Expo 2030 Riyadh opens in October 2030. It will be the largest Registered Expo in history, hosted in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh.
👉 Read the complete guide to Expo 2030 Riyadh
"I want to go, but how do you actually get to Saudi Arabia?" "How do you reach the venue?" If those questions are running through your head, you're not alone. I (Aika) had exactly the same questions. After seeing the Saudi-organised Expo 2030 Riyadh promotional events at the Osaka/Kansai Expo, I decided "next stop, Riyadh" — only to find that access information is still very scattered.
So I've put together everything that's currently known about getting to Expo 2030 Riyadh in one place. Latest information as of May 2026.
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- Where Riyadh is, time difference, currency, basic info
- Direct vs. connecting flights from Japan (and which airlines)
- The new Expo 2030 dedicated metro station
- Local transport: taxi apps, buses
- How to get a Saudi eVisa
- Dress code and local etiquette
- Where to stay in Riyadh
Recommended for
- Anyone interested after seeing Saudi’s promotional presence at the 2025 Osaka Expo
- Travelers planning ahead for an in-person visit in 2030
- First-time visitors to the Middle East unsure how to prepare
- First, Where Is Riyadh?
- Gateway: King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
- Getting to the Venue: A Dedicated Metro Station Is Coming
- Getting Around Within the City
- Visa: eVisa Is the Easiest Option for Japanese Visitors
- Dress Code & Local Etiquette
- Where to Stay
- My Own Preparation Plan
- Summary: Key Points for Riyadh Expo Access
- Read Next
First, Where Is Riyadh?
Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia, an inland city near the centre of the Arabian Peninsula.
Flight time from Japan is roughly 12–18 hours (direct or with connections). Routing through a Middle Eastern hub is the most common option.
Time difference: 6 hours behind Japan (Saudi Arabia is UTC+3).
Currency: Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR). 1 SAR ≈ ¥40 (as of May 2026).
Gateway: King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
The gateway to Expo 2030 Riyadh is King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Saudi Arabia's second-largest international airport, located about 35 km north of central Riyadh.
Flights from Japan
| Route | Major Airlines | Approx. Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | Saudia (SV) | About 12–13 hours |
| Via Dubai | Emirates (EK) | About 16–18 hours |
| Via Doha | Qatar Airways (QR) | About 17–19 hours |
| Via Istanbul | Turkish Airlines (TK) | About 18–20 hours |
| Via Abu Dhabi | Etihad Airways (EY) | About 17–19 hours |
Saudia operates a direct flight from Tokyo (Narita) to Riyadh — arriving without a connection is the biggest upside.
If you're choosing a connecting flight, Qatar Airways via Doha is a popular pick for its frequency and service quality on Middle East routes.
👉 Check Qatar Airways flight options: 【Qatar Airways】
Getting to the Venue: A Dedicated Metro Station Is Coming
The biggest news on venue access for Expo 2030 Riyadh is the construction of a dedicated Expo 2030 metro station.
A New Station on Line 4 (Yellow Line)
In February 2026, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced a tender for the design and construction of an Expo 2030 metro station.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Line | Riyadh Metro Line 4 (Yellow Line) |
| Location | Northern Riyadh (direct access to expo venue) |
| Tender Deadline | May 3, 2026 |
| Target Opening | By the expo opening (October 2030) |
This will be the equivalent of Yumeshima Station at the Osaka Expo — the main artery connecting the venue with the city centre and the airport.
Riyadh Metro at a Glance
The Riyadh Metro is a young rail network that partially opened in December 2024. As of now, six lines, 85 stations, and around 176 km of track are in service. Once the dedicated Expo 2030 station is complete, the design intent is for the airport, the venue, and downtown to all be connected by a single metro system.
That said, parts of the network aren't fully operational yet, so how the metro will actually run by the time the expo opens in 2030 is still worth following closely.
Getting Around Within the City
A few notes on city transport beyond the metro.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing Apps
- Careem (a ride-hailing app widely used across the Middle East — works similarly to Uber)
- Uber (also functions normally in Riyadh)
- Yellow taxis (official taxis, but ride-hailing apps tend to involve fewer fare disputes)
Saudi Arabia has allowed women to drive since 2019, and female drivers are increasing. English is more reliably understood through the app, so Careem or Uber is the safer bet.
