Saudi Arabia to host World Expo 2030

The World Expo Bid for 2030

Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) is proud of our two students, Abdullah Alasiri and Faez Althobaiti, who were selected by their home country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to assist in the country’s bid to host World Expo 2030. Our students were thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in history in the making, where they helped manage the Saudi exhibition space in Paris in the days leading up to the World Expo 2030 announcement. The capital city Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has since been declared as the distinguished host of World Expo 2030.

What is World Expo?

Also known as the World Fair, World Expos are a global gathering of leaders and experts from nations worldwide, coming together to share their culture, advancements, and ideas on a global stage. These enormous, unparalleled events occur every few years and last for up to 6 months. The current concept of the World Expo began in 1851 in London, called the Great Exhibition at the time. Over the course of several months, the expo features pavilions, exhibits, and displays from participating countries, international organizations, and corporations. Notable developments at past World Expos include the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 1889, the introduction of both the mobile phone and the internet in 1970, and a united presentation of the Euro currency back in 2000. 

In addition to showcasing the future of each nation, World Expos also serve as platforms for celebrating cultural diversity, promoting cultural dialogue and exchange, and highlighting the importance of cultural heritage in shaping our global identity. They provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds to come together, learn from each other, and celebrate the richness and variety of human culture. Embracing diversity and understanding others from a different background is more important than ever in today’s globalized world, and is a hallmark of the international education that SHMS provides.

These events have only gotten bigger every year, with 192 countries participating and attracting millions of visitors. The next universal World Expo will be held in 2025 in Osaka, Japan, with a projected visitor count of over 28 million people.

Making History

The city of Riyad, won the recent bid by a vast majority with its theme "The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow". This win not only beat out Busan in South Korea and Rome in Italy; it has made history in placing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the list of host countries for the first time, as well as being only the second city in the Middle East to have ever hosted a World Expo.

The win exemplifies the strong moves towards internationalization in the Middle East, placing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the world stage at the forefront. Considering the Saudi Vision 2030 plan set by the government, in which the nation aims to diversify its economy, develop its global engagement, and enhance quality of life by the year 2030, it seems fortuitous and only appropriate that they will host the World Expo and be able to feature the kingdom’s advancements at an event of such unparalleled scale.

A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity

Abdullah Alasiri and Faez Althobaiti were the only two students out of Switzerland to be selected to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Paris for the World Expo 2030 bid. Over 250 students applied for the opportunity to network with leaders and gain event experience on the floor of a large-scale, international event. 

Their participation was over five days in and around the Pavilion at Place Vendome, right outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where exhibitions and interactive displays had been set up to showcase the best of Saudi cultural and development projects. Dubbed the Media Oasis, the event culminated in the announcement of the selection for the World Expo 2030 as well as a celebration at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris. Several Saudi ministers and partners attended the Media Oasis, including the Saudi Tourism Authority, NEOM, and the Green Riyadh Initiative.

Abdullah and Faez each managed an entire floor of the Media Oasis exhibition, coordinating more than 70 employees on rotation for 12 hours a day. They met and shook hands with Saudi leaders and business executives such as representatives from the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Culture, and the Konoz project. The organizers of Media Oasis were so impressed with Faez’s and Abdullah’s work ethic that they were even offered multiple job opportunities in Saudi Arabia upon their graduation from SHMS, including as an Events Manager. 

Faez wanted to highlight how SHMS was supportive of their initiative to apply for the event. “I want to give special thanks to (Master of Arts Program Manager) Malin Persson who never said no, who encouraged us to go to Paris,” he says. “And I would also like to thank Swiss Education Group and Swiss Hotel Management School for this chance.”  

As much as we are proud of Faez and Abdullah for representing SHMS, they are equally grateful for their experience at SHMS and how the opportunities available to them at SHMS have bolstered their future careers. International celebrations and occasions are often highlights of an event manager’s career, as well as serving as opportunities for our students to find internships and future jobs. In addition, the continuation of traditions such as World Expos signify that the hospitality, tourism, and events industries are thriving. We are very privileged to be able to provide world-class opportunities for our students and look forward to continue cultivating the future leaders in hospitality and events.