Saudi Arabia's Riyadh to host prestigious universal Expo in 2030
The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, has won the rights to host a distinguished event, beating competition from the South Korean city of Busan and Rome. The International Bureau of Expositions made the choice in the first round of voting among its member countries.
12:53 PM EST, November 29, 2023
The International Bureau of Expositions has announced that Riyadh will be the venue for the Universal Expo 2030. Despite competition being tight initially, the Arab city emerged victorious with 119 votes, compared to Busan's 29 and Rome's 17.
The victory has sparked celebrations in the Arab countries. Neighbors have been extending their congratulations to Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt emphasized that entrusting Riyadh with the organization of this international event signifies a massive success.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the president of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas, who quickly sent congratulations to Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. As reported by the Egyptian portal aawsat.com, the politician expressed pride on behalf of his country and all Arabs for this significant victory. He also highlighted his confidence in a successful event in Riyadh.
Jordan also extended heartfelt congratulations to Saudi Arabia on the successful bid. The Jordanian foreign ministry stated that this victory represents the apex of the country's achievements in various fields.
Saudi Arabia receives worldwide accolades as the host of Expo 2030
The excitement generated by the Expo was evident from the euphoric reactions that echoed at the moment of the results announcement. This event attracts millions of viewers and provides enduring promotion. During the presentation of applications in Paris last June, the heads of the applicant countries were present, including the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, the president of South Korea, and the prime minister of Italy.
Despite the celebrations, fifteen large non-governmental organizations advocating for human rights urged the Bureau of World Expositions to reject Riyadh's candidacy due to Saudi Arabia's tarnished reputation in terms of protecting human rights.
