Planning

UK Participation at Expo 2030 Riyadh - Preliminary Market Engagement/Early Engagement Questionnaire

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS & TRADE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 May 2026 at 15:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Business & Trade is initiating a preliminary market engagement process in preparation for the UK's participation at Expo 2030 Riyadh, an event running from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031. This process is currently in the planning stage, with the department seeking to gather insights from suppliers to refine the requirements and develop an internal business case. The procurement focuses on services related to construction and cultural exhibitions, among others. Interested suppliers are encouraged to register by the 30th of June 2026 to participate in one-to-one, non-committal discussions. The event will take place in the UK and highlights the importance of the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia, providing a significant global platform.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses involved in architecture, creative and construction project management, exhibition and experience design, and building design, especially those with experience in major world events. Consultancies and suppliers with robust capabilities in these sectors and those interested in venturing into international markets stand to benefit significantly. The contracts will favour SMEs and voluntary community and social enterprises, opening doors for these business types to expand their reach and partake in a high-profile event with estimated visitor numbers reaching 42 million. This initiative aims to foster growth and establish enduring business partnerships both regionally and globally.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK Participation at Expo 2030 Riyadh - Preliminary Market Engagement/Early Engagement Questionnaire

Notice Description

The Department for Business and Trade is leading preparations for the UK's participation at Expo 2030 Riyadh, taking place from 1 October 2030 to 31 March 2031. World Expos are major global events - with an expected 42 million visitors and 197 participating countries, Expo 2030 Riyadh will be a major moment for the UK's presence on the world stage and an opportunity to highlight the importance of the bilateral relationship between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The UK has a rich legacy of involvement at World Expos, stretching back to the Great Exhibition of 1851, for which the Crystal Palace was constructed in Hyde Park, London. In 2025, at the Osaka World Expo, Japan, the UK pavilion attracted over 1 million visitors, hosting an exciting programme of events and offering an immersive exhibition, gift shop, restaurant and bar. Expo 2030 Riyadh presents an ideal opportunity for the UK to foster economic growth and build partnerships in the region as well as globally. DBT are seeking a range of suppliers to enable the design and construction for the UK pavilion at this event, as well as to help define and deliver our public and private visitor offerings. At this initial stage of the project, DBT are seeking to engage with suppliers within the following sectors: Architecture and Design Competitions: suppliers with proven experience in initiating and managing architecture and design competitions to help clients secure high-quality, innovative design teams and outcomes through robust, transparent processes. Creative and Construction Project Management: suppliers with experience in working with novel or innovative building typologies, who can integrate creative vision with construction delivery by managing complex programmes, stakeholders, budgets and risk to ensure successful end-to-end project delivery. Exhibition and Experience Design: suppliers with expertise in designing compelling exhibitions and visitor experiences that communicate clear narratives, maximise engagement, and perform effectively in high-profile public settings. Suppliers who can translate strategic objectives and content into immersive, accessible and memorable visitor journeys through cohesive spatial, digital and interpretive design. Building Design: suppliers with strong building design capability to deliver technically robust, safe, and sustainable structures that meet functional requirements while supporting ambitious architectural and experiential goals. Major World Events: suppliers with experience delivering projects at major world events who understand the unique operational, logistical, political and reputational challenges of time-critical, globally visible programmes.

Planning Information

To engage with our Preliminary Market Engagement, the Contracting Authority is requesting that potential suppliers register interest, and complete an Early Engagement Questionnaire to understand the relevant expertise and experience available in the market. Information that DBT gathers will be used to refine requirements and inform an internal business case. DBT will also explore potential suppliers’ interest in sponsoring the UK Pavilion, alongside gathering insights into the factors they would consider essential to establishing a successful and mutually valuable partnership for Expo 2030 Riyadh. Interested suppliers are able to indicate their willingness to participate in a non-committal one-to-one discussion with DBT regarding their responses to the Early Engagement Questionnaire. To recieve the Early Engagement Questionnaire, please email MajorWorldEventsCommercial@businessandtrade.gov.uk to register your interest. DBT's overall intended process for Preliminary Market Engagement is (i) suppliers to register their interest (ii) suppliers are sent the Early Engagement Questionnaire (iii) suppliers return the Early Engagement Questionnaire by 30/06/2026 (iiii) potential for non-committal one-to-one discussions with DBT. It should be noted that DBT makes no commitment to procure these services and may decide to not progress this any further following this engagement with the market. DBT are not liable for any costs incurred by respondents to this Early Engagement Questionnaire. DBT reserves the right to change any information contained within the Early Engagement documentation at any time, and interested suppliers rely upon any information provided entirely at their own risk. This is not a formal invitation to tender. The Contract Start and End dates are estimates on the intial contracts to be awarded, but this is subject to change and depends on the information shared during this Preliminary Market Engagement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069617
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043178-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

45212300 - Construction work for art and cultural buildings

45212310 - Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions

45212311 - Art gallery construction work

45212313 - Museum construction work

45212350 - Buildings of particular historical or architectural interest

71200000 - Architectural and related services

71230000 - Organisation of architectural design contests

71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services

79415200 - Design consultancy services

79950000 - Exhibition, fair and congress organisation services

79952000 - Event services

79952100 - Cultural event organisation services

92500000 - Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

92520000 - Museum services and preservation services of historical sites and buildings

92521000 - Museum services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 May 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS & TRADE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2DY
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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