On November 29, Riyadh was chosen to host the 2030 World Expo beating out Rome and the South Korean port city of Busan for an event expected to draw millions of visitors. Members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions chose Riyadh with a majority of 119 out of 165 votes during a closed-door meeting. Focused on shaping a prosperous and sustainable future, under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” the expo will run from October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031.

In June, the Royal Commission for Riyadh revealed a master plan for the event based on a circular design – intending to ensure equality among all participating countries. It will be developed northeast of Riyadh, an empty desert locale at the moment but in close proximity to King Khalid International Airport and the Wadi al-Sulay project, a natural rainwater drainage basin. Pavilions will be situated within this circular shape. According to the organizers, the placement of the pavilions for participating countries will be based on their respective geographical coordinates, thus ensuring the “design will bring together countries from the north and south of the globe side by side, symbolizing the Kingdom’s important role in facilitating global cooperation.”

Learning From Past Expos

World Expos are highly anticipated events occurring every five years. Delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the last expo was held in Dubai October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 and was nonetheless quite successful in attracting visitors despite the pandemic, drawing 24,102,967 total visitors and welcoming 192 country pavilions. Yet there was debate over its architectural and urban legacy. Expo 2020 Dubai more or less followed the template of previous events, relying on architectural spectacle, with claims it took a “vanity fair” approach in which individual pavilions competed for attention through architectural features. Renowned Swiss architect Jacques Herzig, who was initially approached to propose a master plan for Expo 2015 Milan, said, “The content of the exhibitions should make the countries look different, not the size of their pavilions. It simply seems embarrassing to address this very important topic and at the same time built enormous, dramatically curved pavilions with facades in wavy plastic or with spectacular waterfalls or whatever.” Unfortunately, this is what happened in Milan and subsequently in Dubai.

In 2030, Riyadh has the opportunity to offer something radically different that can be a defining moment for not just Riyadh but also the region. It can become a model for a truly transformative event that will leave a lasting legacy for the world.

The first World Expo was in London. Dubbed the “Great Exhibition of 1851,” it was held in a steel and glass structure designed by Joseph Paxton. It was a revolutionary structure not just because of the use of material but also because it employed prefabricated elements to expedite assembly on site. It was meant to reflect the rapid changes occurring at the time due to the Industrial Revolution. The following expos were held in France from 1855-1900, the most famous of which was the 1889 event because it featured the Eiffel Tower, an iron structure in the heart of Paris. Throughout the 20th century, the gathering continued to attract participant countries and always featured architecturally advanced pavilions: Germany’s Barcelona Pavilion in 1929, designed by Mies van der Rohe; Brussels’ Atomium in 1959; Montreal’s Habitat Building in 1967, designed by architect Moshe Safdie; and the futuristic Expo 1970 Osaka. This trend continued up until Expo 2020 Dubai.

Saudi Arabia debuted in the national exhibition circuit at Expo 1970 Osaka. The Saudi pavilion, unlike its technologically advanced counterparts, featured “chaste white arches, green domes, and pale golden panels.” It was meant to be a reflection of the past from the outside, while the inside exhibited the kingdom’s futuristic outlook.

Riyadh’s Opportunity

Fast forward 53 years, and Saudi Arabia has been selected as the host for Expo 2030. According to the organizers, visitors to the exhibition will “enjoy strolling through fully shaded corridors with designs inspired by Riyadh’s architectural heritage.” Additionally, “a prominent landmark will be built at the heart of the main plan for Riyadh Expo 2030, symbolizing ‘Responsibility for Protecting the Planet.’” Surrounding this landmark will be “three pavilions, each representing the exhibition’s sub-themes of ‘Prosperity for All,’ ‘Climate Action,’ and ‘A Different Tomorrow.’” Organizers promise that Riyadh Expo 2030 will be the most sustainable and influential World Expo yet, in line with climate commitments to achieve carbon neutrality. It will follow international sustainability standards, including urban afforestation, the use of treated water, and the provision of new energy sources. Expo pavilions can support sustainability and environmental awareness by using eco-friendly and recyclable materials, energy-efficient designs, and innovative, temporary structures. The question is whether Riyadh can transcend these expected principles, which previous expos also strived to meet (largely unsuccessfully), and create a truly transformative urban and architectural setting.

To that end, it is helpful to consider the site of the event. Its location, northeast of Riyadh, is near King Khaled International Airport, ensuring easy access for visitors. A dedicated metro line will enable people to arrive at the site from the center of Riyadh. The Banban Wildlife Resort is also nearby, where visitors can experience the Saudi desert landscape. Once completed, Wadi al-Sulay, a reclaimed waterway, will offer an eastern boundary to the capital and, according to the master plan, traverse a portion of the expo site. This aims to demonstrate to visitors Riyadh’s commitment to environmental management, showing that the site is not simply meant to be a temporary place for pavilions. By 2030, numerous other projects are expected to be completed, including The Mukaab, a massive cubic skyscraper, Sports Boulevard, the King Abdullah Financial District, and King Salman Park, which promises to be one of the largest urban parks in the world.

With Riyadh undergoing a massive transformation in its built environment, it is essential that the master plan ensures the event site is connected to and complements these various developments and that, once the event ends, it is repurposed as an open site accessible to all. To achieve the expressed mission of inclusivity, Riyadh must avoid the temptation to turn the setting into a real estate venture containing high-end developments meant for wealthy investors and buyers. For instance, while Expo 2020 Dubai developed a sustainable, long-term proposal for its site, it started by allocating a large section for upscale developments currently under construction. Shanghai may be a better model to follow, as it transformed its exhibition site into the Shanghai Expo Cultural Park, a green oasis for residents and visitors. Furthermore, concerning the architecture of the exhibition, guidelines should be established to ensure countries avoid extravagant gestures and focus more on the theme itself. Clearly, like the landmark expos of London and Paris, there needs to be a defining landmark structure reflecting the culture and identity of Riyadh but also offering a glimpse into the future. However, individual pavilions should be more modest, offering a spatial framework that would allow for the display of different exhibits and technological innovations responding to the theme “Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.” And ultimately, the “Riyadh Promise” would be an assurance that the exhibition is a place for all segments of society and not simply an opportunity for real estate speculation. In that way, Expo 2030 Riyadh can truly play a role in transforming the city into a global metropolis.