Shows
The 966Clean Hydrogen and Saudi Arabia with Rami Shabaneh, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC)Rami Shabaneh, Senior Fellow, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) joins host Richard Wilson and The 966 for Episode #135. Rami is a senior fellow with KAPSARC’s Oil and Gas program, with a focus on global gas and hydrogen markets. He has nearly 15 years of research and industry experience analyzing energy markets and energy policy.Rami also co-edited the recently published, Clean Hydrogen Economy in Saudi Arabia, Domestic Developments and International Opportunitiesavailable for purchase on Amazon or Routledge as well as Taylor & Francis. Spanning 28 chapters the book is a first-of-its-kind analysis of the...2024-09-1039 min
The 966Saudi Arabia’s Booming Construction Sector with Laura Morgan, Market Intelligence Lead, MEA, JLLThe 966 and host, Richard Wilson welcome to Episode #134 Laura Morgan, Market Intelligence Lead, MEA, JLL to discuss Saudi Arabia’s Booming Construction Sector. Ms. Morgan expands on JLL's Q1 2024 KSA Construction Market Intelligence Report which noted that with $1.5 trillion in the Saudi pipeline of unawarded construction projects, Saudi Arabia accounts for almost 40% of the total MENA pipeline value. Within that pipeline the construction sector represents $950 billion (62% of the total $1.5 trillion), while transportation, infrastructure, and other utilities account for $582 billion (38%). According to MEED Projects, the thriving KSA construction sector reported the highest value of awarded projects in 2023, reaching USD97...2024-07-3032 min
The 966What you need to know to establish a business in Saudi Arabia with Saeed Al-Ansari, CEO, TawarefSaeed Al-Ansari, Founder and CEO of Tawaref, a Saudi Arabia-based tech investment community that also provides startup advisory, legal consultancy and due diligence support joins Richard Wilson on The 966 to discuss what is needed to establish a business in Saudi Arabia. Saeed and Tawaref bring an extraordinary amount of experience to this challenge. In addition, Tawaref has published a series of invaluable articles in Wamda, a well-known platform, media site and venture capital firm, on how to establish a business in KSA. The series currently includes 8 articles that, “provide a one-stop resource to answer all the repetitive quer...2024-06-0231 min
The 966Dr. William Greene, CIO of the Hevolution Foundation, joins The 966 to talk latest investments, strategy for HevolutionWilliam Greene, MD, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Hevolution Foundation, joins The 966 to talk about Hevolution's investment strategy and role as an investor in the emerging field of Healthspan Science. As CIO, Dr. Greene oversees all aspects of Hevolution Foundation’s investment strategy, planning, analysis, and execution.The Hevolution Foundation, based in Riyadh, is a non-profit organization that provides grants and early-stage investments to incentivize research and entrepreneurship in healthspan science.Last month, Hevolution announced its first ever impact investment to catalyze the healthspan and geroscience ecosystem and drive transformative breakthroughs in healthy aging. 2024-04-1530 min
The 966Ambassador Michael Ratney Joins The 966 to talk U.S.-Saudi DiplomacyU.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney joins The 966 to talk diplomacy and U.S.-Saudi relations. In recent years, he was the Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of State’s training center, the Foreign Service Institute, where he had also been Dean of the State Department’s School of Language Studies. He was Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in 2021, and earlier served on the faculty of the National Defense University.Ambassador Ratney was the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria from 2015 to 2018, and also...2024-04-0929 min
The 966Ahead of LEAP in Saudi Arabia, MCIT's Abdullah Alshamrani joins The 966 to talk tech, ecosystem development, and more...Abdullah Alshamrani, General Manager of the Digital Entrepreneurship Center at Saudi Arabia’s MCIT join The 966 to talk ecosystem development in the Kingdom, the entrepreneurship scene, and the Kingdom as a future destination for tech.The conversation comes as the Kingdom's flagship tech event, LEAP, is set to kick off in Riyadh in March.He also shares his journey to becoming General Manager of Digital Entrepreneurship Center at Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, his time in the USA, and more...The Kingdom’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology works to grow KSA’...2024-02-2641 min
The 966What does 2024 have in store for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East?The 966 hosts kick off the new year after a refreshing holiday break following a successful year for the podcast in which the growth of the audience more than doubled across all platforms, and in some cases, grew significantly more than that! The team thanks all of its listeners and viewers for tuning in each week.First, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, the Dakar Rally, which is set to take place again this year across Saudi Arabia. The race has moved to the Kingdom and began January 5th, running until January 19th, and will pass Riyadh...2024-01-0851 min
The 966The Houthis' Red Sea gamble, investment funds grow in KSA, and Princess Noura Bint Turki Al-Saud + Princess Mashael bint Saud Al Shalan talk COP28The 966 speaks with Princess Mashael bint Saud Al Shalan and Princess Noura bint Turki Al Saud, co-founders of AEON Collective based in Riyadh, to discuss the recently-concluded COP28 meetings in the UAE earlier this month and where the world stands in the fight to combat climate change and transition away from fossil fuels. The two princesses, as part of AEON, played a leading role in support of the Kingdom's Net-Zero targets under the Saudi Green Initiative and the Circular Carbon Economy Framework, and recently co-authored an important report along with KAUST and KAPSARC that presents a broad p...2023-12-301h 54
The 966Delays in some Vision 2030 projects (and why that's good), a new US Embassy in Riyadh, and a conversation with Dr. Basma Al-Buhairan from Saudi Arabia's C4IRThere's so much that has happened in Saudi Arabia since The 966's last full, normal-format episode. The hosts are back in their normal seats and with a special guest, Dr. Basma Al-Buhairan, Managing Director for the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), who joins The 966 to talk about tech adoption and the Center's role in enabling Vision 2030's success. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss some key projects for Vision 2030 being delayed, as reported in Bloomberg, and why that is a good thing. Richard reads from a recent Bloomberg item highlighting the delays based on c...2023-12-151h 58
The 966Hevolution's Launch in Riyadh with HRH Dr. Haya Bint Khaled Bin Bandar Al-Saud and Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of Hevolution, who join The 966 for a special episodeThe 966 Podcast features a special episode this week for episode 114 with an exclusive, live duo of conversations, first with HRH Dr. Haya Bint Khaled Bin Bandar Al-Saud, Vice President of Organizational Strategy and Development for the Hevolution Foundation, and then with Hevolution's CEO, Dr. Mehmood Khan. Lucien and Richard recorded conversations with top Hevolution officials after the launch of Hevolution's "Global Healthspan Summit" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event was the organization's coming out party and first major event - unique in the growing field of healthspan science in which Hevolution is aiming to make a big impact and...2023-12-0841 minThe 966The future of Fintech and Blockchain with Amit Sharma, CEO of FinClusiveAmit Sharma, CEO and Founder of FinClusive Capital, a hybrid fin-/reg-tech company based in the United States, joins The 966 to talk digital banking, fintech and more. Finclusive, headquartered in New York, New York, is a global compliance, digital identity and payments platform for a new era of financial services. The 966 talks about the sector, FinClusive's approach to streamline services for clients, and the rise of the sector in Saudi Arabia. 2023-11-2449 min
The 966An exclusive interview with Dr. Mehmood Khan, founding CEO of Saudi Arabia's HEVOLUTION FoundationThe 966 speaks with Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Hevolution Foundation, a global non-profit revolutionizing the healthspan field launched by Royal Decree and chaired by HRH the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Dr. Khan shares his journey, Hevolution’s vision and insights into how he is working to build the organization’s operations from the ground up. The 966’s conversation with Dr. Khan takes place ahead of Hevolution’s inaugural Global Healthspan Summit on Nov. 29-30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two-day event at the Four Seasons Hotel promises to serve as a seismic shift in how the world...2023-11-181h 18