Bus
Riyadh also has a bus system called Riyadh Bus, which can be combined with the metro for getting around the city. Working out the bus network on a first visit is on the harder side, though — for first-time visitors, the metro plus a ride-hailing app is the easier combination.
Visa: eVisa Is the Easiest Option for Japanese Visitors
A tourist visa is required to enter Saudi Arabia. For Japanese passport holders, the online eVisa is the convenient choice.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Online (official site: visa.visitsaudi.com) |
| Maximum Stay | Up to 90 days |
| Validity | 1 year (multiple entry) |
| Fee | About 535 SAR (insurance included, as of May 2026) |
The eVisa is usually issued within 24 hours, but applications may surge during the expo period — applying at least one month before travel is recommended.
Dress Code & Local Etiquette
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country with its own dress and etiquette norms. Tourist visas were only opened up in 2019 (relatively recently), and rules for foreign visitors have been considerably relaxed as a result.
- Women: An abaya (the long black robe) is not required. However, clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is recommended.
- Men: Avoid shorts; long trousers are recommended.
- Alcohol: Prohibited. No alcohol is served, including at the venue and at hotels.
- Photography: Photographing government and military facilities is strictly forbidden. Always ask before photographing people.
The expo venue is expected to be operated with foreign visitors in mind, but stepping outside the venue means stepping into the rules of an Islamic country — keep that in mind.
Where to Stay
The main accommodation areas in Riyadh:
| Area | Suited For | Distance to Venue |
|---|---|---|
| North Riyadh (around KAFD) | Business / luxury hotel travellers | Within 30 min by metro |
| Downtown (Olaya district) | Sightseeing-focused / mid-range hotels | 40–50 min by metro |
| Near the airport | Early-flight travellers / short stays | 30–40 min by metro |
With 42 million visits expected from around the world (as of May 2026 estimates), booking accommodation a year in advance will probably be the rule, not the exception. The lesson from the Osaka Expo — "you can't book at the last minute" — applies here too. Given the scale, the competition will likely be even more intense.
My Own Preparation Plan
I'm planning to attend Expo 2030 Riyadh in person. After 29 visits to the Osaka Expo and a planned excursion to GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, I see Riyadh as a major life milestone in my expo journey — so I'm starting preparations early.
Here's the rough roadmap I have in mind:
| Timing | What I'll Do |
|---|---|
| First half of 2029 | Tentatively lock in flights and accommodation |
| Around April 2030 | Apply for eVisa, finalise the itinerary |
| October 2030 onwards | Attend in person |
The lesson "eat it when you see it" (from my first day at the Osaka Expo) applies to Riyadh too. I'll be slowly working my way into Middle Eastern and Saudi cuisine starting now.
Summary: Key Points for Riyadh Expo Access
| Point | Overview |
|---|---|
| Gateway airport | King Khalid International Airport (RUH) |
| Direct flights from Japan | Saudia (Tokyo–Riyadh) |
| Major connection routes | Qatar Airways (via Doha), Emirates (via Dubai), and others |
| Venue access | Dedicated station planned on Riyadh Metro Line 4 (Yellow Line) |
| Visa | eVisa (online), up to 90 days |
| Accommodation | Book a year in advance |
Expo 2030 Riyadh is the largest Registered Expo in history — and from a Japanese perspective, the highest-barrier expo to plan for. The flip side is that with early information gathering and preparation, it can also be a uniquely rewarding one to attend.
This blog will share Aika's preparation process toward attending in person, in real time — direct flight booking timing, the eVisa application experience, on-the-ground food reports, and more, told honestly.
Updates will follow as new developments happen — including the metro station tender results expected after May 2026 — so please bookmark this page.
Read Next
👉 Expo 2030 Riyadh — Complete Guide / Dates, Theme & Scale
👉 EXPO 2027 Belgrade — Complete Guide
👉 GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama — Complete Guide
👉 How to Get to GREEN×EXPO 2027 from Overseas — Flight Information & Airport Access
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