports sector in the Kingdom is witnessing an annual growth of 8%, and its revenues are expected to reach $3.3 billion by 2024.

Number of Visitors from Sporting Events in Saudi Arabia:

The sporting events hosted by the Kingdom in recent years have witnessed significant attendance, including the 2023 Club World Cup, the 2027 Asian Cup finals, the 2023 Spanish Super Cup, the 2022 Saudi Grand Prix for Formula 1, the 2021 AlUla Extreme E race, and the 23rd Asian Handball competitions.

Expectations for the Coming Years:

The Kingdom expects to host a larger number of international sporting events in the coming years, such as the 2025 World Championship for Electronic Sports, the 2023 World Motorcycle Championship (MotoGP), the 2023 World Endurance Racing Championship (WEC), and the 2024 World Swimming Championship.

Saudi Arabia aspires to be a global hub for sports and entertainment, aiming to attract more international sporting events to the Kingdom in the coming years. These events will contribute to increasing financial revenue, the number of visitors, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global tourist destination.

The big goal remains: