The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is competing to host the upcoming Expo 2030, possessing the qualities that make it the ideal city to host this global event.
Saudi Arabia has been witnessing extensive developments at all levels, in addition to its pivotal role on both the global and regional levels, its involvement in decision-making, and its geographical location.
The general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, consisting of 170 members, is scheduled to convene on Tuesday and Wednesday to listen to the four countries that have officially submitted nominations to host Expo 2030.
- Riyadh, Elements of Success
Riyadh possesses numerous elements that make it the ideal city to host Expo 2030, and these elements highlight the advantages of the Saudi capital over its competing cities.
These advantages include its ability to innovate through its infrastructure, geographical location, thriving economy, crowd management expertise, population size, as well as high levels of security and safety.
These factors give the Saudi proposal a greater edge compared to other competing cities.
- Luminous Saudi Arabia
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has managed to become a shining beacon in the global economy, according to experts from international organizations.
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, stated that Saudi Arabia has become a bright spot in the global and regional economy, and this achievement comes during challenging times for the global economy.
Fadel al-Buainain, a member of the Saudi Shura Council, affirmed the presence of numerous factors that make Riyadh the suitable environment to host Expo 2030.
He pointed out that some of these factors can only be found in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding its geographical location and its position as a link between the continents, facilitating the swift arrival of visitors from all around the world to Riyadh within a short period of time.
Additionally, he mentioned that approximately two billion people can reach the country in approximately four hours.
“If we combine this with the Islamic and cultural depth represented by the Kingdom, it will further enhance its competitiveness to host the expo,” al-Buainain told Asharq Al-Awsat.
- Crowd Management
The Kingdom possesses extensive expertise in crowd management, both through organizing global and regional summits and through years of supervising the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
“Crowd management is an important factor, and the Kingdom has acquired long-standing experience in handling crowds through its supervision of the Hajj and Umrah seasons,” said al-Bainain.
“It has the necessary expertise to be the best in crowd management, and this positively reflects on its competitiveness,” he added.
- Security, Stability
Al-Buainain further emphasized that another key factor is the security and stability that Saudi Arabia enjoys. This enhances the safety and security of visitors, providing them with a secure environment to travel throughout all regions of the Kingdom, not just Riyadh.
