Saudi Arabia Unveils Visa Strategy For World Expo Enhancement

EE News Desk Feb 14, 2024

As per media reports, Saudi Arabia is set to introduce a dedicated visa for its World Expo in 2030, aiming to streamline entry from the airplane to the metro to the Expo site, according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Beating out Italy and South Korea for the hosting rights, Saudi Arabia plans to invest nearly $8 billion to transform part of Riyadh, its capital city, into an expansive events plaza covering 6.6 square kms – approximately double the size of New York's Central Park.

This move follows a trend in the Middle East, where event-specific visas have gained popularity. The FIFA World Cup in Qatar, for instance, introduced the Hayya Card, a specialised visa for football fans. Officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) suggest that the Hayya Card significantly boosted inter-regional travel, laying the groundwork for the anticipated GCC unified visa, expected to be launched either later this year or in the next.

Held every five years, World Expos are comparable in scale to the Olympic Games and wield significant influence on host cities, especially in areas such as tourism, construction, real estate, and investments. The upcoming Expo in Saudi Arabia will be the second in the Middle East, following the 2021 Dubai Expo.

In the UAE, the Expo was expected to inject a $33 billion boost into the country's economy over 20 years, with $6 billion directly attributed to spending on hotels and business services during the six-month Expo duration.

World Expos serve as a platform for countries to exhibit their latest achievements and future aspirations through pavilions. The Riyadh Expo is set to feature the participation of 197 countries, offering Saudi Arabia, as the host, an opportunity to showcase the nation's modernisation endeavours.

Anticipating 40 million visitors throughout its six-month duration, the Riyadh Expo 2030 aims to attract a diverse audience, encompassing domestic, international, and repeat visitors.

This event aligns with a pivotal juncture for Saudi Vision 2030, representing a crucial phase for the oil kingdom's aspirations to achieve economic diversification and establish itself as a significant player in global tourism, sports, and various modern sectors.

Airlift Strategies and Tourism

As the six-month show approaches, Riyadh Air, the country's new national carrier set to launch in mid-2025, aims to be fully operational. With aspirations to serve over 100 destinations globally by the end of the decade, including major cities in the Americas, Riyadh Air anticipates contributing $20 billion to the kingdom's economy.

Aligning with the broader tourism objectives, Saudi Arabia has set a target of welcoming 150 million travellers by 2030, encompassing both international and domestic visitors. Tourism authorities are specifically targeting around 70 million international visits during the same period.

Major Event Initiatives

Beyond the World Expo, Saudi Arabia, with temperatures soaring up to 122°F, is gearing up to host the Asia Winter Games in 2029. This event will take place at Trojena, an ambitious ‘giga-project’ that serves as a man-made ski retreat nestled in the country's mountainous regions. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is currently leading the race to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

The Kingdom has a staggering $1.3 trillion worth of projects currently in the pipeline, reflecting its commitment to significant developments. In comparison, reports suggest that Qatar has allocated a substantial $200 billion budget for its World Cup preparations, potentially even more.