Expo 2030 Riyadh: What Saudi Arabia can do to build a lasting business legacy

Saudi Arabia is looking beyond the spectacle of Expo 2030 Riyadh as it prepares for one of the world’s largest global events.

The Kingdom expects Expo 2030 to attract more than 42 million visits from 197 countries. The event will span a site of nearly 6 million square metres and could create opportunities across infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and private enterprise.

However, the experience of Osaka 2025 suggests that the biggest gains may come after the six-month event ends.

Industry leaders say Saudi Arabia can use Expo 2030 to strengthen its infrastructure, support small businesses and attract long-term investment. At the same time, careful planning will remain critical to managing costs and delivering a lasting economic legacy.

Saudi Arabia Expo 2030 can draw key lessons from Osaka

Osaka 2025 has highlighted the importance of operational discipline alongside ambitious infrastructure and visitor experiences.

Joseph Salem, partner at Arthur D. Little, said Riyadh must focus on procurement, cost management and early infrastructure delivery as it prepares for Expo 2030.

He said Saudi Arabia should lock in procurement plans, use index-linked contracts and maintain a contingency buffer of between 15 and 20 percent.

Transport infrastructure should also be completed well before the event begins.

“Osaka’s experience highlights the need for Riyadh to lock in procurement, use index-linked contracts and maintain a 15–20 percent contingency buffer,” Salem said.

The sectors likely to see early benefits include transport, logistics, hospitality, construction, retail and food and beverage. During the event, tourism, aviation and the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector could also see stronger demand.

However, Salem said the long-term value will depend on what Saudi Arabia does with the infrastructure once Expo 2030 ends.

“At least 95 percent of what is built by Expo 2030 Riyadh Co. will be repurposed as a Global Village,” he said.

As a result, sectors such as real estate, education and business services could continue to benefit after the event.

Expo 2030 could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s business ecosystem

The economic impact of Expo 2030 could extend beyond construction and tourism.

Homyar Buhariwalla, strategy and transformation leader at PwC Middle East, said the event could help Saudi companies expand into new markets and connect more SMEs with regional and global supply chains.

Expo 2030 could also attract investment that supports innovation, skills development and productivity.

“Expo provides a platform to build on that progress by helping Saudi companies reach new markets, enabling more SMEs to become part of regional and global supply chains, and attracting investment that supports innovation,” Buhariwalla said.

For international organisations, the event could also offer a closer view of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding economy.

According to Buhariwalla, businesses will be able to assess the scale of the Saudi market and understand the sectors driving the Kingdom’s transformation.

Therefore, Expo 2030 could strengthen Riyadh’s position as a regional base for business, investment and international partnerships.

Saudi SMEs and startups need to prepare early

Saudi startups and small businesses could also gain from Expo 2030. However, preparation and relationship-building will play a major role.

Zeid Husban, co-founder and CEO of restaurant technology and fintech platform SPICE, said businesses should learn from how Japanese companies approached Osaka 2025.

Rather than treating the Expo only as a trade event, many firms focused on building long-term business relationships.

“Startups in Saudi Arabia should take that same approach and start now, not in 2030,” Husban said.

He added that SMEs need structured support and better access to financing to prepare for the demand created by Expo 2030’s expected visitor numbers.

The hospitality and food and beverage sectors could see particular opportunities.

Saudi Arabia is also developing 70,000 new hotel rooms, according to Husban. This expansion could create demand for growth capital and new business models across the wider visitor economy.

Alternative finance could support Expo 2030 growth

Access to funding will remain another important factor for businesses preparing for Expo 2030.

Husban called for greater adoption of alternative and Shariah-compliant financing models, particularly for hospitality and food and beverage businesses.

These sectors often face seasonal demand and market volatility. More flexible financing could therefore help businesses manage growth and scale faster.

“Saudi Arabia has already moved fast on enabling fintech and alternative finance,” Husban said.

He added that greater regulatory clarity could help companies deploy capital more quickly into sectors that support Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s hospitality ambitions.

Expo 2030 Riyadh could boost Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness

Beyond its immediate economic impact, Expo 2030 could reshape how global businesses and investors view Saudi Arabia.

Buhariwalla said international events can give investors and businesses a direct understanding of a country’s economic transformation.

“They give businesses, investors, and visitors the chance to experience a market in a way that no report or presentation can fully capture,” he said.

Expo 2030 will showcase Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, talent and culture. It could also strengthen investor confidence and support the Kingdom’s ambitions in tourism, innovation and international partnerships.

Meanwhile, Salem said the approval of the legal framework governing international participation by the Bureau International des Expositions signals a broader ambition.

The focus is not only on delivering a six-month global event. Saudi Arabia is also seeking to build a long-term diplomatic and economic platform around Expo 2030.

The real test for Saudi Arabia will come after Expo 2030

Osaka’s experience offers a clear message for Riyadh: an Expo’s success should not be measured only by visitor numbers or architectural spectacle.

The stronger test will be whether Saudi Arabia can convert the event into permanent infrastructure, stronger business networks and new opportunities for local companies.

For Saudi SMEs, the preparation needs to begin years before the gates open.

For investors, Expo 2030 could provide a new window into the Kingdom’s transformation.

And for Riyadh, the long-term opportunity lies in ensuring that the infrastructure, partnerships and global attention generated by the event continue to support economic growth long after Expo 2030 closes.