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Riyadh tenders first Expo 2030 construction work

7 July 2025

 

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Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), tasked with delivering the Riyadh Expo 2030 venue, has tendered a contract to build the site offices required for the initial construction works at the project site in Riyadh.

MEED understands that the contract was tendered on 29 May, with bids due in the first week of July.

The announcement follows the establishment of ERC as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) that will build and operate facilities for Expo 2030 in June.

In a statement, the PIF said: “During its construction phases, Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy are projected to contribute around $64bn to Saudi GDP and generate approximately 171,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once operational, it is expected to contribute approximately $5.6bn to GDP.”

The masterplan for Expo 2030 Riyadh encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites designated for a World Expo. Situated to the north of the city, the expo site will be located near the future King Salman International airport, providing direct access to various landmarks within the Saudi capital.

Countries participating in Expo 2030 Riyadh will have the option to construct permanent pavilions, contributing to the event’s legacy. This initiative is expected to create opportunities for business and investment growth in the region.

The expo is projected to attract over 40 million visitors. After the event concludes, ERC plans to convert the expo’s secured area into a global village, to serve as a multicultural centre for retail and dining. This development will also feature an international residential community with a range of amenities, with a focus on sustainable tourism practices.

Expo 2030 Riyadh will run from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031.

Last month, MEED reported that the PIF had named Talal Al-Marri as the CEO of ERC. 

Al-Marri has previously held several senior executive roles at Saudi Aramco, including president and CEO of Aramco Europe, senior vice-president of community services and senior vice-president of industrial services.

In May, MEED exclusively reported that Riyadh had begun talks with stakeholders in preparation for the commencement of construction work for the event.

The discussions were understood to have been held with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the PIF.

German architectural firm Lava Architects and US-based engineering firm Jacobs are assisting with the project masterplan and the design of infrastructure for the site.

READ THE JULY 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

UAE and Turkiye expand business links; Renewed hope lies on the horizon for trouble-beset Levant region; Gulf real estate momentum continues even as concerns emerge

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

> PROJECTS MARKET: GCC projects market collapses
> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index continues climb
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14211012/main.jpg
Yasir Iqbal

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    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

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    Read the July issue of MEED Business Review

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    The UAE-Turkiye Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) that came into effect in September 2023 has already exceeded expectations. 

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    “Firms like DP World and others in private equity and venture capital are playing a key role.”

    Strengthening ties

    Since the Cepa was signed in 2023, bilateral investment has accelerated, with Turkish companies also expanding into the UAE. 

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    He adds that companies in both countries see the other not just as a market, but as a hub. “UAE firms use Turkiye to access Europe and Central Asia; Turkish firms use the UAE to reach Asia and Africa. This creates a complementary strategy for both sides.”

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    “We also have a robust startup ecosystem, with early-stage funding rising from under $100m a decade ago to over $1bn today.”

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    To support this growth, Turkiye has developed local VC legislation and attracted international funds, including those from Saudi Arabia, UAE family offices and corporate investors. A joint UAE-Turkiye technology fund worth $300m is also nearing finalisation. 

    “It’s not just about exits anymore. Turkish startups are scaling regionally and globally, with Dubai often serving as their capital and client gateway.”

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    Looking ahead

    Turkiye’s trade with the UAE and the rest of the GCC could be enhanced even further with the Development Road project, which is a 1,200-kilometre highway and railway linking Iraq’s southern Faw Port to Europe through Turkiye. 

    “The Development Road will not happen overnight – it’s a long-term, complex undertaking,” Daglioglu says. “But its impact will be global. Reducing shipping lead times between Asia and Europe by up to a week is hugely significant in today’s fast-moving markets.”

    Designed to connect the Gulf to Europe through Turkiye, the Development Road includes a high-speed rail network for both cargo and passengers, as well as a parallel motorway.

    For Daglioglu, the Development Road corridor offers Turkiye, the UAE and the GCC  states another platform for economic diversification.

    “This is more than a transport project, it’s a regional realignment,” he says. 

    “It will unlock a flow of goods, people, capital and data. Fibre infrastructure can run alongside the rail and motorway, creating a dual-purpose corridor that will support our AI and digital economy ambitions.”

    Historically, Turkiye has been well integrated with northern markets in Europe. Due to years of conflict in Iraq and Syria, however, its southern connectivity has lagged. 

    The Development Road, along with recent discussions to reopen direct links with Syria, offers opportunities for southern expansion.

    “We have invested heavily in northern logistics. Now, it’s time to strengthen our southern corridor,” Daglioglu says. “The Development Road could finally make direct access to the GCC markets a reality.”

    The corridor could also open up new avenues for digital infrastructure, such as subsea cables and terrestrial fibre,
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    “This could be the basis for a digital Silk Road, supporting everything from AI to fintech.” 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14201047/main.gif
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