The 966The Saudi economy and government spending with former IMF Country Head for Saudi Arabia Tim Callen, big announcements from The 966, and much more...Tim Callen, ex-IMF Mission Chief to Saudi Arabia and Visiting Fellow at AGSIW, joins The 966 to discuss Saudi Arabia’s budget, government spending, and more. Tim's most recent piece for AGSIW discusses how increased spending in Saudi Arabia raises risks to the Saudi budget. The hosts take advantage of Tim's extensive experience and vast knowledge on how Saudi Arabia's budgeting and fiscal policy works. At the IMF, he was responsible for engagement with the government of Saudi Arabia and for the institution’s research and publications on the country. He also led the IMF’s research program on the GCC re...2023-11-101h 29
The 966MasterCard's Maria Medvedeva joins The 966 to talk payments, fintech and more; plus more on Leyja at NeomIn Episode 110, Maria Medvedeva, Vice President, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for MasterCard joins to discuss the company’s KSA strategy, fintech, payments, innovation, and her experiences living and working in a changing and evolving Saudi Arabia. Maria, based in Riyadh with her family, is responsible for Mastercard's growth strategy and delivering innovative payment experiences for consumers and merchants.Before the discussion with Maria, the hosts discuss Richard’s One Big Thing, which is Saudi Arabia’s recent adoption of the Gregorian calendar for all official business going forward. Saudi Arabia has approved the use of the...2023-11-031h 39
The 966Talking with Mohammed Ghazi and Abdulhadi Azouz, the two guys behind Saudi Arabia's hottest drone and aerial film production companyChances are if you’ve seen any of the high-quality, professionally-produced promotional videos from Saudi government authorities or leading Saudi companies anywhere online, you've seen some incredible drone footage of Saudi Arabia. The 966 welcomes on to the program for Episode 109 Mohammed Ghazi and Abdulhadi Azouz from the aerial drone production company AZAerials, which films many of these amazing shots for high-profile public and private sector entities including the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Sports, Saudia Airlines, Aramco, MDLBeast, the General Entertainment Authority, Riyadh Season, Netflix, and many others. They are the Saudi-based drone operators and film producers creating the fo...2023-10-271h 48
The 966Discussing Saudi Arabia's Regional HQ program with Mansour El-Zahab and Zeynep Kösereisoğlu from Frontierview and much more...In episode 108, Mansour El-Zahab and Zeynep Kösereisoğlu from Frontierview, a leading market intelligence and research company, join The 966 to discuss Saudi Arabia’s Regional HQ program (commonly referred to as the "RHQ" program) and dive into some of the legal and practical details ahead of the effective date of the program starting in 2024. The RHQ program is the requirement that companies seeking to contract with the Saudi government or its affiliates must have their regional headquarters within Saudi Arabia and not in any neighboring nations. That has posed some challenges but also opportunities for foreign investors ahead of a...2023-10-201h 44The 966What the Israel-Hamas War Means for Saudi Arabia and the Middle EastHamas' horrific and stunning attack in Israel last week has upended the status quo in the region. With Israel now retaliating in Gaza, bombing an already desperate populace in the Gaza strip, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless there, and with thousands dead and injured on both sides, the war has thrown the Levant into crisis and threatens to spillover into a wider conflict in the Middle East. The deal that was reportedly close to completion between Saudi Arabia and Israel, brokered by the United States, is now all but dead. Israel appears poised for a ground invasion...2023-10-131h 00The 966The Growing Size and Role of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Saudi Arabia with Robert Mogielnicki, FII 2023, Saudi World Cup and more...Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, Senior Resident Scholar at The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and professorial lecturer at George Washington University joins The 966 to discuss the growing size and role of the Kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Robert has previously characterized the PIF as, “screaming onto the scene” with an “everything, everywhere, all-at-once investment approach.” The 966 hosts dive into that, and many other PIF related topics and questions. Before that, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, the Saudi bid for the World Cup in 2034. Then, the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, the upcoming 7th FII I...2023-10-061h 16
The 966Discussing the Venture Capital ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the MENA with investor Amjad Ahmad and much more...Episode 105! Amjad Ahmad, a leading venture capitalist and seasoned investment professional with extensive experience in VC and private equity in emerging markets, joins The 966. Amjad discusses the VC ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and globally today. In addition to over two decades of experience investing in the region, Amjad is also chairman and founding director of the EmpowerME initiative at the Atlantic Council, a program which empowers entrepreneurs, women, and the private sector in the region and which oversees in collaboration with Georgetown University the WIn Fellowship, a fully sponsored year-long program for female entrepreneurs from the...2023-09-291h 47
The 966The CEO of KAFD, Riyadh's financial district, Gautam Sashittal, joins The 966 to talk about the Kingdom's original giga-project and the city of the futureGautam Sashittal, the CEO of Riyadh's financial district that has redefined Riyadh’s skyline and is the city’s most sought-after business address and lifestyle destination, joins The 966 podcast. The district is home to many of Saudi Arabia’s largest companies and regional headquarters of international corporations doing business in the region, as well as the Kingdom’s finest restaurants and real estate. KAFD is now owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF whose headquarters, the PIF tower, is now located in the Financial District. Gautam took over as CEO of KAFD in January 2021, before that, he was CEO and COO of the...2023-09-221h 20
The 966King Salman's pivotal role in Saudi Arabia's past and present with author and columnist David Rundell; plus, archaeology in Al Ula, Wa'ed's new investment, and more...Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman's incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. King Salman has played an enormously pivotal role for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the development of the modern Saudi state. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss an archaeology summit taking place in Al Ula this week, an interesting and exciting new investment made by Saudi Aramco's VC arm, Wa'ed, into a company that is building new homes using 3D printing, and much more as always in the program's Yallah! segment.7:36 - Richard's One Big Thing is AlUla's invite-only AlUla World Archaeological Summit...2023-09-151h 29
The 966Understanding Vision 2030's impact on media perceptions of Saudi Arabia's with Rawan Hashem; also, Hevolution's rise, Tourism in KSA and much moreEpisode 102! Rawan Hashem from the data insights firm Carma joins The 966 to discuss evolving media perspectives of Saudi Arabia and Vision 2030. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss the new organization in Saudi Arabia, called Hevolution, and its $1 billion mission to advance humanity's fight against aging based on a recent Wall Street Journal article from this week. Then the hosts discuss the recent data out on Saudi Arabia's tourism industry which show the Kingdom's important new sector is growing rapidly. The hosts conclude as always with six top storylines to on Saudi Arabia this week. 4:23 - Richard's One...2023-09-081h 26
The 966Saudi giga-projects and construction with MEED editor Colin Foreman, an update on the New Murabba and the Saudi Pro League, and moreColin Foreman, journalist and editor for the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), joins The 966 to talk about construction, giga-projects, and Saudi Arabia's economic development. MEED is a leading resource for executives with a highly-respected publication for the MENA region. Before the conversation with Colin, the hosts discuss the latest with the Saudi Pro League and dispelling some myths and facts about the growing football league in the Kingdom, an update on the New Murraba project in Riyadh that promises to change the face of the city, and so much more in the program's concluding Yallah! segment.4:20...2023-09-011h 41
