Expo 2030 Riyadh awards Lead Design Consultant Contract to Buro Happold

Buro Happold announces that it has signed a major contract with Expo 2030 Riyadh Company to serve as lead design consultant for the detailed master plan and design of public realm, landscape, infrastructure and utilities for Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy.

This partnership represents a significant step toward delivering an event billed as “an unprecedented world expo”, the company stated.

Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to feature nearly 197 participating countries and attract over 42 million visits to pavilions covering approximately 6 million sqm. The event will offer a unique opportunity for participants to address shared challenges and showcase pioneering solutions for a sustainable future.

Under the agreement, Buro Happold will provide comprehensive design and technical services, including development of the detailed master plan with a focus on event requirements and legacy phase elements, detailed design of the infrastructure works, utilities, public realm, landscape and engineering technical support during construction works.

This scope ensures that Expo 2030 Riyadh will be delivered to the highest standards of innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence.

Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Buro Happold, commented: “We are proud to partner with Expo 2030 Riyadh Company and bring our 50 years of experience working in Saudi Arabia to the project. Our role as lead design consultant for the detailed master plan and infrastructure design underscores our commitment to creating world-class, sustainable environments. A vision on this scale requires us to approach the design with sensitivity to both the event itself and the legacy it will leave for the Kingdom and generations to come.”

Talal Al-Marri, CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, said: “Expo 2030 Riyadh is a defining moment for Saudi Arabia. By engaging Buro Happold as our lead design consultant, we ensure that the event’s master plan and infrastructure are delivered to the highest international standards. Together, we will create an unforgettable experience that reflects our aspirations for progress, sustainability, and cultural exchange.”

Expo 2030 Riyadh promises a theme of “Foresight for Tomorrow” and is seen as a key component of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” – a blueprint for diversifying the economy, empowering citizens, creating a vibrant environment for both local and international investors, and establishing Saudi Arabia as a global leader.

About Expo 2030 Riyadh Company

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) is the official organising entity mandated to lead the planning, development and delivery of Expo 2030 Riyadh throughout its entire life cycle. Wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), ERC will work with government entities and global partners to ensure seamless execution and delivery of a world-class Expo. By prioritising foresight as its guiding principle, Expo 2030 Riyadh aims to bring together 197 countries and 29 organisations to deliver visionary solutions that usher in a new era of progress and prosperity for all.