PARIS — Expo 2030 Riyadh and Atout France, the French National Tourism Development Agency, have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a cooperative framework that seeks to promote strategic collaboration and strengthen technical and knowledge exchange. Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh Talal Al-Marri and Chief Executive Officer of Atout France Adam Oubuih signed the agreement in Paris. The milestone agreement aims to advance Expo 2030 Riyadh’s preparations to deliver an exceptional World Expo for millions of visitors from around the world and support its long-term legacy and contribution to the Kingdom’s economic, cultural and tourism goals. As part of the agreement, Expo 2030 Riyadh and Atout France will work closely across key areas of Expo planning and delivery, drawing on shared expertise to optimize operations, enhance the visitor experience and advance legacy planning. The partnership will bring together public and private sector stakeholders to foster greater collaboration around the Expo, with a particular focus on sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship. In parallel, the cooperation will also create opportunities to strengthen Saudi-French ties through cultural cooperation and innovation showcases. Commenting on the agreement, Al-Marri said: “Atout France brings deep expertise in tourism development, destination promotion and creating compelling visitor experiences, making them a valuable partner as we prepare to welcome visitors from around the world to Riyadh in 2030. This collaboration gives us an opportunity to draw on that experience as we plan and deliver an exceptional World Expo, while also exchanging knowledge around sustainable tourism and how we create a lasting destination beyond the six-month event,” he said. “Our collaboration with Atout France reflects the kind of international partnership that a World Expo is about, bringing together expertise and ideas to create shared value and lasting impact,” Al-Marri added. On his part, Oubuih said: “This collaboration provides an opportunity for Atout France to mobilize its tourism expertise and institutional network in support of Expo 2030 Riyadh. Drawing on our experience in destination development and major international events, we look forward to providing technical support and sharing expertise as Expo 2030 Riyadh prepares to welcome the world in 2030. We are pleased to contribute to this cooperation and to support the ambition to deliver the World Expo to the highest international standards, while strengthening the exchange of expertise between the French and Saudi tourism ecosystems.” The MoU combines Expo 2030 Riyadh’s scale and global platform with Atout France’s expertise in tourism, destination development and major international events. The cooperation will focus on enhancing the visitor experience, drawing on Atout France’s expertise across areas including visitor journeys, crowd management, security and accessibility. This latest milestone reflects the strong momentum and continued progress behind Expo 2030 Riyadh. Taking place from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, the Expo will bring the world together for a six-month celebration of innovation, creativity and culture, with daily events, exhibitions and performances. Held under the theme of “Foresight for Tomorrow”, Expo 2030 Riyadh will focus on innovation, sustainability, and the collective power of nations to shape a better future for all and will give countries the opportunity to forge partnerships that deliver real impact. With more than 200 official participants expected to participate, and 42 million visits anticipated, Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to be one of the largest and most globally representative World Expos ever held.
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