The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the intergovernmental body that governs World Expos. Its approval is required at every formal stage of Expo 2030 Riyadh – from the original vote to award the hosting rights, to the formal registration of the event and the conditions under which countries may participate. Understanding what the BIE does helps clarify what is, and what is not, decided in Riyadh.
What the BIE is
Established by a convention signed in Paris on 22 November 1928, the BIE is an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in the French capital. Its founding purpose was to regulate international exhibitions that had multiplied since the mid-19th century, setting a common framework for host nations and participants. Today, 184 countries are members. The organisation does not fund or organise Expos directly; its role is supervisory – approving candidacies, registering events and setting the regulations that bind both host nations and their participants.
How it is governed
The General Assembly is the BIE’s supreme body. It meets twice a year in Paris and each member state holds one vote, reflecting the principle of one country, one vote. Deliberations are valid only when two-thirds of those entitled to vote are present, which means decisions on World Expo hosting represent a broad international consensus.
Two committees of 12 members each carry out the detailed work between assembly sessions. The Executive Committee examines applications from prospective Expo hosts and monitors preparations at events already under construction. The Rules Committee establishes the regulations that every Expo must follow and reviews the specific rules each host drafts for its own event. Both committees report to the General Assembly, which retains final authority over all proposals.
How Riyadh was selected
Saudi Arabia’s candidature was decided at a BIE General Assembly in Paris on 28 November 2023. With 182 member states participating, Riyadh received 119 votes, Busan 29 and Rome 17. Because the result exceeded two-thirds of those voting, it was confirmed in a single round under BIE rules for contested elections with more than two candidates.
The confirmed theme is ‘Foresight for Tomorrow’, with three sub-themes: Transformational Technology, Sustainable Solutions and Prosperous People. The event is scheduled to run from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031.
What the registration dossier means
Winning the host vote does not itself trigger the participation process. The host country must next submit a Registration Dossier to the BIE, which formally confers the status of International Registered Exhibition on the event.
Saudi Arabia’s Registration Dossier received BIE approval at the 176th General Assembly in Paris in June 2025. The dossier sets out the General Regulations governing the event, the Participation Contracts to be issued to countries wishing to take part, the financial and material conditions for participation and the measures to limit entry costs for smaller national delegations.
With the dossier approved, Saudi Arabia can formally invite participating countries through diplomatic channels. Each country that agrees to take part signs a Participation Contract with the host – a bilateral agreement between the Saudi government and the participant state, submitted within the framework the BIE has sanctioned.
What the BIE oversees from here
The Executive Committee continues to monitor preparations between now and the opening date. This includes periodic official visits to the Riyadh site, reviews of construction and logistics progress and assessment of any amendments to the event’s regulations. Where a host proposes material changes to the terms of the Registration Dossier, those changes require further BIE review.
For industry contractors and suppliers, the BIE’s regulatory framework sets the baseline for what participants may demand of host infrastructure and what the host may require of participants. Procurement conditions for pavilion construction and fit-out operate within that structure – though the specific tender packages, contract awards and construction milestones are managed by the Saudi organising authorities, not the BIE itself.
This briefing is part of the Expo 2030 Intelligence platform. Related briefings: What Is Expo 2030 Riyadh? · Master Plan & Site Layout · Foreign Participation Guide · Pavilion Construction Timeline. Track procurement developments and country participation signals in the live intelligence feed, or explore all participating countries.