The 966Episode 100! Saudi Arabia gets a BRICS invite, a lightning strike on Mecca's clocktower, and leading Riyadh-based architect Nadia Maqbool Al Lawatiya joins The 966Nadia Maqbool Al-Lawatiya, a leading Riyadh-based architect and urban designer who is closely familiar with Salmani architecture, joins The 966 to share her journey and discuss some of the themes and thinking behind the new style emerging from Saudi Arabia. Nadia listened to a previous episode of The 966 on Salmani architecture and joins for this episode to discuss the style and answer some questions from the hosts. We learn about the underlying thinking and strategic vision behind the style, and explore some of its more distinctive elements. Before the conversation with Nadia, The 966 hosts reflect on 100 episodes of The 966 and...2023-08-251h 56
The 966Princess Mashael bint Saud Al Shalan joins The 966, Saudis rush to theaters to See 'Barbie', an update on The Line and more...Episode 99! Princess Mashael bint Saud Al-Shalan, Founding Partner, Aeon Strategy, joins The 966 to discuss her work heading one of the leading consultancies in Saudi Arabia in the field of sustainability. Aeon Strategy played a key role in support of the Kingdom's Net-Zero targets under the Saudi Green Initiative and the Circular Carbon Economy Framework. The company aims to lead Saudi Arabia towards a sustainable future by designing and scaling pioneering, science-backed, researched based business and policy solutions that create and sustain equal benefits for the nation’s economy, ecology and society. Before that conversation, the hosts the latest with Th...2023-08-181h 55
The 966More on Saudi-Israel normalization reports, Lucid's future, and Kuwait University's Bader Al-Saif joins The 966Episode 98! Dr. Bader Al-Saif, founding President at Al-Saif Consulting and Assistant Professor at Kuwait University joins The 966 to talk about Saudi Arabia as an emerging economic and diplomatic power in a changing region. Al-Saif is also a visiting researcher at Georgetown University, where he completed his PHD in history, and a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGISW). Al-Saif is frequently quoted in the largest publications and media outlets around the world. The 966 hosts discuss with Bader Saudi Arabia's ambitions and the context of its recent domestic and foreign policy decisions in its own history...2023-08-112h 03
The 966Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and former publisher of the Wall Street Journal Karen Elliott House joins The 966American journalist, author, media executive, and pulitzer prize winner Karen Elliott House joins The 966. Elliott House discusses her recent work, a paper entitled 'Saudi First', for the Belfer Center at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, as well as her experiences traveling to and from Saudi Arabia for decades and her views on Saudi Arabia as an emerging regional power. Elliott House has served as publisher of The Wall Street Journal, former senior vice president of Dow Jones, and on the board of the Rand Corporation. She currently is a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for International Affairs at...2023-08-042h 01
The 966PepsiCo Middle East CEO Aamer Sheikh joins The 966, plus a full update on Saudi football, King Saud University's overhaul and more...Episode 96! The 966 speaks with PepsiCo Middle East CEO Aamer Sheikh for a conversation about the company's strategy to plug into Vision 2030's opportunities and continue to stay on top as the number one food and beverage brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Sheikh, who is Pakistani-American and grew up in the United States, shares his story and how he rose to the top position for the company in the Middle East region. The PepsiCo MENA CEO also discusses how he works to position PepsiCo's products to be part of the fabric of Saudi society, the company's emphasis...2023-07-281h 49
The 966Physician and media commentator Dr. Qanta Ahmed joins The 966 to talk about 'colossal' changes in Saudi Arabia and much morePhysician, non-fiction author, and broadcast media commentator and writer Dr. Qanta Ahmed joins The 966 from New York to discuss the “colossal” changes in Saudi Arabia since Vision 2030 was launched and her view that Saudi Arabia has emerged as an increasingly important and influential global power. Dr. Qanta is an Academic Pulmonologist and Sleep Disorder Specialist at NYU Langone and has lived in and visited Saudi Arabia now over a period spanning 3 decades. She first visited Saudi Arabia as a single female doctor in 1999, and wrote a book, called ‘In the Land of Invisible Women,’ (a title she reveals to The 966...2023-07-141h 52
The 966Saudi businesswoman Dana Alajlani joins The 966, the PIF eyes a new sports investment arm, perceptions of Saudi and much moreSaudi businesswoman Dana Alajlani, Head of Public Affairs for the GCC at Sanofi, the French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, joins The 966 to share her professional journey and story. Dana is also Co-Chairwoman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA) and is involved there with the Women in Business committee. Before that conversation, Richard and Lucien discuss a recent survey which examines the conversations and sentiments surrounding Saudi Arabia in 2022, seeking to understand the impact of Vision 2030. Then the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, which is a recent report in the Financial T...2023-07-071h 29
The 966Discussing Saudi Arabia's sporting ambitions and investments with expert Simon Chadwick, a NEOM update, and much moreEpisode 92! Saudi Arabia’s sporting ambitions and investments have been dominating global coverage of the Kingdom in recent months. The 966 speaks with Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy, SKEMMA Business School, Paris, about all of the interest and investments by Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations into global sports. Professor Chadwick has consulted for and advised some of the biggest names in sport, such as FC Barcelona, UEFA, Adidas, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Before that, the hosts discuss a recent article in Newsweek by a previous guest of The 966, David Rundell, about some facts aro...2023-06-302h 06
The 966Global HVAC and smart home leader Johnson Controls Arabia CEO Dr. Mohanad Alshaikh joins The 966The 966 speaks with Dr. Mohanad AlSheikh, CEO of Johnson Controls Arabia, a leading player in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region’s growing HVAC and smart building market. The 966 hosts ask Dr. Mohanad about the growing business opportunities in the HVAC and smart buildings space in the Kingdom and the wider region, the company’s focus on sustainability, and the importance of being a leading local content provider for Saudi Arabia. They also discuss how Johnson Controls Arabia is proving to be a trailblazer in R&D and technology transfer and development, and why that...2023-06-1654 min
The 966The Saudi PIF Invests in Saudi football, Messi to Miami, and Saudi entrepreneurs Sara Bin Laden and Renad Aljefri join The 966Saudi entrepreneurs Sara Bin Laden and Renad Aljefri, recent WIN fellows, join The 966 from Jeddah to discuss their experiences and journeys to-date. Renad and Sara recently took part in the second cohort of the Atlantic Council’s Women Innovators Fellowship, known as the WIN fellowship - a program launched by the empowerME initiative of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, by venture capitalist Amjad Ahmad. Before the conversation with Sara and Renad, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, the PIF's investments in Saudi football and the Saudi Pro League, as well as a discussion of the ne...2023-06-091h 37
The 966An Absolute Shocker: LIV Golf and the PGA will MERGE and form one entity, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan as Chairman and the Saudi PIF with investment rightsIt's a story The 966 has covered in almost every one of its 90 podcasts in one form or another: the PIF-backed LIV Golf tour's founding and rise. So the news breaking today that the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf are combining in a shocking, earth-shattering merger, ending a dispute between the two, is worthy of a special emergency edition of The 966. Lucien, fresh off the plane and joining from Riyadh, and Richard talk about this seismic event and react to the incredible news of the merger. They react to some tweets rolling out in real time a...2023-06-0624 min
The 966Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration CEO Dr. Hamed Merah joins The 966, LIV Golf in DC and much more...The 966 talks about the state of business dispute resolution in Saudi Arabia with the CEO of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, Dr. Hamed Merah, who joins from Riyadh. The 966 talks with Dr. Merah about the SCCA’s rise as a leading dispute resolution body in the region and increasingly, globally. As Saudi Arabia targets attracting foreign investors and companies looking to do business in the Kingdom, having a reputable and professional commercial arbitration center is important for growth. Dr. Merah talks about his work at the SCCA and its growth as an organization since its launch in 2014 and th...2023-06-022h 07
