Saudi Arabia has proposed hosting the World Trade Organization’s 15th Ministerial Conference in Riyadh in 2028, continuing its effort to elevate its global economic profile and position itself as a hub for trade diplomacy.
The proposal appeared on the agenda of the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva on December 16–17 and follows Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi’s initial announcement in October. Al-Qasabi said hosting the gathering would signal the kingdom’s commitment to the multilateral trading system and offer an opportunity to advance WTO reform.
A final decision will likely be taken by consensus ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled for March 26–29, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The WTO spokesperson said 22 countries have expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s offer, including Bangladesh, Kuwait, Russia, Cameroon, and Thailand.
The 13th Ministerial Conference was held in Abu Dhabi in 2023, and hosting two consecutive meetings in the Gulf would reflect the region’s expanding role in global trade policy.
Analysts say the bid aligns with major events Saudi Arabia is already preparing to host, such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and fits within Vision 2030 economic diversification goals.
Nicolas Michelon of Alagan Partners said hosting MC15 would present Riyadh as a ‘global gateway’ and symbolically mark the 20th anniversary of Saudi Arabia’s accession to the WTO. The kingdom currently holds the presidency of the WTO’s General Council.
Experts note both opportunity and risk. Joost Pauwelyn of the Graduate Institute said meaningful reform could be launched at MC14 in Cameroon and ‘harvested in Riyadh,’ demonstrating renewed commitment to rules-based trade at a time when some major economies are disengaging from the WTO.
But he and others warn of reputational risks if the organization fails to deliver reforms or if the meeting yields few results, given the ongoing deadlock in the dispute settlement mechanism and broader questions about the WTO’s effectiveness.
Michelon added that hosting would require welcoming delegates from across the membership, including states with strained relations with Saudi Arabia, and maintaining neutrality would be critical.
Supporters say Riyadh could help bridge divides between developed economies and the Global South as debates intensify over dispute settlement reform, agricultural rules, e-commerce, and trade facilitation. Ministerial conferences are the WTO’s highest decision-making forums, where consensus is required for rule changes, and a single member can block agreements.
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