Expo 2030

Representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) have completed their Enquiry Mission as part of the examination of Ukraine’s candidature to organise World Expo 2030 in Odesa under the theme “Renaissance. Technology. Future.”. Due to the current circumstances, the Enquiry Mission was organised at the BIE headquarters in Paris with face-to-face and virtual sessions.

Members of the Enquiry Mission, led by the President of the Rules Committee, Aldwin Dekkers, looked into all aspects of the Expo project submitted by Ukraine and laid out in its candidature dossier.

Over the course of two days, they received detailed presentations of the candidature project and virtually exchanged with national and local officials. The BIE delegation held face-to-face meetings with Oleksandra Vasylenko, Director of the Department General for Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyrylo Kryvolap, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine and Associate Partner of CIVITTA, Yevgen Lyevyenberg, Head of the Public Council of Expo 2030 NGO, Yevgeniya Pozigun, Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, Anatolii Zyrianov, Advisor to the Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional State, and Yevhenii Kartavyi, Delegate of Ukraine to the BIE. Virtual sessions were also organised, notably with Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and Roman Grygoryshyn, Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration.

The candidature dossier submitted by Ukraine outlines a vision for a World Expo addressing the role of humankind in the technological future and looking at progress through the prism of humanity and sustainable development. The Expo would be held between 26 April and 14 October 2030 on a 260-hectare site located in Odesa on former irrigation fields between the Black Sea and the Khadzhibey Estuary. The candidature committee forecasts that it would receive 19.1 million visitors during its opening period.

The Enquiry Mission for the candidature of Ukraine is the second to be carried out as part of the project evaluation phase for World Expo 2030. The first, for the candidature of Saudi Arabia, took place earlier in March, and the others – for the candidature of the Republic of Korea and the candidature of Italy are scheduled in the next two months. The findings of the Enquiry Missions will be discussed by the BIE’s Executive Committee in May 2023, which will decide to forward to the General Assembly the candidatures it considers to be feasible and viable. In November 2023, during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, the host country of World Expo 2030 will be elected via secret ballot by BIE Member States, on the principle of one country, one vote.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, took place under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, and received over 24 million. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, between 13 April and 13 October 2025, under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.

Representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) have completed their Enquiry Mission as part of the examination of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s candidature to organise World Expo 2030 in Riyadh under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow”.

Members of the Enquiry Mission, led by the President of the BIE’s Administration and Budget Committee, Patrick Specht, looked into all aspects of the Expo project submitted by Saudi Arabia and laid out in its candidature dossier. The delegation was composed of Delegates of three BIE Member States, and the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, and was accompanied by BIE officials.

Over the course of five days, Members of the Enquiry Mission received detailed presentations of the candidature project, visited the proposed Expo site, and exchanged with national and local officials, as well as representatives of the business community and members of civil society.

Members of the Enquiry Mission, who arrived in Riyadh on 5 March, met with H.R.H. Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, as well as with several government ministers, including the Minister of Finance, H.E. Mohammed Al Jadaan, the Minister of Economy and Planning, H.E. Faisal Al-Ibrahim, the Minister of Investment, H.E. Khalid Al Falih, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, H.E. Saleh Al Jasser, and the Minister of Tourism, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb. The delegation was also received by H.E. Fahd Al-Rasheed, the CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).

The candidature dossier submitted by Saudi Arabia outlines a vision for a World Expo addressing the world’s constant transformation and providing opportunities for exchange to change the trajectory of the planet’s future towards a better tomorrow. The Expo would be held between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031 on a 338-hectare site situated north of Riyadh City around the Wadi Al Sulai. The candidature committee forecasts that 196 countries and 29 international organisations would participate in the Expo and that it would receive 40.7 million visits during its six-month opening period.

The Enquiry Mission to Saudi Arabia is the first to be carried out as part of the project evaluation phase for World Expo 2030. Enquiry Missions to the other candidate countries – the Republic of Korea, Ukraine and Italy – are scheduled in the next two months. The findings of the Enquiry Missions will be discussed by the BIE’s Executive Committee in May 2023, which will decide to forward to the General Assembly the candidatures it considers to be feasible and viable. In November 2023, during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, the host country of World Expo 2030 will be elected via secret ballot by BIE Member States, on the principle of one country, one vote.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai, took place under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, and received over 24 million. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, between 13 April and 13 October 2025, under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”.

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has set the dates for the Enquiry Missions to the four countries seeking to organise World Expo 2030.

