Show symbolized transition to Riyadh as the next World Expo host city
Expo 2030 Riyadh will run from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031
Arab News
OSAKA: Expo 2030 Riyadh offered a glimpse of the next World Expo with the “From Osaka to Riyadh” cultural showcase at the Expo Arena Matsuri in Japan’s Osaka city.
The event drew 15,000 attendees and brought together leading Saudi and Japanese performers in a dynamic blend of music and culture, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Featuring Saudi and Japanese talents, the show delivered a dynamic mix of music and performance. High-energy sets, reimagined cultural expressions, and striking light, laser, and hologram effects transformed the stage into a powerful showcase of both nations’ spirit of collaboration and global engagement.
As one of the final highlights before the October 13 closing ceremony, the show symbolized the transition to Riyadh as the next World Expo host city and set the stage for the handover of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag, which formally transfers host city responsibilities to the Kingdom.
The event also demonstrates Riyadh’s readiness to host large-scale international gatherings as it prepares for Expo 2030.
BIE member states elected Saudi Arabia in 2023 as host country of World Expo 2030, which will be organized in Riyadh under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow”.
Running from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to welcome over 42 million visits from 197 countries and 29 organizations. Spanning 6 million square meters and structured around five thematic zones, the event will explore forward-looking solutions for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will serve as a global platform for innovation and collaboration. Following the six-month event, the site will evolve into a permanent global village, leaving a lasting legacy for Riyadh, the Kingdom, and the wider world.
The Saudi Pavilion participating in Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai on Friday hosted a robot developed by temi Robots Company. (SPA)
Virtual live tour for children at Saudi pavilion
Meanwhile, the Saudi Pavilion participating in Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai on Friday hosted a robot developed by “temi Robots Company” through a collaboration between King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Tokotoko Earth Company, and IPresence Company.
The robot enabled Japanese families with children with disabilities to experience the Saudi Pavilion’s events through a live virtual tour of its halls and exhibition rooms.
Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Binzaqr, and who is also general commissioner of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025, said the Pavilion’s collaboration with KAUST “is more than just a technological event.”
“It demonstrates how human empathy and innovation can work hand in hand. They must come together to create an inclusive environment and provide valuable opportunities for everyone,” he said.
AloJapan.com