Organizers have revealed the master plan for Riyadh Expo 2030, strategically situating it near the upcoming King Salman International Airport for convenient access. The exhibition site will have three entrances, connecting it to the modern road network and enabling swift transportation for attendees utilizing the extensive “Riyadh Metro” network that spans the entire city.
With meticulous design, the 226 exhibition pavilions will take on a spherical shape, featuring an equator line running through them. This design concept aligns with the exhibition’s vision of equal opportunities for all participants and reflects the city of Riyadh’s rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. The pavilions will also serve as a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global climate concerns and its ambitious vision for a promising future.
Based on their longitudes, the organizers will flexibly determine the locations of the participating countries’ pavilions, facilitating the gathering of nations from various regions of the globe.
This design symbolizes the kingdom’s role in facilitating global cooperation. Visitors will have convenient access to various pavilions, public squares, cultural and innovation facilities, food services, rest areas, and waiting areas, all within short distances and connected by fully shaded corridors inspired by Riyadh’s architectural heritage.
Notable Landmark: Responsibility for Protecting the Planet
The exhibition site will also feature a modern green oasis situated along one of the tributaries of Wadi As-Sulai, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy. In addition, Riyadh Expo 2030 will feature the construction of a notable landmark called “Responsibility for Protecting the Planet.” This landmark will consist of 195 columns, representing the participating countries. Surrounding the landmark, three pavilions will represent the exhibition’s sub-themes of “Prosperity for All,” “Climate Action,” and “A Different Tomorrow.”
Furthermore, the exhibition will include the Collaborative Change Corner (C3), an area dedicated to driving innovation and creativity throughout the seven-year journey leading up to and beyond Riyadh Expo 2030.
The C3 aims to demonstrate the power of collaboration among brilliant minds in scientific, social, and intellectual innovations to accelerate the changes that will shape our future, according to Gulf Business.
A member of the blueprint team for the Riyadh Expo 2030, Lamia Bint Abdulaziz stated: “The blueprint will work on developing a version of the Expo that is the most flexible when it comes to visitors’ movement at the site; and the most interactive, collaborative, and sustainable ever, and we will make sure to provide an exceptional experience for visitors to the exhibition.”
“We will also work on enabling full and balanced participation, and with added value for all participating countries, and we will provide unprecedented experience of high quality for more than 40 million visitors.”
She also said that the exhibition will include rich technical opportunities for cultural and professional development, adding, “We are planning to launch a participating laboratory in Osaka Expo 2025 and it will continue to help countries deal with recurring challenges in the preparatory period for Riyadh Expo 2030.”
Environmentally Friendly Expo: Zero Carbon Emissions and Sustainable Practices
Meanwhile, Expo blueprint team member Nouf Bint Majid Al-Muneef added: “Our goal in the kingdom is to organise the first environmentally friendly exhibition that achieves a zero level of carbon emissions.
The Riyadh Expo 2030 site will be powered by clean resources that rely on solar energy, and we are developing high standards for resource efficiencies and detailed strategies to enhance biodiversity, eliminate food waste, and ensure green waste management and recycling.”
“We will enable and help finance and build various partnerships that enhance the development phase and the objectives of the exhibition, based on the collaborative angle of change that we call the tripartite vision, as we will finance and incubate it in order to build international projects starting from 2025,” she added.
The kingdom has declared its intention to create the Riyadh Expo 2030 as the most environmentally friendly and impactful Expo to date, aligning with its climate goals of achieving carbon neutrality.
This objective is evident in the comprehensive plan for the exhibition, which adheres to global sustainability standards. The plan includes initiatives such as urban afforestation, utilization of treated water, and the implementation of alternative energy sources.
Furthermore, the exhibition’s design blueprint incorporates considerations for the site’s future reuse, aiming to establish a groundbreaking urban model that ensures sustainability while fostering innovation and creativity.