Episode 30! 🤩 Hosts Hanaa and Lucien kick off the show catching up on a busy week with tons of travel ahead. In this episode, Hanaa does a DEEPDIVE into Saudi Arabia as a luxury market and destination for fashion and luxury goods. A recently-released report titled 'New Codes of Luxury in Saudi Arabia' by the TOGETHER group and the Future Laboratory group explores the evolving luxury market in Saudi Arabia, focusing on affluent consumers, the impact of women entrepreneurs, and the increasing significance of youth in shaping trends.

The report is loaded with interesting statistics: 88% of affluent KSA nationals also believe it is important that luxury brands contribute to the empowerment of women in the region; 91% of affluent Saudis mention that convenience is important to them when considering a luxury purchase, and so much more. The hosts discuss some of the key themes such as authenticity, innovation, technological integration, and the balance between global trends and local culture are discussed. It is a fascinating look at the spending habits of Saudi high-net-worth individuals, emphasizing the importance of personalized offerings and bespoke experiences.

It also delves into the rise of women's economic influence due to Vision 2030, highlighting their growing role in the workforce and entrepreneurial landscape. For the youth, the report underscores their digital savviness and preference for luxury experiences, indicating a dynamic shift in consumer culture. Concluding the episode, Dr. Hannah and Lucien emphasize the transformative power of the luxury sector in shaping Saudi Arabia’s future, echoing the report’s call to embrace authenticity and innovation while respecting heritage.

The hosts round out episode 30 with a discussion of some of the latest news on Saudi Arabia, including:

•Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Satellite Plans (and a hope that its work will lead to better in-flight internet…)

•Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Program Developments

•WeWork Founder Expands to Saudi Arabia

•Topgolf and Callaway's Expansion in Saudi Arabia and a changing golf landscape in the Kingdom.

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The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.

A special episode to celebrate Saudi National Day on Monday, September 23! The TWENTY30's special guest contributor, Ghada Almuhanna, a visual anthropologist who is widely followed through her Instagram account documenting interesting Saudi photos and art, joins to talk all things Saudi National Day on the 94th anniversary.

Saudi National Day celebrates the formal unification of the Kingdom in 1932. Ghada joins hosts Lucien and Hanaa for a lively and fun discussion of the evolution of National Day celebrations, how patriotism is expressed uniquely across Saudi regions, and the recent tradition of officially taking the day off since a royal decree in the 2010s. The conversation also delves into the joyous public displays, visual competitions among companies, and the heartwarming cultural practices that come to the forefront during this national holiday.

The conversation also includes a lively debate over the best dates in the Kingdom...

The hosts conclude the episode as always with SHOUTOUTS.

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Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0uuKNWrgbQPMBIx3XY6YGU

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twenty30/id1742574206

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@thetwenty30

Get episodes and exclusive content delivered to your email inbox free:

https://thetwenty30.com

You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names (Lucien @TheTWENTY30.com) or (Hanaa @thetwenty30.com) or email Hosts @ TheTwenty30.com.

The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.

©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.

From Tabuk, a mid-size city in Saudi Arabia's northern region, to a PHD from Duke University and now founder of one of Saudi Arabia's most successful startup companies, Dr. Hassan Albalawi's incredible journey represents a successful investment by Saudi Arabia into the promise of its citizens. In Episode 28, Dr. Hassan sits down with The TWENTY30's Lucien Zeigler and Dr. Hanaa Almoaibed for an exclusive interview and conversation to discuss the genesis and growth of WakeCap, an innovative and fast-growing construction technologies company that allows employers to monitor the safety and productivity of workers on the job site. WakeCap is scaling and expanding quickly, with 100 employees and operating partnerships with some of the largest construction companies in the world, including Aramco, Bechtel, and many others. WakeCap's solutions are now the go-to for companies seeking to protect and incentivize their employees and boost productivity to get projects completed safely. The company recently acquired a Silicon Valley-based startup in July 2024, and is using that investment to create a new R&D center for the company in the center of America's innovation capital. Now, it's expanding beyond the Middle East region, working in New York and elsewhere in one of the most significant exports of Saudi-made technologies in the Kingdom's history.

Hassan is the eldest in a family of 14 children. His first time on an airplane was as a teenager to travel to the United States for college and graduate school with limited English. When he left the U.S., he did so with a PHD in Engineering from one of top 10 universities in the country, and was ready to begin his journey as an entrepreneur. Hanaa and Lucien ask him about his experiences in the U.S. before diving into his journey as a Saudi startup founder years before the Kingdom began making huge investments into technologies and developing its ecosystem. The hosts also ask Hassan about the opportunities and challenges in the construction sector in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region, the development of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia today, and the future of WakeCap as a potential unicorn in the coming years.

After the conversation, Dr. Hanaa and Lucien conclude with SHOUTOUTS. Dr. Hanaa's Shoutout is to the recently-passed Safeya Binzagr, famed Saudi artist who inspired many with her books and museums long before the Vision's reforms.

Lucien's Shoutout is to Younis Altewejri and Francesco Luigi Carusi, founders of The Rustic Bakery in Riyadh, which was recently shortlisted for the Riyadh 2024 Time Out awards.

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The TWENTY30 is now the leading bi-weekly podcast on Saudi Arabia in English! Our founders thank everyone for subscribing and following as we de-code Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation in English and share stories of the changemakers playing crucial roles in the Kingdom's changes. Subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uuKNWr... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... YouTube: / @thetwenty30 Get episodes and exclusive content delivered to your email inbox free: https://thetwenty30.com You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names (Lucien @TheTWENTY30.com) or (Hanaa @thetwenty30.com) or email Hosts @ TheTwenty30.com. The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC. ©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.