Saudi Arabia plans to invite 197 countries to participate in Expo 2030 Riyadh, with the global event projected to attract about 42 million visitors, the Expo’s CEO said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Talal Al-Marri, CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh, said work on the 6-million-square-metre site will begin before the end of this year, with key facilities expected to be completed ahead of schedule.
“Riyadh’s mega-projects such as Diriyah and Qiddiya will also be ready,” Al-Marri said, adding that the city’s expanding metro network will connect directly to the Expo grounds to support visitor movement.
He said Riyadh’s location makes it accessible to around half the world’s population within five hours, describing the Saudi capital as “the ideal host for Expo 2030”.
Al-Marri said the event’s vision is built around technological transformation, sustainability and human capital development through education. “Expo 2030 was designed to be a strategic platform for the future and to contribute to global change,” he said.
The Expo is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boost economic growth and strengthen partnerships across the region.
During the same conference, the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute announced a strategic partnership with Expo 2030 Riyadh aimed at advancing global prosperity and creating long-term impact. The collaboration will leverage FII’s investment network and policy expertise to develop initiatives that put people at the centre of innovation and progress, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Richard Attias, acting CEO of the FII Institute, said the partnership seeks to “turn bold ideas into real, investable solutions that improve lives,” while Al-Marri said it will help establish Expo 2030 Riyadh as a “global hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development.”
The Expo is one of several major projects planned under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and position Riyadh as a leading global city.
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