Expo Returns to Saudi Arabia with a 10 Trillion Won Investment and Massive Supply Push

"Seeking to Escape Khashoggi Assassination Stigma Through Expo Hosting"

Saudi Arabia, which won the bid to host the 2030 World Expo by beating South Korea and Italy, secured victory based on its powerful oil money. Following Qatar's successful bid for the World Cup last year, this is seen as a triumph of the Gulf countries' diplomatic power backed by massive capital.

On the 28th (local time), at the 173rd General Assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) held in Paris, France, Saudi Arabia comfortably won the Expo hosting rights by securing 119 votes out of 165 participating countries. South Korea received 29 votes, and Italy only 17.

Saudi Arabia, which entered the bidding race early, has been conducting aggressive marketing and lobbying activities with abundant capital. Saudi Arabia even showcased a cheering video from global soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the professional football club Al Nassr, during the final presentation.

One foreign media outlet reported, "Saudi Arabia wants to shed the stigma of being a dictatorship responsible for the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi through hosting this Expo," adding, "the Saudi delegation has held lavish lobbying events in Paris over the past several months."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Foreign media predict that Saudi Arabia's economic and social reform project 'Vision 2030,' led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will gain further momentum with this Expo win. For Saudi Arabia, successfully hosting a global event like the Expo is expected to help break away from the image of a conservative Islamic monarchy and focus on expanding its influence on the international stage.

To achieve successful national transformation, Saudi Arabia plans to invest $3.3 trillion (approximately 4,296 trillion KRW) by 2030, with $7.8 billion (about 10 trillion KRW) allocated solely for hosting the Expo.

Saudi Arabia also aims to use this Expo to shed its reputation as a country lagging in human rights. It presents the core spirit of the event as the principles of "equality, inclusion, and sustainability," ensuring mobility for the disabled and guaranteeing top-level labor rights.

The Expo is also a great opportunity to broaden Saudi Arabia's economic base beyond oil exports. It can actively attract foreign investment through the Expo. As cultures and innovations from around the world gather in one place, it will also serve as a chance to upgrade Saudi Arabia's culture, arts, science, and technology to the next level.

The Riyadh Expo site, called the "Garden in the Desert," covers an area of 6 million square meters and is designed to embody the origin of Riyadh and the national vision of pioneering a sustainable future between cities and regions. It is about a 5 to 10-minute drive from King Khalid International Airport and will be connected by subway.

Saudi Arabia expects a total of 246 organizations, including 226 countries, to participate in the Riyadh Expo scheduled from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, with annual visitors reaching 41 million.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.