The time has come… Saudi Arabia is the world
Sami Mohammed Al-Qahtani
O Allah, praise be to You, abundant and beautiful praise. Praise be to Allah, praise befitting Your majesty and Your great power. I congratulate myself and all of you on our victory in winning the World Expo Riyadh Expo 2030, The eyes of the world are now turned toward the capital, Riyadh, so that everyone may enjoy a wealth of rich cultural and artistic experiences that began with the announcement by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman—may God protect him—and his patronage in October 2021—to the submission of the bid in the same month. With the strength that Saudi Arabia possesses, backed by global confidence and influence, the country is capable of both planning and executing this project simultaneously under the leadership of His Royal Highness, may God protect him and his patrons. Following the public committees" deliberations, the bid was submitted in September2022.
This was followed by a closing ceremony for the Riyadh Expo 2030 campaign, an official reception, and a visit by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) delegation to Riyadh. The Kingdom’s victory—specifically that of the capital, Riyadh—in securing the right to host the Expo is an unprecedented event in the history of past International Expos; Riyadh is shaping the future, as the Kingdom is the only country capable—coinciding with the completion of the National Vision 2030—of presenting innovation, creative solutions, and inventions to the world through its advanced capabilities and young society.
Let’s take a moment to learn what the Expo—formerly known as the World’s Fair—offers and when it began. The first World’s Fair took place in London in 1851—nearly 172 years ago—and serves as a showcase for countries" innovations, projects, and inventions. Do you know, in brief, what World’s Fairs have introduced throughout history? The Eiffel Tower, the Paris Metro, the telephone, popcorn and ketchup, the movie projector, wireless communications, automobiles, the computer, and many other things introduced by past Expos—an exhibition I’ve called the "Exhibition of Humanity" because of the service it provides to humankind.
In conclusion:
We have every right to be proud of our homeland before the whole world for what the Kingdom offers to all of humanity. I am very, very proud to be a Saudi citizen; we have the lion’s share of this glorious history and will also have the lion’s share of the future. Thank you, our King, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may God protect and preserve him—and thank you to his trusted Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Thank you to every member who strove, worked, and gave their all; thank you to everyone responsible for this magnificent hosting. Rejoice and hold your heads high, for we are Saudis.
