Riyadh accelerates construction for Expo 2030

Riyadh has reached a series of major construction and operational milestones in its preparations for Expo 2030, completing extensive earthworks, advancing a central service corridor and recording 2.1 million working hours without injury.

About eight million cubic metres of excavation and backfilling have been completed across the Expo site, while two kilometres of a planned 7.5-kilometre main service corridor are now finished. The figures indicate that development is moving beyond preliminary ground preparation towards the infrastructure needed to support buildings, pavilions, transport systems and public spaces.

The six-million-square-metre site in northern Riyadh is being developed to host more than 42 million visits during the six-month event. Organisers expect 197 countries to participate, with more than 230 pavilions planned across the venue.

Expo 2030 Riyadh will run from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow”. Its programme will be organised around transformational technology, sustainable solutions and prosperous people, reflecting the wider ambition to build a platform for international collaboration on future economic, social and environmental challenges.

The safety record has become a prominent measure of progress as construction activity expands. The 2.1 million hours completed without injuries represents a sharp increase from the one million incident-free hours reported in April, when two additional infrastructure packages were awarded to Al Yamama Company.

Those contracts followed an earlier main utilities and civil works package awarded to Nesma & Partners in December 2025. Together, the packages cover roads, water systems, sewage networks, electricity, telecommunications and electric-vehicle charging facilities.

Around 50 kilometres of infrastructure networks are planned under the initial utilities programme. The work is intended to establish a common backbone for later construction phases and reduce coordination risks as pavilion, building and public-realm projects proceed simultaneously.

Internal road networks and smart mobility systems are also being incorporated into the phased development plan. The site’s location, about 10 minutes from King Khalid International Airport, is intended to provide direct access for overseas visitors, delegations and exhibitors. A dedicated Riyadh Metro station is under construction to connect the venue with the wider city.

Environmental work has progressed alongside excavation and infrastructure development. Project teams have safely reintroduced 80 animals into suitable habitats and relocated 719 trees affected by construction.

The measures form part of an effort to limit ecological disruption and integrate sustainability into the delivery process rather than applying environmental safeguards only after construction. Organisers have said the site is being designed as a permanent urban destination capable of operating beyond the Expo period.

Preparations have also advanced on the diplomatic and regulatory fronts. The Bureau International des Expositions approved the text of the Siège Agreement for Expo 2030 Riyadh at its General Assembly in Paris on June 16.

The agreement defines privileges, protections and operating conditions for official participants. Once signed and ratified, it will provide the legal framework needed for participating countries and international organisations to establish and manage their Expo operations.

Riyadh is preparing to host its first International Participants Meeting on November 3 and 4. The meeting will allow prospective participants to review the masterplan, pavilion arrangements, regulations, construction schedules and logistical requirements.

Organisers have also signed a cooperation agreement with Expo 2027 Belgrade to strengthen operational readiness. The arrangement establishes a structured knowledge-transfer and observer programme covering site visits, workshops, event delivery, participant services and legacy planning.

The Belgrade partnership gives the Riyadh team an opportunity to observe preparations for a major international exhibition three years before its own event opens. Lessons from live operations are expected to inform crowd management, security, transport coordination, visitor services and technical planning.

Expo 2030 is among the large-scale projects receiving priority as Riyadh directs investment towards fixed international commitments. The development is proceeding while authorities reassess the cost, timetable and commercial viability of several other ambitious projects connected with the Vision 2030 programme.