Saudi Crown Prince Attends Paris Reception for Riyadh’s Expo 2030 Bid

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the reception ceremony for Riyadh's bid to host Expo 2030 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the reception ceremony for Riyadh's bid to host Expo 2030 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Crown Prince Attends Paris Reception for Riyadh’s Expo 2030 Bid

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the reception ceremony for Riyadh's bid to host Expo 2030 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the reception ceremony for Riyadh's bid to host Expo 2030 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, demonstrated its organizational prowess in hosting Expo 2030 in the esteemed presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The city’s remarkable capabilities were highlighted as it presented the most prominent proposal to host this global event by the end of the decade.

Through the presented proposal, Riyadh revealed an allocated budget for organizing the event, amounting to approximately $7.3 billion. This budget is divided into $5.85 billion for capital expenses and $1.47 billion for operational expenses.

The personal involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the official reception of the Kingdom’s bid to host Expo 2030 in the French capital, Paris, sends a clear message about Saudi Arabia’s commitment to organizing this globally renowned trade event.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City presented its proposal for hosting Expo 2030, which is expected to be held under the overarching theme of “The Age of Change: Together for a Foresighted Future.”

The proposal encompasses three sub-themes: “A Better Tomorrow,” “Climate Action,” and “Prosperity for All.”

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the significance of the Expo’s main theme, stating that the Kingdom’s hosting of the event will coincide with a year of celebrating the culmination of efforts aimed at achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

Riyadh’s proposal addressed the projected global population of around 10 billion people by the year 2050, emphasizing the importance of enabling them to live in favorable conditions and lead prosperous lives.

This can be achieved through global innovation and technology, as well as by addressing challenges related to climate and environmental changes.

Additionally, the proposal emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities and equality for all individuals.

The reception ceremony in Paris was organized on the eve of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), scheduled for Tuesday.

Representatives from 179 member countries attended the ceremony to learn about Riyadh’s readiness, plans, and projects for hosting the expo.

This served as a prelude to the voting process that will determine the host city for this event at the next BIE General Assembly meeting, scheduled to take place in November.

It is expected that Expo 2030 will attract around 40 million visitors to the site, along with one billion virtual visitors.

 



GCC Secretary-General Condemns Iranian UAV Attacks on Bahrain

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
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GCC Secretary-General Condemns Iranian UAV Attacks on Bahrain

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi expressed his strong condemnation and denunciation of the treacherous Iranian attacks that targeted the Kingdom of Bahrain using UAVs.

The GCC secretary-general underlined that the continuation of these hostile acts constitutes a flagrant violation of Bahrain's sovereignty, a grave disregard for international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter, as well as a blatant challenge to regional and international efforts aimed at achieving security and stability, SPA reported.

Furthermore, he stressed that Iran's persistence in repeating its assaults on the Kingdom of Bahrain poses a direct threat to the security and stability of the region. He underscored that these practices contradict the principles of good neighborliness and represent a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, necessitating a resolute international stance to halt these attacks and hold those responsible accountable.

​Albudaiwi renewed the GCC states' full solidarity and standing with the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as their support for all measures it takes to protect its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents on its territories.

 

He asserted that the security of the Kingdom of Bahrain is an integral and indivisible part of the shared Gulf security, and that any infringement on the sovereignty of any member state is an infringement on the security of all GCC states.​​


Bahrain Says it Intercepted Iranian Projectiles

Visitors tour the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Achievements Exhibition at the National Aerospace Park outside Tehran, Iran, 12 November 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Visitors tour the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Achievements Exhibition at the National Aerospace Park outside Tehran, Iran, 12 November 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Bahrain Says it Intercepted Iranian Projectiles

Visitors tour the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Achievements Exhibition at the National Aerospace Park outside Tehran, Iran, 12 November 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Visitors tour the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Achievements Exhibition at the National Aerospace Park outside Tehran, Iran, 12 November 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Bahrain's military said Sunday that its air defense systems had intercepted a number of Iranian projectiles before they reached their targets.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had attacked a US military base in Bahrain in retaliation for "hostile US actions,” Iran's Fars news agency reported.

The Revolutionary Guards said they had launched six drones targeting a US air-defense radar at the Al-Rifaa helicopter base in ⁠Bahrain, Iranian state-run Press ⁠TV reported.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, earlier urged citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location, the interior ministry said.

“Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its sinful attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the statement added.

President Donald Trump has said in recent days that he might hold off on attacking Iran if the US faces no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, but that he would maintain a US naval blockade, Reuters reported on Saturday.


Arab Coalition Intercepts Missiles Towards Riyadh, Drones in Eastern Province

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
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Arab Coalition Intercepts Missiles Towards Riyadh, Drones in Eastern Province

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Sunday it had intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles launched towards the Saudi capital Riyadh and three drones in the Kingdom's Eastern Province.

"Air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh," Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki said.

He earlier said in separate statements that Saudi air defenses had destroyed three drones in the country's Eastern region.