WITH a series of high-level, international, events spanning the 2030’s — including EXPO 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup — the decade ahead marks an exciting chapter for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. Of course, organising such events is costly and requires an infrastructural rethink. But Saudi Arabia is gearing-up for such a facelift reflected in its Vision 2030 which is reshaping the way Saudi Arabia sees itself and how the world see it. Of course, expositions are more than the sum of the investments that bring them to life. There are plenty of intangibles as well. Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower, for instance, was initially created as a temporary installation in honour of EXPO 1889 and yet it continues to stand, 130 years later, as an enduring symbol of the City of Light.
Historically, EXPOs have served as important drivers to affirm or redefine a city’s identity. The 1988 Barcelona EXPO propelled the city beyond its status as Spain’s second city, and helped to transform it into the vibrant hub of modern Mediterranean life, renowned for its nightlife and urban aesthetics, that we see today. Similarly, the 2015 EXPO fundamentally changed Milan and helped transition it from a monochrome industrial centre into a lively, tourist-attracting city showcasing the fusion of Italian fashion, sophistication and innovation.
What Does EXPO 2030 Have in Store for Riyadh?
Riyadh is poised to emerge as a prominent global city; an innovation hub and the culmination of an assortment of technological nexuses that are merging to complete a full transformative change to the city and, with it, the nation. The EXPO will be living testimony of how extreme climates and geographic conditions can be addressed through technology and human creativity.
Saudi Arabia’s ambition for Riyadh is well-known: The Riyadh Strategy 2030 aims to elevate the capital into one of the world’s top 10 urban economies, to double its population and attract 40 million (+) visitors by 2030. The strategy encompasses various fields, including economic growth, human capital development, the enhancement of quality of life, urban planning, resource management and global branding.
Implemented through 26 specialised programmes and more than 700 pioneering projects, Riyadh represents the 50% of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy. Initiatives, such as the Green Riyadh plan — where some 7.5 million trees are set to be planted — will increase the city’s green coverage to 9.1%. The Sports Boulevard will feature a 135 km cycling track, and Riyadh Art, the world’s largest government investment in public art, with 1,000 curated pieces of art and a landmark installation, aims to establish the city as a ‘gallery without walls.’ This is the context in which EXPO 2030 will take place.
Riyadh is hard at work. Perhaps more than anything, the work that will be going into reformulating its unique and distinctive identity is simultaneously the most pressing and important; to give its visitors the feeling of being a Riyadher from the time they buy their ticket to voyage to the Saudi capital and lasting with them far into the future.