Buro Happold, a leading engineering consultancy and design company, has signed a major contract with Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) 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”.

Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to feature nearly 197 participating countries and attract over 42 million visits to pavilions covering approximately 6 million sqm. 

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.

Talal Al Marri, CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, said: "Expo 2030 Riyadh was 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."

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 Saudi PIF, it will work with government entities and global partners to ensure seamless execution and delivery of a world-class Expo. 

The event will offer a unique opportunity for participants to address shared challenges and showcase pioneering solutions for a sustainable future.

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

On the contract win, Oliver Plunkett, the CEO of Buro Happold, said: "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."

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.

"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," he added.-TradeArabia News Service