BIE to pick World Expo 2030 host today

The general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will meet today, Nov. 28, to vote on the selection of the host country for World Expo 2030.

The member states of the assembly will vote on one of three files: Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) between Oct. 1, 2030 and March 31, 2031, South Korea (Busan) between May 1, and Oct. 31, 2030, and Italy (Rome) between May 1, and Oct. 31, 2030.

According to the BIE, each of the candidates will make a final presentation of the project, after which the eligible and present members of the assembly will vote via a secret ballot using electronic voting, with each country having only one vote.

The rules of the bureau stipulate that if there are more than two candidates, the candidate who receives two-thirds of the votes is chosen directly. In this case with three candidates, if no candidate receives two-thirds of the votes, the candidate who won third place is disqualified, and then the other candidates enter a second round, in which the winner is chosen by a simple majority.

According to data available with Argaam, Saudi Arabia revealed in June the master plan for Riyadh Expo 2030 under the title "The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow", during the official reception organized by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) in Paris.

The Expo will be held on an area of more than six million square meters near King Salman International Airport, currently under development, making it easier for air travelers to reach the site by using the Riyadh train network. This is in addition to the modern road network, and it is connected to one of the three entrances to the event.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in November that Saudi Arabia aims to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh to present an exceptional edition unprecedented in the history of this fair that contributes to a better future for humanity.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al Falih, said that the budget allocated for Riyadh to host Expo 2030 is $7.8 billion, or SAR 29.3 billion.