What does Saudi Arabia hosting of Expo 2030 mean for its economy?
Winning the rights to host the world fair follows news that the kingdom will likely host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, among several other major events.
Saudi Arabia was awarded the 2030 World Expo on Tuesday, constituting another victory for the kingdom in its quest to become a center of global events.
The Bureau International des Expositions announced on X that Saudi Arabia won with 119 votes compared to South Korea’s 29 and Italy’s 17. The event will be hosted in the capital Riyadh.
It's official!
— Saudi Embassy USA (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) November 28, 2023
Under the theme "Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow", #SaudiArabia's capital #Riyadh will host the 2030 World Expo 🇸🇦 🤝 🌐@BIEParis @Riyadh_Expo2030 pic.twitter.com/oCF0L29c4n
The bureau is an intergovernmental organization that supervises world expos every five years. The events are world fairs designed to display the accomplishments of participating countries.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia seeks to host more global events as part of its economic diversification strategy. The kingdom is expected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup after Australia withdrew in October, leaving Saudi Arabia as the sole bidder. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to host an “Esports World Cup” the same month.