The 966An update on the VC scene in Saudi Arabia with Eyad Albayouk, Saudis in space, Newcastle United rises and much more...Episode 88! Venture capitalist Eyad Albayouk returns to The 966 to talk about the latest developments in the VC sector in Saudi Arabia as well as the closing of his new startup seed fund with Flat6Labs in Saudi Arabia. The hosts discuss with Eyad the rocky start for new funding rounds in the Kingdom after a red hot 2022. Before that conversation, the host discuss Richard's one big thing - a new report from the Saudi consultancy Mukatafa and Kearney on e-commerce in Saudi Arabia. Then the hosts talk about Lucien's one big thing - the recent space mission that saw...2023-05-261h 40The 966Captagon in the Middle East, Messi's history with Saudi Arabia, and a conversation with Norah Ortiz, owner of Riyadh's first authentic Mexican restaurantThe 966 Episode 85! The 966 hosts speak with Norah Ortiz, founder of the first authentic Mexican restaurant in Riyadh, Don Reuben's, which is located in the Diplomatic Quarter. Ortiz tells us her story as an American born in San Diego to Mexican parents and her journey to owning and operating the first authentic Mexican restaurant in a city increasingly becoming a hot spot for foodies. Before that discussion, the hosts talk about Richard's One Big Thing: a growing Captagon crisis in the Middle East and Syria's fall into becoming a narco state. Lucien's One Big Thing is Lionel Messi's long relationship...2023-05-051h 35
The 966Knight Frank's Faisal Durrani joins The 966 to talk Saudi real estate, giga-projects and much moreIn Episode 84, The 966 speaks with Faisal Durrani, partner and head of Middle East research for the global real estate company Knight Frank. Mr. Durrani shares some of the highlights and key information from Knight Frank’s recently-released 2023 report on real estate in Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Report 2023, a publication which touches on many subjects beyond real estate, including hotels and tourism, travel preferences for Saudis domestically, and so much more. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss the situation in Sudan and Saudi Arabia's role in assisting other nations in getting its civilians out of harms way in the country, ho...2023-04-281h 37
The 966Talking tech with MEI's Mohammed Soliman, King Salman Park in Riyadh, Saudi’s growing soccer league, and much more…Eid Fitr Mubarak! In Episode 83, Mohammed Soliman, the director of the Middle East Institute's Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program and a Manager at McLarty Associates’ Middle East and North Africa Practice, joins The 966. Mohammed's work focuses on the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mohammed frequently appears on Arabic- and English-language television to provide commentary on unfolding events in the Middle East. The 966 talks with Mohammed about his recent writing and work on the subjects of a U.S.-Saudi tech dialogue and much more. But first, the hosts discuss Ri...2023-04-211h 29
The 966Iran and Saudi open embassies as thaw continues, U.S.-Saudi diplomacy changes, and much more...In Episode 82, the 966 hosts fly solo and discuss some of the top developments of late on Saudi Arabia - and there are a lot of them. First, the hosts discuss Richard’s One Big Thing, which is the readout of the recent call between the U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There were a lot of “Easter eggs” in that call’s readout from the U.S. side, especially the focus on new priorities and less on the traditional dynamics of U.S.-Saudi relations. Next, the hosts discuss Lucien’s O...2023-04-141h 05
The 966Bilal Saab on U.S.-Saudi military cooperation, how the Kingdom is performing on its green initiative, and moreThe 966 welcomes back onto the program Bilal Saab, political-military analyst on the Middle East and U.S. policy toward the region and Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense and Security Program at the Middle East Institute. The hosts ask Bilal about his recent piece, entitled "After Oil-for-Security: A Blueprint for Resetting U.S.-Saudi Security Relations." Before that discussion, the hosts discuss fibre-optic cables and data centers in Saudi Arabia, how the Kingdom is doing on its efforts to achieve sustainability, and much more.4:32 - Richard's One Big Thing is how Saudi Arabia is ‘redrawing the ma...2023-04-071h 48
The 966Top U.S. Commercial Officer in KSA James Golsen, U.S.-Saudi trade after the Boeing-Riyadh Airways deal, and experiencing Al-UlaMr. James Golsen, Senior Commercial Officer for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, discusses his work building U.S.-Saudi trade and business relations and his journey to the important post. The 966 hosts talk with James about his role building U.S.-Saudi trade relations and enhancing investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. They also discuss the recent Boeing deal with the newly-launched Riyadh Airlines, Richard's Al-Ula adventure, and much more. 1:32 - Richard discusses his recent adventure to Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. 28:08 - Lucien's one big thing is Saudi Arabia's announcement that it will purchase up to 121 Bo...2023-03-311h 36
The 966Understanding the Saudi-Iran agreement with a trio of special guests: Saudi Embassy Spokesperson Fahad Nazer, CSIS' Dr. Jon Alterman, and Saudi Foreign Policy Expert Dr. Aziz AlghashianSaudi Arabia and Iran recently agreed to normalize ties between the two regional powers after seven years. The 966 speaks with three top voices to understand the deal and the potential road ahead for Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, the United States, and other regional and global players. First, the hosts speak with the top spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in Washington, Fahad Nazer, to discuss the recent announcement that the Kingdom and Iran would normalize relations after 7 years. The deal was agreed to and announced in China, raising eyebrows in Washington and heightening concerns that China's influence in...2023-03-241h 44
The 966An evolving U.S.-Saudi relationship, jaw-dropping developments and progress on the Red Sea, and much more….Episode 78! The 966 hosts fly solo this week ahead of a busy week of travel to Saudi Arabia and the region and an impressive slate of forthcoming guests in the coming weeks. Richard’s One Big Thing this week is a recent collection of articles and items in the media that paint a picture of a U.S.-Saudi relationship that is evolving as Saudi Arabia increasingly becomes an emerging power and global economic and diplomatic player. Lucien’s One Big Thing is highlighting the rapid progress at The Red Sea giga-project, which seemingly makes a new announcement every day and...2023-03-1057 min
The 966Steve Lutes, Vice President, Middle East Affairs at U.S. Chamber of Commerce joins The 966Steve Lutes, Vice President, Middle East Affairs at U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has been active in his role expanding the program in service to the Chamber's membership and the broader U.S.-Saudi relationship. The 966 hosts discuss the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Program that Steve has grown over the years, his extensive travels to the region and Saudi Arabia, and much more. 2023-03-0345 min
The 966Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, Riyadh's New Murabba Development, Founding Day 2023 and moreEpisode 76! The 966 welcomes Antonia Carver director of Art Jameel, who discusses her work supporting artists and creative communities in the Middle East region and beyond. Art Jameel was founded by the Jameel family philanthropies and is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and works globally. Before the discussion, the hosts talk about Founding Day 2023, the new Riyadh downtown project, and much more. 2023-02-242h 07
The 966LEAPing forward in an increasingly tech-focused Saudi Arabia, Riyadh as a global events destination, and much moreThe 966 Episode 75! The hosts discuss the recently-concluded LEAP conference and exhibition in Riyadh and how Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming a leader in the space in the region. They also discuss how Riyadh is, in general, becoming a more attractive destination for global events, a concept once difficult to imagine before the Kingdom opened up its borders to tourists. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! A rundown of 6 top storylines this week in Saudi Arabia to get you up to date heading into the weekend. 4:05 - Richard's one big thing is all the international events ongoing...2023-02-1045 min
The 966Physician-scientist Dr. Doaa Alsaleh MD joins The 966, plus a new visa to visit Saudi and much moreEpisode 74! A conversation with Dr. Doaa Alsaleh MD, a physician-scientist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City on her journey, work, research, and future before returning to work in Saudi Arabia soon. Dr. Doaa was born in Saudi Arabia, got her medical degree in Bahrain, and is now in pursuit of a PHD on top of her medical doctor degree at the prestigious Mount Sinai hospital system in NYC. 2023-02-031h 22
