The Crown Prince seeks to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the Kingdom's official reception in Paris to present its bid to host Expo 2030.

Representatives of 179 member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions, which organizes the fair, also attended the event in the French capital.

The Crown Prince toured an exhibition held by the Royal Commission for the city of Riyadh, which displays the rich heritage and culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the cultural depth of the Kingdom and its capital.

Virtual tour in Riyadh

The exhibition takes visitors on a virtual journey in Riyadh in 2030, starting with arriving at King Salman International Airport and then a tour of the most prominent landmarks such as the Sports Boulevard, King Salman Park, Diriyah Gate and Qiddiya.

The reception

The reception was an important part of the nomination procedures for countries to host the exhibition. It will be followed by the General Assembly of the International Bureau of Exhibitions on Tuesday and Wednesday at its headquarters in the French capital.

World Expo 2030

The General Assembly will hear the detailed nomination dossier submitted by four competing countries. Voting will take place next November to choose the host city.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Italy, South Korea and Ukraine are vying to host the exhibition in Rome, Busan and Odessa.

The project screening phase for World Expo 2030 is currently underway. The host country will then be elected by the BIE member states at the General Assembly meeting in November.

The reception was attended by a high-level Saudi delegation, members of the international diplomatic corps based in Paris, ambassadors of countries accredited to UNESCO, representatives of the main participating entities and projects, representatives of member states of the International Exhibitions Bureau, and senior officials. French government officials and the private sector.

Riyadh show

Riyadh's bid is already attracting widespread support in France. Influential French Senator Nathalie Goulet said holding the exhibition in the Saudi capital would be "the culmination of Vision 2030".

"It is not a date chosen at random, but rather a date that corresponds to a project, the culmination of what has been promised and is being implemented with the push of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," Joule said.

Liberation in Riyadh

"People who don't know Saudi Arabia don't see the difference, but I, who's been going there for 20 years, can see it. Whether it's the role of women, the end of wearing the foreign abaya, modernization, music, openness, tourism. You can see it well on the streets of Riyadh or Jeddah All those sports shops, all that music, all that free-spirited youth,It's clear.

Jack Lang, president of the Arab World Institute and former French minister of culture, told the newspaper that Riyadh would be a "smart and visionary choice" to host the exhibition.