The Enquiry Missions – composed of one of the Vice Presidents of the BIE, delegates of BIE Member States and the BIE Secretary General – are planned in March and April 2023, for the Republic of Korea, Italy, Ukraine and Saudi, as part of the project examination phase for World Expo 2030.

The dates set for the Enquiry Missions are as follows:

• Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) 6-10 March
• Ukraine (Odesa) 20-24 March
• Republic of Korea (Busan) 3-7 April
• Italy (Rome) 17-21 April

The task of the Enquiry Missions is to assess the feasibility and viability of each Expo project as laid out in the candidature dossiers previously submitted to the BIE. This assessment, which is a necessary step for the candidature to be considered for election, includes detailed presentations of the candidature project and exchanges with officials and key stakeholders involved in the candidature.

Using the candidature dossier as a guide, each Enquiry Mission will look into the motivations behind the Expo candidature, the attractiveness of the proposed Expo theme, the proposed site and its planned re-use after the Expo, levels of local and national support for the project, expected participation, and the financial feasibility plan.

The findings of the Enquiry Missions will be discussed by the BIE’s Executive Committee in May 2023, which will decide to retain the candidatures it considers to be feasible and viable. In November 2023, during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, the host country of World Expo 2030 will be elected by BIE Member States, via secret ballot, on the principle of one country, one vote.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai took place under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, and received over 24 million visits between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan in 2025, under the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

The four countries that have submitted candidature dossiers to organise World Expo 2030 – Ukraine (for Odesa), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (for Riyadh), the Republic of Korea (for Busan) and Italy (for Rome) - presented their Expo visions during the 171st General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which took place in Paris on 28-29 November.

Ukraine

Ukraine’s project to organise World Expo 2030 in Odesa was introduced by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who delivered a video address to the General Assembly indicating that Odesa, “the city of diversity”, would be the ideal host city for the first World Expo in Eastern Europe. The proposed theme, “Renaissance. Technology. Future.” was then elaborated by the Deputy head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, Roman Grygoryshyn, and Jaanika Merilo, Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation, who told Member States about a “vision for the future where all the new technologies will be to serve, help and educate people”. Architect Manuela Gatto of Zaha Hadid Architects then presented an overview of the proposed Master Plan, which would see pavilions created from modular blocks that can be easily transported and reused after the Expo.

In a video message to the 171st General Assembly of the BIE, the President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa emphasises that the candidature to
organise World #Expo2030 in Odesa aims to “show what humanity
can do in Ukraine when all peoples cooperate for peace and safety” #BIE171 pic.twitter.com/vJef0tgfdY

— BIE (@bieparis) November 29, 2022

Saudi Arabia

The CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, H.E. Fahd Al-Rasheed, introduced the candidature to organise World Expo 2030 in Riyadh with the proposed theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow”. The idea of this theme was further developed by the Minister of Communications & Information Technology H.E. Abdullah Al-Swaha, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Adel A. Al-Jubeir, with the latter telling Member States that the plan for the Expo is “to leave a powerful legacy and a clear demonstration that a brighter, sustainable future is achievable by all nations, and by all people”. Concluding the presentation, H.H. Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, affirmed that the Kingdom “looks forward to creating an Expo 2030 that can draw the blueprints of a new, ambitious and more equitable future”.

For KSA Minister of State @AdelAljubeir, the task is "to reverse more than a century of negative trends and work together towards creating a better future”, with #Expo2030 in Riyadh planning to be a “clear demonstration that a brighter, sustainable future is possible” #BIE171 pic.twitter.com/PnSCHkz07o

— BIE (@bieparis) November 29, 2022

Republic of Korea

The presentation of the Republic of Korea’s project to organise World Expo 2030 in Busan began with a video featuring Honorary Ambassadors for the candidature, BTS, whose members called on people “to work together and act together to face our shared challenges”. The proposed theme, “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future” was explored further by climate science professor June-yi Lee, while businesswoman Sung-un Chang and youth ambassador Asia Campbell elaborated on the Expo’s ambition to be a “platform for change”. The final speaker to take the stage was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Duck-soo Han, who announced the launch of the ‘Busan Initiative’ partnership programme, and declared that Expo 2030 in Busan would “present a new kind of Expo, a sustainable platform for all humanity to resolve our shared challenges together”.