The 966Jacob Mumm, Managing Director for Bechtel Saudi Arabia on the company's active role at Neom, the Riyadh metro, and its storied history in the KingdomIn Episode 73 this week, The 966 features an exclusive conversation with Jacob Mumm, Senior Vice President for Bechtel and Managing Director for Bechtel Saudi Arabia. Bechtel's role in over 300 major projects throughout 80 years in Saudi Arabia, including the world's largest single industrial development project at Jubail, the ambitious Riyadh Metro project, "The Spine" at Neom, Ras Al Khair, and many more, make it a significant part of the story of modern Saudi Arabia. Bechtel was also recently chosen for a project management role in the building of Trojena, an alpine-themed resort area within Neom. The hosts also ask Jake about...2023-01-2742 min
The 966Bloomberg columnist Hussein Ibish on U.S.-Saudi relations, energy and global diplomacy, and much more3:36 - Bloomberg columnist and senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Hussein Ibish joins The 966 to talk about global diplomacy, U.S.-Saudi relations, energy markets, Saudi Arabia as an emerging power, and so much more. Ibish is a weekly columnist for Bloomberg and The National (UAE) and is also a regular contributor to many other U.S. and Middle Eastern publications. He has made thousands of radio and television appearances and was the Washington, DC correspondent for the Daily Star (Beirut). Many of Ibish’s articles are archived on his Ibishblog website. Following the co...2023-01-131h 33
The 966Dr. Aziz Alghashian talks Saudi-Israel relations, the Future Minerals Forum 2023, water in Saudi Arabia and much more!Episode 70! Dr. Aziz Alghashain joins The 966 to talk about Saudi-Israel relations in 2023, the status of the Abraham Accords, and his view on Saudi foreign policy going forward. Before the conversation with Dr. Aziz, the hosts discuss the upcoming Future Minerals Forum 2023 in Riyadh, major developments in Saudi Arabia's water sector and how the Kingdom is getting more mature about water management, and much more in the program's Yallah! segment. 3:06 - Richard's one big thing is the upcoming Future Minerals Forum 202314:54 - Lucien's one big thing is water! Rain has fallen across Saudi Arabia in recent...2023-01-062h 08
The 966Todd Albert Nims, traction on green hydrogen, a $1 trillion economy and much more in the second annual The 966 'Christmas Spectacular'Episode 59! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to our subscribers and listeners who celebrate. The 966 hosts kick off the second annual "Christmas spectacular" with a discussion of green hydrogen and news that Germany may be on of Saudi Arabia's first big customers, and a discussion of Saudi Arabia as a $1 trillion (!) economy. Then the hosts welcome Todd Albert Nims, a key player in the Kingdom’s blossoming film and entertainment scene and co-producer of the film 'Born a King.' Then, the hosts finish up with Yallah! 6 top storylines in Saudi Arabia this week to cap off an excellent first ye...2022-12-232h 04
The 966Bill Foster from the Jones Group Saudi Arabia and AMCHAM in Riyadh joins The 966Captain Bill Foster, USN (retired) is President of Jones Group Middle East, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jones Group International, and is Chairman of the The American Chamber of Commerce Saudi Arabia (AmCham Saudi Arabia). Foster joins The 966 from Riyadh, where he talks about the changes ongoing in the Kingdom and the important work that AmCham is doing in Saudi Arabia serving as a platform for the American business community to connect, grow and prosper. AmCham's work includes analyzing and providing insights on policies and structural changes impacting American business interests through its eleven sector committees that r...2022-12-1641 min
The 966All about the World Cup in Qatar and a conversation about the in-person fan experience with Dr. Mohammed Alhajji[FULL EPISODE 68] The 966 does a full episode on the #worldcup2022 in Qatar. The hosts react to the matches played and the smooth execution of the major sporting event by #Qatar. Then the hosts welcome on Dr. Mohammed Alhajji, who attended several of the matches including #Saudi Arabia's historic win over Argentina. 2022-12-0957 min
The 966HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud talks about his father King Faisal's legacy, U.S.-Saudi relationsAn interview and conversation with the legendary HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud, who joins The 966 to share some stories and his anecdotes about his late father, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. King Faisal's death lead his sons to create the King Faisal Foundation to honor his visionary legacy and generous spirit. HRH Prince Turki also discussed Saudi Arabia's progress with Vision 2030 and answers a question famously asked of his late father nearly 50 years ago. The former Ambassador, top intelligence official and statesman also talks about U.S.-Saudi relations and potential building blocks for the longstanding allies to continue...2022-12-0253 min
The 966AGSIW's Robert Mogielnicki joins the 966, MBS Goes to Asia, World's Population Reaches 8 Billion, and more!Robert Mogielnicki from AGISW and adjunct professor at Georgetown and GWU joins The 966 to talk NEOM, the PIF, the Saudi economy and so much more. The hosts talk about our neighbors – all 8 billion of them and counting - on planet Earth as the world's population passes 8 billion. Lucien's one big thing is the Crown Prince's recent trip to Asia, including Indonesia and South Korea, ahead of Chinese President Xi's planned visit to Saudi Arabia in December. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed headed into the weekend.2:47 - Richard's On...2022-11-181h 43
The 966Prince Waleed bin Nasser Al-Saud from Saudi-based Consultancy Mukatafa, more on the U.S.-Saudi relationship, Saudi’s mining sector, and moreEpisode 65! Prince Waleed Bin Nasser Al Saud joins The 966 -- Prince Waleed is CEO of Mukatafa, a consultancy based in Riyadh that brings together the public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia, forming an ecosystem that enables the private, public, and third-party sectors to collaborate, integrate, and grow together as the Kingdom drives forward with Vision 2030. Mukatafa means standing shoulder to shoulder in Arabic, and the growing organization founded by Prince Waleed has worked specifically within the Manufacturing, Education, Food and Beverage, Grocery, Luxury Fashion, Jewelry, Beauty, Electronics, and Furniture industries. Before that discussion, the hosts discuss U.S...2022-11-111h 41The 966Reem Philby and Alan Morrissey Set to Embark on ‘Heart of Arabia’ expedition, a 1,300km journey across Saudi ArabiaThe 966 interviews Reem Philby and Alan Morrissey, two of the four team members set to embark on the ‘Heart of Arabia’ expedition, a 1,300km journey across Saudi Arabia following the route of Harry St John (Abdullah) Philby that took place 105 years ago. Philby and Morrissey join The 966 to discuss the history of Philby’s 1917 mission to Ibn Saud, which earned him the Royal Geographical Society Founder’s Medal, as well as the journey and challenges ahead. 2022-11-0446 min
The 966OPEC+ and the American uproar with Colby Connelly from Energy Intelligence, plus Riyadh Season's big events and more...3:13 - The census in Saudi Arabia is starting to reveal interesting data points on Saudi Arabia’s population. Saudi Arabia’s population reached 34 million people in 2021, according to a recent report by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and published in the Saudi Gazette, at an annual growth rate of 9.3%. Saudi Arabia’s population has grown 16.8% during the past ten years in which data are available and published by the Ministry (2012-2021).12:18 - Riyadh Season details are here, and it’s going to be a big one. Lucien’s one big thing is the expanded third edition of Riyadh Se...2022-10-141h 20
The 966Dr. Abdulaziz Alanazi discusses his recent international water prize win, a changing Riyadh, and much more...2:38 - Richard's one big thing is Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce has announced ten initiatives to develop the e-commerce retail industry, and the initiatives are based on the results of a survey “Consumer’s Voice”, conducted by the Ministry of Commerce to gauge the level of consumer satisfaction with the performance of online stores. 14:39 - Lucien's one big thing is actually two big things. First, Lucien comments on a changing Riyadh having just returned from the Saudi capital, and why much is different and yet some things will stay the same. Then he provides an update on the...2022-10-071h 40
