Construction activity at the Expo 2030 Riyadh site has accelerated through 2026, with the developer shifting from bulk earthworks and enabling works to major vertical building and residential development contracts as the October 2030 opening date draws closer.
The 6-million-sq-m site in north Riyadh is now in the detailed design and infrastructure delivery phase, following completion of the bulk of site preparation, according to project updates and industry reports. Around 9 million cu m of excavation and fill have been carried out, and teams are now focused on underground utilities, internal roads and civil structures ahead of pavilion construction.
Organisers describe the project as having moved from “planning language into physical delivery”, with executed contracts for substations, demolition and site clearance now visible on the ground.
A wave of enabling works awards has been made by the Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) and related entities to create the site’s backbone. In January 2026, ERC awarded an estimated SR1 billion ($267 million) main utilities and infrastructure contract to Nesma & Partners, covering roughly 50 km of integrated networks: internal roads, water, sewage, electricity, communications and EV-charging infrastructure.
Officials of ERC and Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate Company at the signing ceremony for the Expo Village.
In April 2026, two further infrastructure packages (often referred to as “Lot 3” and connecting works to the central event area) were awarded to Al Yamama Company, with a combined value reported at around SR1.5 billion, extending road and utility networks toward the core of the site. This phase will prepare the site for subsequent stages of development, including the construction of internal road networks and smart mobility solutions, as well as the installation of core utility and infrastructure systems to support sustainable operations – spanning water, sewage, electricity, telecommunications, and advanced EV charging infrastructure.
Collectively, they form the foundation for constructing the structures and pavilions that will define the Expo 2030 Riyadh experience, ensuring seamless, high-quality delivery.
On the power side, Saudi Energy (formerly the Saudi Electricity Company) has secured agreements to deliver one main and three primary substations plus associated grid connections for the Expo site. Alfanar, Haif Company, Al Babtain Contracting Company and TDP Construction and Trading will carry out the construction of the substations and connect them to the grid.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place from October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031.
The agreement will help establish advanced and reliable infrastructure to support Expo 2030 Riyadh’s readiness to welcome the world in 2030, and support the kingdom’s efforts to deliver an exceptional edition of the World Expo that reflects its ambition and capabilities in executing major global projects, according to Expo 2030 Riyadh CEO Eng Talal Al-Marri.
Buro Happold is lead design consultant for the detailed masterplan and infrastructure, while Germany’s Dorsch Global has been appointed as a construction supervision consultant. Global architecture firm LAVA has been named Custodian of the Expo 2030 Riyadh Masterplan following its Gold win at the Better Future World Design Awards 2026.
Metro and transport links
Transport infrastructure tied to the Expo is also advancing in parallel. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded a design-and-build contract for a new metro station on Line 4 (Yellow Line) to serve the Expo 2030 site directly, according to a Meed report. RCRC is progressing multiple, distinct metro station packages linked to the Expo zone rather than a single combined contract, as part of wider Riyadh Metro expansions including an 8.4-km Red Line extension.
The Expo Village will comprise around 2,300 purpose-built residential apartments.
Internal road networks forming part of the Nesma and Al Yamama packages will integrate the Expo site with surrounding highways and the new metro station.
Expo Village moves into delivery
A major new development milestone came last month with the signing of an SAR3.2 billion joint venture between Expo 2030 Riyadh and Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate Company (MAHR) for the development and delivery of the Expo Village, the residential community for Expo 2030 Riyadh.
The agreement is the first joint venture milestone for Expo 2030 Riyadh and is intended to strengthen its partnership with the private sector, leveraging investment and development expertise to create value in the lead up to the Expo and beyond the event.
The Expo Village will provide purpose-built accommodation for official participants and delegations within a fully integrated sustainable district. The development will comprise around 2,300 residential apartments with capacity for about 5,500 residents, supported by retail and dining spaces, amenities, services and operational facilities.
Connectivity will be provided through the Expo metro station, King Khalid International Airport and Riyadh’s wider transport network, enabling convenient access to the Expo site and supporting the operation of international participants during the six-month event.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to bring together 197 nations and welcome 42 million visitors.
Signed by Al-Marri, and Abdullah Mohammed Al Habib, Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate Company, the agreement was concluded at the Expo 2030 Riyadh site, where development and construction works continue to advance. Saad Al-Kroud, Head of Local Real Estate Investments at the Public Investment Fund and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, attended the signing.
Al-Marri said the agreement marks an important step in delivery and that the Expo Village is moving into an advanced stage following completion of design and site preparation works, paving the way for construction to begin in line with the approved schedule.
He said the village would provide international participants with a high-quality, integrated residential environment during the event before transitioning into a permanent residential community, contributing to the long-term legacy of Expo 2030 Riyadh and creating lasting economic and urban value for Riyadh.
Al Habib said the agreement was a major milestone for the company and that its more than 50 years of experience would be used to create a comprehensive residential project matching the significance of the international event. He added that the project would be based on high standards in planning, execution and operations, with value continuing after the exhibition.
Tenders for the site’s signature assets, including the KSA Pavilion and Expo Icon, are expected to be issued shortly.
Designed from the outset for long-term use, the Expo Village will include a mix of homes, retail, dining, leisure and community facilities, landscaped public spaces and pedestrian-friendly streets intended to support an active neighbourhood within the wider development of northern Riyadh. Climate-responsive principles and efficient building systems are also being incorporated to support long-term environmental and operational performance.
Bahrain signs up to participate at Expo 2030 Riyadh.
The Expo Village is the first residential development for which Expo 2030 Riyadh has signed a joint venture agreement, with further residential developments expected to follow as part of the Expo’s legacy phase.
From enabling works to pavilions
Vertical building works are now moving from enabling works into main contracts, alongside the launch of major residential development. Pavilion construction is expected to commence with enabling and substructure packages under way, with main structures expected to break ground early next year (2027).
Tenders for the site’s signature assets, including the KSA Pavilion and Expo Icon, are expected to be issued shortly with awards targeted for Q4 2026, followed by other signature pavilions into 2027.
Qatar has confirmed its particpation at Expo 2030 Riyadh.
ERC has also tendered a contract for the Souq areas within the Expo site, indicating that thematic district builds are moving into procurement.
Recent participation signings underscore that pavilion design-and-build programmes are now active.
Bahrain, Qatar and Oman have recently signed participation contracts, with delegations having toured the Expo site and their designated pavilion plots.
Officials of Oman and ERC sign the participation agreement.
With participation agreements being signed more than four years before the event, Expo 2030 Riyadh is reported to be achieving an unprecedented pace of early formalisation in the history of World Expos.
International participation is central to Expo 2030 Riyadh’s ambition. Under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow,” the World Expo will bring nations and organisations together to explore shared challenges and opportunities ahead, exchange knowledge and perspectives, and forge new partnerships. Through this exchange and collaboration, Expo 2030 Riyadh aims to inspire new thinking and accelerate progress towards a better future.
The Omani delegation visited the plot designated for the Sultanate’s pavilion.
In total, Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to bring together 197 official participants and welcome 42 million visitors.
The latest awards indicate that the Expo is moving into a sustained construction phase, with infrastructure, pavilions and the first major residential legacy development progressing in parallel. The heaviest construction period is expected over the next 12 to 18 months.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place from October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031.