Riyadh Expo 2030 bid being assessed as mission visits Saudi capital

A delegation arrived in Riyadh on Sunday to start a six-day evaluation process of the Saudi capital's candidacy for World Expo 2030.

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) mission will engage with Saudi ministers, members of government and other experts to evaluate the details of the Riyadh Expo 2030 bid.

In October 2021 Saudi Arabia announced its bid to host World Expo 2030 in Riyadh and has since made three presentations to the BIE.

The mission is being led by Patrick Specht, president of the BIE administration and budget committee.

Fahd Al Rasheed, chief executive of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, welcomed the delegates to Riyadh.

The mission's visit is mandatory for a country’s to be considered as host.

Its task is to assess the feasibility and viability of each candidate city.

The findings will be discussed by the BIE’s executive committee in May, which will decide which applicants to retain as being feasible and viable.

In November, at the 173rd general assembly of the BIE, the host of World Expo 2030 will be elected via a secret ballot based on the principle of “one country, one vote”.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

While you're here

Lokman Slim – the assassination of a most elegant critic

Saudi Arabia welcomes US President Joe Biden's speech

Yemen takes centre stage as Biden’s Middle East priority

Hurricanes 31-31 Lions

Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett

British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

FROM%20THE%20ASHES

%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A