The 966Episode 60 - Saudi National Day! Significant Traction in Airline/Travel Reforms, Saudi-Greece Relations, and more...Episode 60! The 966 wishes everyone a fun and safe Saudi National Day. This week, the hosts re-connect after a two week hiatus for the 60th episode of the show. First, the hosts discuss Richard's one big thing, which is a deep dive on Saudi-Greece relations of late and why that bilateral relation is one to watch. Then the hosts discuss Lucien's one big thing: the uptick in news and activity in the MENA region's airline deals and development of tourism in Saudi Arabia. The hosts conclude as always with the program's Yallah segment, which is expanded to 8 topics for this week. 2022-09-231h 04
The 966Deputy Minister of Investment for Saudi Arabia Dr. Saad Alshahrani joins The 966, The IMF's report on Saudi's economy, and much more1:35 -- The IMF this week maintained its economic growth forecast for Saudi Arabia at 7.6% this year, likely placing it among the top growing economies in the world in 2022. Richard's one big thing this week is the release of the report, in which The IMF said it expected the kingdom’s non-oil gross domestic product to grow by 4.2% this year. Also, Saudi Arabia's fiscal surplus is likely to be 5.5% of GDP.9:46 - Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought shares in Alphabet, Zoom Video, and Microsoft this week as part of a wider pick of U.S. stoc...2022-08-191h 35
The 966The music industry in Saudi Arabia and more with Ahmed Shawly and Mostafa Fahmy from Jeddah's 'Wall of Sound' Record Label2:36 - Saudi Ministry of Investment Releases Q2 Investment Highlights Report; 49 Deals Worth More Than $925m Inked. Richard's one big thing is the release 13th edition of ”Investment Highlights.” The report examines investment developments and focuses the tourism sector. MISA says it oversaw 49 major deals valued at $925 million, which are set to create around 2000 new jobs in the local economy. The report includes an opening by H.E. Ahmed AlKhateeb, Minister of Tourism, and includes a dedicated section on tourism in Saudi Arabia, looking at the latest developments and opportunities driving this dynamic sector forward.10:03 - Sau...2022-08-121h 34
The 966Knight Frank's Faisal Durrani on real estate trends in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi economy has a big 2Q, and more...3:31 - Richard's one big thing is a new agreement between IBM and Saudi Arabia’s IT authority that will upskill 100,000 young Saudis in the digital sector. The MoU to implement eight initiatives seeks to “bolster the Kingdom’s position as a hub of technology and innovation in the Middle East and North Africa region,” according to SPA.9:32 - Lucien's one big thing is a look at the latest data coming out on the Saudi economy in 2022, which is one of the fastest-growing globally. Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics (GAStat) said that Saudi Arabia’s economy...2022-08-051h 40
The 966Eyad Albayouk from Flat6Labs talks Saudi VC and KSA's startup ecosystem, reacting to the unveiling of The Line at NEOM and more1:40 - Richard's one big thing is the Kingdom's newly announced national aspirations and priorities for the research, development and innovation sector to enhance the kingdom’s competitiveness and add 60 billion riyals ($16bn) to its gross domestic product by 2040. Dr. Munir El Desouki, president of King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh, sat down with The National to explain what these plans for the RDI sector entail. The hosts discuss the importance and impact of this new plan to consolidate the Kingdom's aspirations into one cohesive plan with big investment. 8:47 - Lucien's one big th...2022-07-291h 36
The 966A Special Edition of The 966: Reviewing President Biden's Visit to Saudi Arabia with Jon Alterman, David Des Roches, and Hussein Ibish2:00 - First up, The 966 speaks with Hussein Ibish, columnist for Bloomberg and The National and Senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Hussein discusses his view, shared with the Washington Post, that “[a]nyone expecting a checklist of achievements was looking at the wrong visit. Biden didn’t go with a list but a long-term agenda."33:49 - Next, The 966 welcomes Dr. Jon Alterman to the program to talk about the visit and its significance. Jon notes that there was a very different feel between Biden's welcome to Israel, which he visited before Saud...2022-07-191h 53The 966Dr. Sean Foley joins The 966 to talk about a changing Saudi culture, art in the Kingdom and more + Looking ahead to Biden's visitDr. Sean Foley, professor at MTSU and author of the book Changing Saudi Arabia: Art, Culture, and Society in the Kingdom, joins The 966. Dr. Foley specializes in Middle East history and the cultural, political, and religious trends in the wider Islamic World.Before that discussion, the hosts do a small preview of President Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia this weekend, and discuss The 966's plans for next week which include a special format in which the hosts solicit views from many experts on the visit after it has completed. 2022-07-151h 43
The 966The 966 Episode 51 with economist and longtime observer of Saudi Arabia, Dr. John SfakianakisThe 966 asks John about the state of the Saudi economy, economic reforms ongoing in the Kingdom, the PIF, and much more.2022-07-081h 10
The 966Raghad Fathaddin joins The 966; Oil's price and Saudi spare production capacity, the new ‘Motawif’ app, and more...1:50 - The Saudi Ministry of Hajj announced all potential pilgrims from the West must apply through ‘Motawif’ platform. Richard’s One Big Thing is this new disruptive portal became the only place to buy accredited Hajj packages across 57 western countries.8:15 - OPEC+ has delayed a big decision on oil production quotas, but just how much spare capacity does the group and Saudi Arabia in particular have left? Lucien’s One Big Thing is the Saudi-led OPEC+ group of oil producers, which includes Russia, said on Thursday it would stick to its planned oil outpu...2022-07-011h 23
The 966Leading Saudi architect and urban designer Dhay Aldhawyan joins The 966, MBS visits regional powers, and much more...3:17 - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in Turkey for the first time in several years on Wednesday for talks with President Erdogan, after visiting neighboring Egypt and Jordan as part of a regional tour. The visit to Turkey, a member of NATO, is aimed at fully normalizing ties that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Richard's one big thing this week is the significant changes in Saudi foreign policy in the previous 18 months, including how Crown Prince MBS has come in from the cold over this period. 12:30 - The 966 has talked...2022-06-241h 50
The 966Saudi-Israeli normalization, women in family businesses in Saudi Arabia, and a conversation with management consultant Jack Fowler from YCP Solidiance1:28 - Will Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel soon? Richard’s one big thing this week is what people are talking about in Saudi foreign policy this week: “normalization.”Are Saudi Arabia and Israel in fact close to normalizing relations? The hosts discuss the gap that currently exists between Israel and Saudi Arabia and why there’s a lot in the way between the two countries preventing a further warming of ties. ***13:04 - A new study b...2022-06-031h 27
The 966Spotlight on Saudi at Davos, island diplomacy, and legal reforms with Saudi-based attorney Chris Johnson2:32 - Saudi Arabia's big week at Davos Richard's one big thing this week is Saudi Arabia's presence at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week and how Saudi Arabia is stepping into the limelight with a strong economic start to 2022. Saudi Arabia has one of the few good stories to tell at the WEF in a world struggling to deal with the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and worldwide challenges with inflation. Saudi Arabia, represented by a host of top-level ministers, pitched itself as well-positioned to use its strategic relationships and hydrocarbon resources...2022-05-271h 46
The 966Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, carbon capture investments, and a conversation on Saudi-Iraqi history with Joshua Yaphe2:20 - Richard's one big thing is a discussion on carbon capture including a recent huge investment by Aramco into the space. 12:35 - There’s a lot going on in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector...This week, there were two events in the region: A major aviation summit in Riyadh, called the Future Aviation Forum, and a tourism and travel event in Dubai, the Arabian Travel Market. Both created significant news in the sector...27:38 - The U.S. State Department's Joshua Yaphe joins The 966 to discuss his book, "Saudi Arabia and Iraq as Friends and...2022-05-131h 57
The 966Jon Alterman from Center for Strategic and International Studies joins to talk about the Middle East in an evolving global order1:00 - Building a Hydrogen Sector: Can the US help Saudi Arabia?Saudi Arabia seeks to become a global supplier of hydrogen and create a home-grown industry. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia should (and already are) working together to help Saudi Arabia realize this goal and to help power the energy transition. 9:50 - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Scholarship Program has a new name and a new, refreshed mandate.The refreshed scholarship program will send 70,000 Saudi students abroad to top-ranked universities and training institutes by 2030.They’ll go to not just any schools but to...2022-05-061h 45
