Saudi Arabia Selected as Host for Expo 2030

The selection of Riyadh as the host for the World Expo 2030 marks another diplomatic victory for Saudi Arabia. During a voting session held on Tuesday in Paris, Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was chosen to host the World Expo 2030, defeating the South Korean port city of Busan and Rome, the capital of Italy. Out of the votes from 182 member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions that participated in the voting, Riyadh achieved an overwhelming victory with 119 votes against Busan's 29 votes and Rome's 17 votes. Following the announcement of the results, Italian participants openly expressed their disappointment. Giampiero Massolo, the head of the Italian Expo bid, told reporters, "This result is a significant one for Saudi Arabia and was unexpected in this magnitude. It is not about merit, but rather deals at play." However, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol congratulated Saudi Arabia for winning the competition, calling Riyadh a "key partner" and adding that his country would share its resources and experiences to help ensure a successful event in Riyadh. Riyadh will host this event from October to March of 1409 in the Persian calendar. This expo, held every five years, is expected to attract millions of visitors and billions of dollars in investment to Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious plan is to free the country from its dependence on oil. Cristiano Ronaldo, the world football star who plays for the Saudi club Al Nassr, encouraged members of the Bureau International des Expositions to vote for Saudi Arabia in a video that was broadcast before the voting.