In yet another attempt to launder its reputation on the international stage, Saudi Arabia has formally submitted its bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh. The event, known for showcasing global innovation and cultural exchange, is supposed to represent progress and openness. But the real question is not whether Saudi Arabia can organize such an event—it is whether a repressive regime, notorious for silencing dissent, imprisoning activists, and crushing basic freedoms, should be rewarded with the privilege of hosting a global gathering of this scale.
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Expo 2030: A Tool to Mask Repression
Saudi Arabia is not simply seeking to host an international fair; it is leveraging high-profile events as a means to cover up its brutal human rights violations. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rule, the country has become synonymous with oppression—muzzling activists, arresting critics, and even assassinating journalists who dare to speak against the regime.
Awarding Expo 2030 to Riyadh would not be a victory for global progress but a disturbing signal that human rights violations can be ignored in favor of financial and political interests. The world should not allow Saudi Arabia to use this event as a political shield while continuing its systematic suppression of freedoms.
Saudi Arabia’s Appalling Human Rights Record
Instead of hosting millions of visitors in 2030, Saudi Arabia should be opening its doors to international human rights investigations. The country’s human rights violations are well-documented and alarming:
- Arbitrary arrests of journalists, activists, and reformists for merely expressing their views online.
- The gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an act that shocked the world and remains a symbol of the kingdom’s disregard for international law.
- Mass executions, sham trials, and draconian prison sentences for individuals who dared to challenge the regime’s authoritarian grip.
Can a country that imprisons people for tweets and publicly beheads prisoners be trusted to host an event that claims to celebrate openness and progress?
Expo Dubai: A Cautionary Tale
When Dubai hosted Expo 2020, it was not a celebration of economic success but a propaganda tool for an authoritarian regime that thrives on forced labor, surveillance, and the suppression of civil liberties. The event was built on the backs of exploited migrant workers who suffered under inhumane conditions, just as the UAE’s own citizens live under a system that tolerates no dissent.
Saudi Arabia’s bid for Expo 2030 follows the same pattern—using international platforms to whitewash its crimes while continuing to enforce one of the most repressive legal systems in the world. The kingdom is no better than the UAE when it comes to human rights abuses, and it should not be rewarded for its tyranny.
Riyadh Deserves International Scrutiny, Not an Expo
The world cannot separate business from human rights. Expo 2030 should not be used as a reward for a regime that suppresses its people and exports oppression across the region. Instead of legitimizing Saudi Arabia’s dictatorship, global institutions should be holding it accountable for its abuses.
Saudi Arabia does not deserve to host Expo 2030—it deserves a seat in front of international courts to answer for its crimes. The international community must take a stand against rewarding tyranny with prestige. If the event is truly about innovation, progress, and inclusivity, then Riyadh should be the last place on Earth to host it.