The 966Dr. Fatimah Alhamlan from KFSHRC and founder of Rofaida joins The 966, Biden's pick for Ambassador to Saudi, and more...0:38 - Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's first visit to Saudi Arabia in years represents a thaw in Saudi-Turkey relations that hit a low point four years ago. Erdogan hopes the visit will herald a new era of relations after intense efforts to repair strained ties following the aftermath of the Jamal Khashoggi murder in Istanbul in 2018. Before the visit, in a policy reversal, Turkey halted and transferred its own trial of the Saudi suspects in the killing of Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, Erdogan met with King Salman in an official ceremony in the a...2022-04-291h 46
The 966Scratching the surface on the issues affecting U.S.-Saudi relations today + much more...1:43 - Prince Turki al-Faisal's recent op-ed in Arab News is a must-read. The hosts discuss this piece, 'America should laugh with the Kingdom, not scowl’, and why it brilliantly captures outdated American attitudes about Saudi Arabia as a growing nation with strong, deep ties to the United States. "While many challenges face us in the post-corona era, I am amused by the brouhaha in the US media about a Saudi TV comedy sketch that took the mickey out of President Joe Biden. Commentators and pundits have taken umbrage, saying it was insulting, that it showed th...2022-04-2243 min
The 966Saudi foreign policy, globalization, and the 'shrapnel' from Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Afshin Molavi from Johns Hopkins SAIS1:17 - Saudi Arabia made interesting headway in four different foreign policy areas this week. Significant developments in Saudi Arabia’s relationships with and interests in Iran, Lebanon, Turkey and Yemen. The 966 kicks off by talking about each of these for Richard's one big thing this week. 9:19 - The U.S. Navy's new multinational task force will deploy to the waters around Yemen and in the Red Sea to help protect Saudi Arabia and ensure the security of trading routes in the critical waterways. Lucien's one big thing this week is the significance of the new task for...2022-04-151h 41
The 966Energy, hydrogen, and more with Phillip Cornell from The Economist Impact and the Atlantic Council and much more...0:38 - Richard's One Big Thing This Week is NEOM's roadshow event in New York City on Tuesday, which he attended - and said was a success. Executives attending on behalf of the futuristic mega-city and development on the Kingdom's Red Sea coast were enthusiastic about NEOM and what's to come...12:27 - Lucien's One Big Thing This Week is a Saudi UAV company that is hoping to become an exporter of drones in the coming years. Saudi Arabia’s INTRA Defense Technologies CEO Abdulsalam Ghamdi said in an interview with Asharq Alawsat that his company's Samoom medium-altitude, long-endurance UA...2022-04-081h 25
The 966Venture capitalist Amjad Ahmad joins The 966 to talk about Saudi Arabia's startup ecosystemThe rapidly evolving venture capital environment in the Middle East, Gulf and Saudi Arabia is in focus in this special conversation for The 966. 2022-04-0652 min
The 966More on the major military transformation underway in Saudi Arabia with former USMTM chief Col. Brad Gandy and much more...1:00 -- Saudi Arabia's incredible, award-winning pavilion at Dubai's Expo 2020 signed off with a big ceremony. Will Saudi Arabia host Expo 2030? Of the top 5 candidate-cities, two are in Russia and Ukraine. The Russian invasion of Ukraine weakens their candidacy, leaving Saudi Arabia in competition with only Italy (which hosted in 2015) and South Korea. So, what would an Expo 2030 Riyadh Saudi Arabia look like? Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the Saudi bid to host Expo 2030 in October last year and the Kingdom submitted its formal application in December to the Bureau International des Expositions, the organization behind th...2022-04-011h 27
The 966Mae Al-Mozaini, CEO and co-founder of Nusf, joins The 966 to talk about women's empowerment in Saudi ArabiaNusf specializes in preparing and qualifying women for executive leadership in Saudi Arabia. The organization was founded to help Saudi and Arab women develop professionally, lead in the corporate world, and make a lasting positive impact on society. Nusf is committed to advancing the Kingdom’s national development agenda and Vision 2030 objective of increasing women’s participation in the workforce. Nusf believes that no country can achieve prosperity or realize its full potential if it leaves behind half its population. “Nusf” means “half” in Arabic, hence the company's tagline “Investing in Half the Population.”Nusf aims to raise the perc...2022-03-1846 min
The 966A discussion with author Dr. Mark Thompson on the power and potential of Saudi youth, plus why shale can't save gas prices and more...2:36 - Where is shale oil and why isn't it more impactful in the U.S. energy mix?U.S. shale oil production transformed global energy markets when it helped U.S. oil production go from just under 4mbd in September 2008 to 13.1 mbd in February 2020. And, despite rapid depletion rates, shale oil production is cheaper and faster to bring online than traditional methods of oil production. By 2014 U.S. oil – specifically shale oil – was widely viewed as the ‘swing producer’ – a role OPEC and specifically Saudi Arabia had held for decades.By 2014 U.S. shale oil set the ceiling fo...2022-03-111h 38
The 966Veteran Saudi journalist Khaled Almaeena joins The 966 to talk Ukraine, Saudi role in oil markets, and much more1:29 - Richard's one big thing this week in Saudi Arabia is an update to Saudi Arabia's founding story as the Kingdom celebrated its Founding Day on February 22. Earlier this year, the government announced the new holiday will be celebrated with a day off for both public and private sector workers, and released a vintage-looking logo used to mark the event.The Saudi English-daily Arab News features a fascinating report on how historians and experts in the Kingdom worked to reveal the actual founding day as 17 years off from previous recording, instead using the first date o...2022-02-251h 14
The 966Amr Khashoggi joins The 966 to talk Saudi foreign policy, the Saudi economy and much more2:10 - Richard's "One Big Thing" this week: Al Dawaa Medical Services Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical retail companies in Saudi Arabia, will list 25.5 million shares on the Saudi Stock Market (Tadawul) seeking to raise about $500 million. Al Nahdi Medical Co., the kingdom’s largest pharmacy retail chain, plans to seek about $1.3 billion in an IPO in the next few months in what could be the largest share sale in the kingdom since state oil giant Saudi Aramco went public in 2019...10:35 - Lucien's "One Big Thing" this week: The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has op...2022-02-181h 48
The 966Social entrepreneurship, the latest with Saudi golf, a new national holiday and much more with guest Ghadah Al-Harthi1:48 - Richard's one big thing is the announcement of Saudi Arabia's Founding Day - a new holiday in Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers has chosen Feb. 22 to commemorate the Founding Day of Saudi Arabia.Annual celebrations will recognize the foundation of the first Saudi state in 1727 by Imam Mohammed bin Saud, a move that brought unity, peace, and stability to the Arabian Peninsula following centuries of fragmentation and dissension.11:44 - Lucien's one big thing is the one big golf tournament that happens in Saudi Arabia every year begins this week. The tournament itself...2022-02-041h 01
The 966Social entrepreneurship, the latest with Saudi golf, a new national holiday and much more with guest Ghadah Al-HarthiEpisode 25! Joining The 966 this week is a special guest, Dr. Ghadah Al-Harthi from London. Ghadah is Senior Consultant at Barker Langham, Associate Director MA Innovation Management, Central St Martins, and Young Adviser at Chatham House. This week, the hosts talk about the start of the Saudi international golf tournament, the announcement of a new holiday in Saudi Arabia, social entrepreneurship and much more...2022-02-0458 min
The 966KAPSARC's Adam Sieminski joins The 966 to talk renewable energy and the Circular Carbon Economy3:15 - Richard's One Big Thing this week is fintech startup Tamara's big Series A investment.Riyadh-based buy now pay later platform Tamara has raised $110 million in a Series A round led by leading global payment processor Checkout.com. The hosts discuss this in the context of the Kingdom's growing venture capital ecosystem and the importance of startups for the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic and social reforms. 6:20 - Lucien's One Big Thing this week is Saudi Arabia's first ever delegation to the Winter Olympics, starting February 4th, 2022 in Beijing.Cool Runnings 2: Saudi Arabia? The Kingdom's first w...2022-01-211h 13
