Khaldon Azhari

OSAKA: Talal AlMarri, the CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh, congratulated Japan on “the remarkable achievements of Expo 2025” and its success in attracting 28 million visitors.

“It sets a high benchmark for all future hosts,” he told Arab News Japan. “And Expo 2030 Riyadh is certainly taking forward many lessons from Osaka’s success as we prepare to host the next World Expo. From the outset, the Expo 2030 Riyadh team has been present on the ground in Osaka, learning directly from the organizers, the host city, and participating nations and organizations.”

Among the lessons he says Riyadh has learned from Japan are the openness and responsiveness of the organizers and their ability to react quickly to both challenges and opportunities; a strong business engagement, particularly with private-sector participation; and how Osaka inspired a deep sense of national pride across Japan. 

“Expo became a symbol of unity and creativity for the Japanese people, which is a legacy we deeply admire,” AlMarri said. “In Saudi Arabia, national pride is equally important, and Expo 2030 Riyadh will be a moment to share that pride with the world.”

AlMarri said one of the opportunities around Expos is the ability to facilitate business. “As we’ve seen in Osaka, a World Expo generates major economic activity and collaboration across sectors, at every stage of preparation and delivery,” he said. “The private sector is a critical component of the journey from early-stage construction to operations, event management, retail and F&B during Expo 2030 and beyond to create a lasting legacy.”

He said Japanese companies will be able to leverage their abilities at Riyadh 2030, especially in areas such as architecture and design, engineering, smart mobility, and AI and data platforms.

Echoing the words of Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, AlMarri emphasized how Expos offer something “profoundly human, the opportunity for people to meet in person, share ideas, and experience innovation firsthand. This kind of global dialogue simply cannot be replicated elsewhere, and it underscores the importance of Expos as platforms for genuine exchange.”

AlMarri also said Riyadh’s strategic location is important as it is situated within an eight-hour flight of 60 percent of the world’s population. “The city is a natural hub linking Asia, the Middle East and beyond,” he said. “With our ambition to have 197 participant countries, we are planning for a diverse and representative Expo that truly brings the world together in Riyadh.”

Riyadh’s themes will include sustainable solutions, prosperous people, and transformative technology, which, he said, will create spaces for innovation and inspiration. “Expo 2030 Riyadh has a responsibility, working with our international partners, to deliver something truly extraordinary in 2030, not just a physical site, but a living vision for the future.”

“Expo 2030 Riyadh will tell a story of real transformation. It’s about a country that set a bold vision through Vision 2030 and is now opening its doors to show it in action. Expo 2030 Riyadh will be a living example of how Saudi Arabia’s vision became reality. What is important to understand is that Expo is empowered by Vision 2030, not the other way around.”

“Expo 2030 Riyadh will embody Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation. It will not simply present the Kingdom to the world; it will invite the world to experience Saudi Arabia as it is today: dynamic, confident, collaborative, and ready to lead on the global stage.”