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.

 



King Salman Orders One-Year Extension of the Citizen Account Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
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King Salman Orders One-Year Extension of the Citizen Account Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (SPA)

Upon the recommendation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered on Monday that the Citizen Account Program be extended, in its current framework, until the end of 2025.

The directive also includes a one-year extension of the additional support to the program’s beneficiaries, as well as the continuation of the program’s registration process.

The royal directive reflects the Saudi leadership’s keenness on citizens. The additional support to the program’s beneficiaries was already extended under a royal directive in July 2022.