The 966The Dakar Rally’s coolest truck, Saudi coffee, a look at the Saudi mining sector, and much moreEpisode 20! The 966 Hosts discuss Gaussin's hydrogen-powered Dakar Rally truck in partnership with Aramco, why Saudi coffee is so delicious and how 2022 is "The Year of Saudi Coffee," the mining and minerals sector in Saudi Arabia, a discussion oil in 2022, and much more in the program's "Yallah" final segment.1:00 - Richard's one big thing this week is the first hydrogen-powered truck to take part in the legendary Dakar Rally set off Saturday from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Produced by the French automotive startup Gaussin SA and sponsored by the state-owned oil company Saudi A...2022-01-0752 min
The 966The 966 Talks Energy, Renewables, and Climate with Kate DourianThe 966's first "topical" discussion format is with energy expert Kate Dourian, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and contributing editor at MEES, the Middle East Economic Survey. Kate is also a former editor and veteran journalist covering energy and more in the region for Reuters and Platts, and joins The 966 from London. 2022-01-0535 min
The 966Saudi Arabia's 'Nitaqat' reforms, another potential club purchase by the PIF, and doing business in Riyadh with guest Chris JohnsonThe hosts kick off each each with their “one big interesting thing this week in Saudi Arabia.” Richard highlights a forthcoming conversation The 966 has with energy expert Kate Dourian and discusses dwindling new oil supplies coming on-line in 2021. Lucien notes that, while not a done deal, a PIF takeover of Inter Milan would be a big deal for Saudi Arabia’s global sports ambitions and would be a strong blue chip global football brand to add to the powerful investment fund’s portfolio. Chris Johnson weighs in on both of these topics before the group discusses Nitaqat, a concerning letter f...2021-12-301h 16
The 966A Special Holiday Edition of The 966: Extended 'Yallah' Conversation Covering 10 Top Storylines in Saudi Arabia This WeekToday - with the holiday season fast approaching and Christmas on Saturday, The 966 features a special episode for today's weekly podcast. 3:35 - Lucid is building a factory in Saudi Arabia: Lucid has recently announced that the USA-based electric car manufacturer will be producing vehicles in Saudi Arabia by 2024. Lucid will be competing against its rival Tesla and hopes to outperform the Tesla Model S in the Saudi market.8:14 - Saudi Arabia plans airport takeovers privatizations for at least some of them. Earlier this week, Reuters and Asharq Alawsat said the kingdom’s 22 airports wi...2021-12-2450 min
The 966Part 2 - The 966 Exclusive Interview with Fahad Nazer, Spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.The 966 features an exclusive, two-part interview with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in Washington. In Part 2 of the interview, the hosts ask Mr. Nazer about a wide range of issues, including about Saudi Arabia's students in the United States, Iran, Saudi Arabia's relationship with Israel. The hosts also ask Fahad a little bit about growing up in the United States, including how he became a fan of the NFL's New York Jets.Nazer, who has been a contributor to SUSTG.com as well as Arab News and other publications in the region and United States...2021-12-1920 min
The 966MBS's GCC Tour, PIF's Latest Telecom Moves, and Saudi Arabia's 'Ever More Ambitious Investment Strategy' with Guest Co-Host Robert Mogielnicki from AGSIW1:04 - The UAE weekend is changing.The United Arab Emirates is changing its workweek to have half days on Fridays and a Saturday-Sunday weekend.8:46 - The hosts discuss their first time visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - and how perceptions differed from reality on the ground. The 966 recently interviewed the Saudi Embassy in Washington's top spokesperson Fahad Nazer. One of his answers to a question from the hosts prompted a new discussion on the importance of visiting Saudi Arabia and seeing the ongoing changes for yourself. 15:50 - Saudi Arabia's Ever More Ambitious...2021-12-1053 min
The 966Part 1 - The 966 Exclusive Interview with Fahad Nazer, Spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.The 966 features an exclusive, two-part interview with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi embassy in Washington. In part of the interview, the hosts ask Mr. Nazer about a wide range of issues, including Saudi Arabia's energy plans, the Kingdom's relationship with the U.S. Congress (and the Biden administration), the Jamal Khashoggi murder, and other domestic-focused topics in part 1 of this exclusive two part interview.Nazer, who has been a contributor to SUSTG.com as well as Arab News and other publications in the region and United States, has served in the role since January 2019. Previously, Nazer s...2021-12-0722 min
The 966The price of oil in 2022, redefining Saudi citizenship, and two new mega-developments in Saudi Arabia1:35 - Richard's One Big Thing This Week is the recent U.S.-GCC statement on Iran. Diplomats from the U.S., Saudi Arabia and other GCC nations convened in Riyadh this week to discuss a coordinated effort to counter Iran’s “range of aggressive and dangerous policies,” the State Department confirmed in a statement. The U.S. GCC Iran Working Group Statement “affirmed the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and the members of the GCC and our shared determination to contribute to regional security and stability, under the framework of the GCC-US Strategic Partnership.”The statement...2021-11-1949 minThe 966Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah, The Puzzle of U.S.-Saudi Ties, Tadawul Hits 15 Year High, Solar Costs RiseDress Code at the Jeddah Grand Prix?The Upcoming Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah is December 5th, and a new dress code for the event is making the rounds on the internet. The dress code includes "no excessive makeup, no transparent clothing, no clothing which rests above the knee, no miniskirts, no backless dresses, nothing which shows straps, no tight clothing and no bikinis."Saudi may want tourism, but it doesn't want to be Las Vegas. The Puzzle of U.S.-Saudi TiesJon Alterman from the Center for Strategic and International Studies...2021-10-2227 minThe 966Lina Almaeena on Changes in Saudi Arabia, Building a Business, and Shoura Council ServiceThe 966 interviews Saudi Arabia's Lina Almaeena, who spent well over a decade leading the charge for women’s sports in Saudi Arabia after co-founding Jeddah United in 2006. Almaeena then served on Saudi Arabia's top legislative advisory body, the Shura Council, and continues to work to advance women's empowerment in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030's reforms. After the launch of Vision 2030 by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, Lina was appointed to the Shoura Council, the highest legislative body in Saudi Arabia. Almaeena discusses her experiences in starting a growing a business, government service, and h...2021-10-2046 minThe 966Abdullah AlHassan - Hosting the G20 in Saudi ArabiaWhat was it like to host the G20 in Saudi Arabia, and what was left behind? In 2020, Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation to assume the G20 presidency. Hosting the G20 is a massive undertaking, involving close to two years of event planning, policy development and strategy, and much more. In the first feature-length interview for The 966, the hosts interview Abdullah AlHassan, who served as Saudi G20 Sous Sherpa and Executive Director of Policy during the Saudi G20 Presidency.The hosts asked Abdullah about the successes and challenges with hosting the G20 in a year the world...2021-10-0638 minThe 966Saudi National Day, Residential Mortgages in the Kingdom, and U.S.-Saudi Relations under President BidenIn the first episode of THE 966, Richard Wilson and Lucien Zeigler discuss their "one big thing" this week in Saudi Arabia. Then the two hosts discuss the meaning behind Saudi Arabia's National Day, the dramatic increase in new residential mortgages in the Kingdom, and assessing U.S.-Saudi relations under President Biden so far. 2021-10-0523 minThe 966Introducing The 966 - A New Podcast on Saudi ArabiaThe 966 is a new podcast covering all things Saudi Arabia. In this introduction to the show, hosts Richard Wilson and Lucien Zeigler discuss the origins of The 966, why Saudi Arabia is strategically important and why it’s fortunes – good or bad – matter to the U.S. The 966 explores the news, people, and issues that actually matter for the Kingdom through weekly conversations and interviews with Saudi business leaders, officials, newsmakers and others. THE 966 goes beyond the headlines and tackles complex economic, social and political issues – why they matter to and within Saudi Arabia, how they impact U.S. interests...2021-10-0508 min