Supporting the Republic of Korea’s 🇰🇷 candidature to host World #Expo2030 in Busan, @BTS_twt invite everyone “to work together and act together to face our shared challenges…because our best moment is yet to come” #BIE171 pic.twitter.com/pFdqWNNpqg

— BIE (@bieparis) November 29, 2022

Italy

Italy’s project to organise World Expo 2030 in Rome was introduced by Rebecca Bianchi, prima ballerina of Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera, who emphasised that just like culture, art and beauty, the proposed theme “People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion and Innovation” aims to unite. Support for the Expo candidature was underlined by 8-year-old schoolgirl Elisa Pasquini and, via a video message, by the Former Foreign Minister of Argentina Susan Malcorra. The concept of the Expo project was presented to Member States by architect Matteo Gatto, and the Government’s support for the project was underlined in a video address by Antonio Tajani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Concluding the presentation, the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, declared that the Expo would be “driven…by shared values on which to build a future of peace, prosperity, and brotherhood”.

Italy’s 🇮🇹 candidature for #Expo2030 in Rome proposes discussions that would be “both inclusive and innovative”, with “no limits or boundaries” to the thoughts & contributions #BIE171 pic.twitter.com/b9WHxqCBOc

— BIE (@bieparis) November 29, 2022

With the four candidates having submitted dossiers detailing their candidature projects on 7 September, the BIE will organise Enquiry Missions to each candidate country in early 2023 in order to assess the feasibility and viability of the projects. The election of the host country is due to take place during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE set to take place in November 2023.

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has received candidature dossiers from the Republic of Korea (Busan), Italy (Rome), Ukraine (Odesa) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) to organise World Expo 2030.

The submission of these candidature dossiers, comprehensive documents detailing each Expo project, is a key and compulsory step for each candidate country to enter the project examination phase of the candidature process.

Candidature dossiers outline each candidate’s vision for the Expo, including details on the planned Expo site and experience, the theme, and the planned legacy. They also lay out projections on visit numbers, financing and costs.

The contents of the candidature dossiers will notably serve as the basis for the work of BIE Enquiry Missions and will be used by BIE Member States to evaluate the interest of each Expo project, alongside the reports of the BIE Enquiry Missions and candidate presentations.

On 21 October, the BIE’s Executive Committee will meet to discuss the evaluation of projects for World Expo 2030 including the organisation of Enquiry Missions, which are set to take place between January and March 2023, In late November, candidates will have the opportunity to present their Expo projects to Member States during the 171st General Assembly of the BIE.

The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, indicated: “Each candidate dossier will be studied closely to evaluate compliance with Expo rules. The development of the theme, site plans and participant and visitor forecasts outlined in each dossier also provide BIE Member States with a detailed vision for each World Expo project”.

The Republic of Korea’s candidature is for a World Expo in Busan between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future”.

Italy’s candidature is for a World Expo in Rome between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion and Innovation”.

Ukraine’s candidature is for a World Expo in Odesa between 26 April and 14 October 2030 under the theme “Renaissance. Technology. Future.”.

Saudi Arabia’s candidature is for a World Expo in Riyadh between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031 under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow”.

At the end of the project examination phase, BIE Member States, on the principle of one country one vote, will elect the World Expo 2030 host country by secret ballot during the 173rd General Assembly of the BIE, set to take place in November 2023.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The most recent World Expo, Expo 2020 Dubai took place under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, and received over 24 million visits between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan in 2025, under the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

The Russian Federation has notified the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) of its decision to voluntarily withdraw its candidature to organise World Expo 2030 in Moscow.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin indicated the reasons for the withdrawal of the candidature and expressed his hope that the country will be a candidate to host an Expo in the foreseeable future.

The host country of World Expo 2030 will be elected by the 170 Member States of the BIE during the 173rd General Assembly of the Organisation due to take place in late 2023. In the meantime, the countries having notified the BIE of their intention to organise World Expo 2030 have until 7 September 2022 to submit their Expo project in the form of a candidature dossier. The BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions in early 2023 to assess the feasibility and viability of each candidature project submitted.

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has today closed the candidature period for World Expo 2030.

Five countries have submitted competing candidatures to organise World Expo 2030: Russia (in Moscow), the Republic of Korea (in Busan), Italy (in Rome), Ukraine (in Odesa) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (in Riyadh).

Russia’s candidature is for a World Expo in Moscow between 27 April and 27 October 2030 under the theme “Human Progress: A Shared Vision for a World of Harmony”.

The Republic of Korea’s candidature is for a World Expo in Busan between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future”.

