PARIS,— Saudi Arabia and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) signed a landmark agreement on Monday setting out the legal and administrative rules for countries taking part in Expo 2030 Riyadh, organisers said.
The so-called “See Agreement” was signed on the sidelines of a visit to France by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and covers issues including visas, travel, tax and customs arrangements, and other logistical support for participating nations and organisations.
The ceremony was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes and Expo 2030 Riyadh chief executive Talal Al-Marri.
The deal follows approval of the agreement by the BIE’s General Assembly in Paris in June, and is meant to give participating countries clarity as they move into the design and construction phases of their pavilions ahead of the exhibition.
Kerkentzes called the signing an important milestone that strengthens institutional ties between the BIE and the kingdom, adding that “international participants are at the heart of every World Expo.” He said the agreement reflected a shared commitment to giving them the framework and support needed to take part successfully in Riyadh.
Al-Marri said the deal was a step toward giving participants the guidance and systems they need as preparations advance. “We are proud to be building a World Expo that will strengthen connections,” he said, adding that the event would showcase Saudi Arabia’s progress and leave a lasting impact on Riyadh and the kingdom.
Riyadh is set to host the World Expo from October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031 under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow.” Organisers expect the six-month event, spread across a 6-million-square-metre site divided into five districts, to draw more than 200 official participants and around 42 million visits.
The programme is expected to include national pavilions, cultural events and technology-driven exhibits. Once the Expo ends, the site is planned to be converted into a permanent mixed-use development described by organisers as a “global village.”
Saudi Arabia beat out rival bids from South Korea and Italy in 2023 to host the 2030 edition, part of a broader push under the kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification programme to raise its international profile through major sporting and cultural events.
World Expos, held periodically since the 1850s, are overseen by the Paris-based BIE, an intergovernmental body that regulates international exhibitions built around themes of education, innovation and cooperation.
