Where Foreign Companies Are Winning Expo 2030 Contracts Right Now

Article Highlights

Foreign companies are already securing major Expo 2030 Riyadh contracts across project management, design, infrastructure, and construction.
The Expo 2030 Riyadh contracting pipeline is shifting into vertical construction, with major packages for pavilions, hospitality, transport, and specialist systems coming to market.
The KSA Pavilion is entering a major contracting phase, with enabling works underway and the main construction contract expected by the end of 2026.
National pavilions could create one of the largest opportunities for international firms, spanning architecture, engineering, construction, fit-out, and specialist services.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is designed as a long-term development project, with infrastructure and assets planned to support Riyadh's growth beyond the six-month event.

The Expo 2030 Riyadh construction program is entering its most contract-intensive phase, with international firms already securing major roles across project management, design, consultancy, and construction. New packages for the KSA Pavilion, iconic structures, transport, hospitality, and national pavilions are expected to come to market through 2027.

Saudi Arabia set aside $7.8 billion for the event in 2023, significantly more than the reported $1.6 billion cost of hosting World Expo 2025 in Japan. The Expo 2030 Riyadh site will span 6 million square meters, and the event itself is expected to contribute roughly $64 billion to the Kingdom's GDP.

Here's where foreign companies are winning work, what's coming next, and how the Expo 2030 Riyadh contracting pipeline is structured for firms looking to set up a business in Saudi.

Expo 2030 Riyadh Contracts: Who Has Won Work So Far

The first wave of Expo 2030 Riyadh contracts has focused on program management, design, earthworks, utilities, and core infrastructure, with both international and Saudi-based companies securing work.

For instance, the US-based Bechtel was appointed project management consultant (PMC) for the entire Expo program, overseeing delivery across the site, including early works, utilities, roads, and public realm, as well as its post-event transformation into a sustainable urban development. Meanwhile, the UK-based Buro Happold was appointed lead design consultant for the detailed master plan and the design of the public realm, landscape, infrastructure, and utilities.

To advance the development of the site, the Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) has divided the infrastructure works into phased packages.

In December 2025, the Main Utilities and Infrastructure Works package was awarded to Nesma & Partners. The package covers roads, water and sewage networks, EV charging stations, and electrical and communications systems across approximately 50 kilometers. ERC subsequently awarded two additional infrastructure packages to Al-Yamama Company, covering roads and utility networks connecting to the central event area. Earlier, Saudi contractor Binyah completed the bulk earthworks, including cutting, filling, and leveling the site.

The infrastructure pipeline is also attracting international competition. When ERC tendered the initial infrastructure package, 14 firms were invited to bid, including Turkish, Portuguese, and Egyptian companies.

The mix of local awards and international bidders points to a broader opportunity for foreign contractors with regional experience, particularly those able to establish local partnerships or joint ventures.

Expo 2030 Riyadh: Upcoming Contracts and Opportunities

With the core infrastructure moving forward, the Expo 2030 Riyadh program is now shifting toward vertical construction and specialist systems, opening opportunities across signature pavilions, transport, hospitality, district cooling, and other site-wide works.

KSA Pavilion and Iconic Structures

The next major milestone will be the award of contracts for the site's signature assets, including the KSA Pavilion and an adjacent iconic structure in the Global Collaboration district. Tenders are expected to be issued in the coming weeks, with awards targeted for the fourth quarter.

ERC is using a two-stage contracting model for both projects, separating enabling and substructure works from the main contracts so construction can begin while designs are finalized.

For the KSA Pavilion, enabling and substructure works are already in the market, with an award targeted for Q3 2026. Nine tier-one contractors, both local and international, have been invited to bid for the main contract, which is expected to be awarded toward the end of 2026.

Packages for the remaining signature pavilions are expected to follow later in 2026 and into 2027.

Transport, Hospitality and District Cooling

Transport infrastructure is also advancing, with a dedicated Riyadh Expo 2030 station planned on Metro Line 4. The Expo site is around 10 minutes from the airport, with the metro connection designed to strengthen access and integrate the site into the city's wider transport network.

Several supporting packages are also progressing alongside the core infrastructure works. A two-hotel, 500-room hospitality component is advancing, while a district cooling package is expected to reach the market in the near future. The latter will target specialist build-and-operate contractors to supply pavilions, hotels, and commercial assets through a centralized chilled-water network.

National Pavilions: A Major Opportunity for Foreign Firms

One of the largest potential pipelines for international companies lies in the national pavilions. Expo 2030 Riyadh is following a "one nation, one pavilion" model, giving every participating country its own pavilion.

ERC is making plots available up to 36 months before the event and plans to give participating countries access to a database of prequalified contractors, suppliers, and consultants through a dedicated one-stop shop.

For international firms, this creates opportunities across architecture, engineering, construction, project management, fit-out, and specialist services, as participating countries move from pavilion planning into delivery.

Expo 2030 Riyadh Master Plan and Long-Term Development

The Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan, unveiled in 2023, is built around a valley-inspired layout near King Salman International Airport, with around 226 pavilions arranged around a central landmark and linked by shaded pedestrian corridors, public spaces, and green areas. The plan is designed with the site's post-Expo transformation into a sustainable urban development in mind.

The program also includes an international knowledge-sharing component. Expo 2030 Riyadh signed a cooperation agreement with Expo 2027 Belgrade and established a Structured Knowledge Transfer & Observer Program to facilitate the exchange of expertise and operational knowledge between the two events.

These elements reflect the broader objective of Expo 2030 Riyadh: creating infrastructure and assets that extend beyond the six-month event and contribute to Riyadh's long-term urban development.