The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the capital city of Riyadh’s intention to bid for hosting the World Expo 2030 to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), World Expo’s organising body, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

In a letter to the BIE, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, said: “We live in an era of change, and we face an unprecedented need for humanity’s collective action,” adding: “It is clear that the whole world, as a collective, needs to work together to foresee the future and address, with its brightest minds, the challenges and opportunities that emanate from this change.”

HRH Crown Prince highlighted that “the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh will coincide with the culmination of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.” The Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism and was launched by HRH Crown Prince in 2016.

The letter was delivered in Paris to Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the BIE, by Fahd Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Expo 2030 will take place from October 1, 2030 to April 1, 2031. The theme proposed by Saudi Arabia is “The era of change: Leading the planet to a foresighted tomorrow.”

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), which is the overarching authority responsible for the City of Riyadh and is chaired by HRH Crown Prince, will lead the Saudi bid for the World Expo 2030.

Additional details of the proposal will be submitted to the BIE (the institution in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos since 1931) in Paris this December.

World Exhibitions have been held since 1851 and provide the largest global platform for presenting the latest achievements and technologies, while uniting people across cultures and continents.