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Expo 2030 Riyadh Registration Dossier Receives BIE Final Approval at Paris General Assembly

Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan led the Saudi delegation at the BIE General Assembly. (SPA)
Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan led the Saudi delegation at the BIE General Assembly. (SPA)
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Expo 2030 Riyadh Registration Dossier Receives BIE Final Approval at Paris General Assembly

Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan led the Saudi delegation at the BIE General Assembly. (SPA)
Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan led the Saudi delegation at the BIE General Assembly. (SPA)

Expo 2030 Riyadh's Registration Dossier has received final approval during the Bureau International Des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly in Paris, marking the final step in confirming the Kingdom as the official host country for the upcoming Expo. As part of the proceedings, BIE handed over the World Expo flag to Saudi Arabia's delegation.

Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers and Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan led the Saudi delegation at the BIE General Assembly, which included Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaily, and other officials.

The Registration Dossier serves as a comprehensive blueprint, highlighting Saudi Arabia's vision of hosting an exceptional Expo that reflects its ambitions towards innovation and global collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, Al-Sultan extended his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continuous support in the Kingdom's hosting of this landmark global exhibition.

“The approval of the Registration Dossier in record time highlights the Kingdom's leadership on the global stage and underscores the world's confidence in Saudi Arabia's vision and capabilities. It also reflects the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the teams involved in preparing and reviewing the Registration Dossier,” he stressed.

“This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Kingdom's journey to deliver an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the World Expo, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.”

Riyadh is the first Expo host to complete and submit its Registration Dossier in such a short timeframe, almost half the time usually required for this kind of dossier. The approval of the Registration Dossier unlocks the next phase of formal preparations for Expo 2030 Riyadh, which includes extending official invitations to international participants through diplomatic channels.

Set to take place from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, Expo 2030 Riyadh will be one of the largest Expos ever, held on a six million sqm site. The site is designed to welcome over 40 million visits through world-class infrastructure, hospitality venues, and cutting-edge facilities. The site will ensure an unforgettable experience for all participants and visitors, with a target of more than 195 participating nations.

The approval of the Registration Dossier underscores Saudi Arabia's readiness to deliver a world-class Expo. With its bold vision, strategic planning, and unwavering support from the Kingdom's Leadership, Expo 2030 Riyadh is poised to be a landmark event that inspires progress, fosters innovation, and leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.

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Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Thursday in Riyadh French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability.

Gulf

How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
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How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?

The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)

Gulf leaders meeting in Jeddah this week urged faster progress on joint projects and deeper military integration, seeking to reinforce collective security and economic coordination amid heightened regional tensions.

In a statement after the consultative summit on Tuesday, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said leaders called for accelerating completion of requirements to link all shared Gulf projects, including transport and logistics. They stressed speeding up implementation of the Gulf railway, advancing electricity interconnection, and taking prompt steps toward oil and gas pipeline and water-link projects.

The statement also pointed to studying strategic Gulf stockpiles, while emphasizing intensified military integration and faster completion of a joint early warning system against ballistic missiles.

The direct wording - repeating terms such as “accelerate” and “urgency” - reflected a push for concrete outcomes and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiative in convening the summit amid complex regional conditions.

28 April 2026, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Bahrain's King, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman, on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council Consultative Summit. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the meeting reflected Gulf unity. “Our consultative summit today in Jeddah embodies a unified Gulf position toward current developments and the need to intensify coordination and consultation,” he stated, adding that this would strengthen diplomatic efforts, safeguard regional security and stability, and support development and prosperity.

Extending Gulf leadership efforts

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit was convened in response to conditions facing the Gulf region following the US-Israeli-Iranian war, aiming to coordinate GCC positions and contain its repercussions.

The goal is to enhance efforts to address this crisis and its consequences - security, economic and otherwise - to stabilize the region, safeguard GCC interests and strengthen collective security, he underlined.

Sager added that the summit builds on efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders, within the broader vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz to strengthen joint Gulf action, deepen economic unity, and develop defense and security systems toward more sustainable integration.

He revealed that these discussions also addressed reinforcing Gulf unity to better manage current challenges and anticipate future crises.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Toward independent Gulf decision-making

Sager said the summit is expected to build on the GCC success in confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks, using that experience to develop a comprehensive defense strategy, which would focus on modern armament suited to evolving warfare, training, and external defense partnerships, while reinforcing self-reliance.

Leaders reaffirmed the right of GCC states to self-defense, individually or collectively, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all measures to protect sovereignty, security and stability. They stressed full solidarity among member states and that their security is indivisible, with any attack on one considered an attack on all, in line with the joint defense agreement.

Albudaiwi said leaders praised the “courage and high readiness” of GCC armed forces in defending against Iranian attacks, noting their ability to intercept missiles and drones with professionalism and efficiency while safeguarding national assets.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Alternative routes on the agenda

Sager noted that developing alternative corridors to secure energy supply chains will likely be a key focus in the coming period, reflected in leaders’ directives to move ahead with pipeline projects and transport infrastructure.

Political analyst Ahmed Alibrahim agreed, saying the summit statement underscored Saudi Arabia’s role in securing supply chains during the crisis and working on alternative energy routes, including through the East-West pipeline, as part of addressing risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

He described the statement as unusually direct. “This is one of the rare times we see a clear and explicit communiqué with firm directives, especially regarding future requirements and open-ended scenarios,” he said, citing uncertainties including potential setbacks in US-Iran negotiations or other serious developments.

For his part, political analyst Mohammed Al-Dossary believes that the importance of the GCC lies in its ability to navigate many crises, including the Iraq-Iran War and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

He stressed that the collective consciousness of Gulf citizens recognizes the importance of unifying the Gulf stance to overcome crises, including the current one and the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure.

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a written message from Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, expressing his country's solidarity with the Kingdom in light of the current situation in the region.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and reviewed a number of issues of common interest.

The Crown Prince also received a written message from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, concerning relations between the two countries.

The message was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Yasunari Morino.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan and discussed various topics of common interest.