Italy’s candidature is for a World Expo in Rome between 25 April and 25 October 2030 under the theme “The Horizontal City: Urban Regeneration and Civil Society”

Ukraine’s candidature is for a World Expo in Odesa between 1 May and 31 October 2030 under the theme “Renaissance. Technology. Future”.

Saudi Arabia’s candidature is for a World Expo in Riyadh between 1 October 2030 and 1 April 2031 under the theme “The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Foresighted Tomorrow”. 

The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, stated: “The BIE welcomes these five candidatures, which attest to the strong and shared desire for nations around the world to come together to shape a common vision for peace and human progress. The expression of these different visions for the future will be of interest to us all as we learn more about these candidatures in the project evaluation phase.”

The project examination phase for World Expo 2030 will take place over the next year and a half. Each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier, and the BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions, assessing the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected in 2023 by BIE Member States gathered in a General Assembly, on the principle of one country, one vote.

All candidature projects will be presented for the very first time to BIE Member States during the 169th General Assembly of the BIE on 14 December, and at all subsequent General Assemblies until the final vote.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

World Expo 2020, taking place in Dubai (UAE) under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, opened on 1 October 2021 and will close on 31 March 2022. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai (Japan) under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” between 13 April and 13 October 2025.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia submitted today a letter of candidature to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to organise World Expo 2030 in Riyadh.

The letter, from Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, was handed to the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, by the CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), Fahd Al Rasheed, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to France, Fahad Al Ruwaily.

Saudi Arabia’s candidature is based on the theme “The Era of Change: Leading the Planet to a Foresighted Tomorrow”, and if successful, the Expo would take place in the city of Riyadh between 1 October 2030 and 1 April 2031.

The six-month candidature phase for World Expo 2030 was launched on 29 April 2021 when the Russian Federation notified the BIE of its candidature for Moscow. This was followed by the Republic of Korea’s candidature for Busan on 23 June 2021, Italy’s candidature for Rome on 7 October 2021, and Ukraine’s candidature for Odesa on 15 October 2021. The BIE will close the candidate list on 29 October 2021 at 5pm CET.

Once the list is closed, the project examination phase of the candidature process will be launched, during which each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier. The BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions and assess the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by BIE Member States gathered in a General Assembly, on the principle of one country, one vote.

The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes stated: “The BIE is pleased to receive this letter of candidature from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the fifth country to seek the organisation of World Expo 2030. The strong interest in hosting World Expo 2030 attests to the global desire to re-connect with each other and to build a future that is more sustainable by fostering innovation and cooperation.”

Saudi Arabia’s first World Expo participation was at Expo 1958 in Brussels and it has actively participated in World and Specialised Expos ever since. It was rewarded with a Silver Award for pavilion design at Specialised Expo 2008 Zaragoza, as well as a Gold Award at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

World Expo 2020, taking place in Dubai (UAE) under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, opened on 1 October 2021 and will close on 31 March 2022. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai (Japan) under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” between 13 April and 13 October 2025.

Ukraine submitted today a letter of candidature to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to organise World Expo 2030 in Odesa.

The letter, from Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, was handed to the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, by the Ambassador of Ukraine to France Vadym Omelchenko.

Ukraine’s candidature is based on the theme “Renaissance. Technology. Future”, and if successful, the Expo would take place in the city of Odesa between 1 May and 31 October 2030.

The six-month candidature phase for World Expo 2030 was launched on 29 April 2021 when the Russian Federation notified the BIE of its candidature for Moscow. This was followed by the Republic of Korea’s candidature for Busan on 23 June 2021 and Italy’s candidature for Rome on 7 October 2021. The BIE will close the candidate list on 29 October 2021 at 5pm CET.

Once the list is closed, the project examination phase of the candidature process will be launched, during which each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier. The BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions and assess the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by BIE Member States gathered in a General Assembly, on the principle of one country, one vote.

The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes stated: “The BIE is pleased to receive Ukraine’s candidature to organise World Expo 2030 in Odesa. This fourth candidature testifies to the compelling interest in World Expos as global events that generate lasting transformations in favour of a better world.”

Ukraine participates regularly in World and Specialised Expos. At Specialised Expo 2017 Astana, it was rewarded with a Bronze Award in its category for its thematic development. Currently, at Expo 2020 Dubai, Ukraine is participating with a self-built pavilion under the theme “Smart Ukraine: connecting dots”.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

World Expo 2020, taking place in Dubai (UAE) under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, opened on 1 October 2021 and will close on 31 March 2022. The next World Expo will take place in Osaka, Kansai (Japan) under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” between 13 April and 13 October 2025.