Podcasts about vision 2030

Dan Corder speaks with Terri Castis, one of the South African conservationists leading Saudi Arabia’s boldest rewilding project—a 24,500 km² marine-terrestrial Royal Reserve. Having spent nearly two decades at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Terri and her team are applying South Africa’s proven conservation strategies to restore ecosystems, reintroduce 23 native species, and establish Saudi Arabia’s first all-female ranger team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

¡Imaginen un futuro sin enfermedades gracias a la IA medicinal! Para el 2030, tal vez el amor artificial sea tan común como un resfriado hoy. Suena a ciencia ficción, pero ¿quién sabe? La tecnología avanza rapidísimo. ¡Ojalá veamos ese futuro libre de enfermedades!

Berndt, Christian www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Vollbild

Check out thisisfoundry.com for more information about Foundry Church! Follow @thisisfoundry on social media for updates.

In this episode, we chat to Geoff Day, CEO of AMAK, a listed mining company registered and licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are one of the major mining companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that produces copper, zinc, gold, and silver in distinct commercial quantities, Geoff is a geochemist with over 35 years of experience in the mining industry globally, in countries across Australia, PNG, Indonesia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe. His expertise encompasses all phases of mining, starting from exploration through all mining and processing operations and technical services to mine closure and rehabilitation. He also has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions, and external affairs. Geoff gives us the history of AMAK, his journey, recent investments and developments, the company's corporate social responsibility, the outlook of the mining industry in Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom's Vision for 2030.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The mining industry in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformation, supported by the government's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims for economic diversification and sustainable development. The regulatory environment is described as progressive, encouraging investment and exploration. AMAK is committed to sustainability, focusing on water management through dry stack tailings and recycling efforts. The company is also working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by connecting to the National Grid and exploring hydrogen hybrid technologies. AMAK is leveraging digital transformation and technology, such as machine learning, to enhance exploration efficiency and asset management. This approach aims to optimise resource assessment and improve operational performance. The company emphasises local community support and economic impact, aiming to provide job opportunities for Saudi nationals and develop local industries. They are also focused on environmental stewardship and resource management to align with the Kingdom's sustainable development goals. BEST MOMENTS "I think from a sustainable development perspective, outside the ESG space, one of the initiatives I want to pursue next year is how we take a group of young engineers and young Saudi professionals and actually make the mining industry exciting." "The government has a very proactive and relatively streamlined tenement auction process. So every three months, the government puts up a number of tenements for auction, and there's a very clear process that says, this is how you apply." "We're currently looking to expand the current footprint for our dry stack tailings facility such that it will cover all of the production from the known resources we currently have." "There's a very high level of respect for different people from different nationalities. I run a business with 23 different nationalities, which is a first. And they're very tolerant warm, welcoming people." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org GUEST SOCIALS Website: https://amak.com.sa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amak-mining-company/ ir@amak.com.sa (investor relation email) Info@amak.com.sa (general email) ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Artifact Joshua speaks with the EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain: Christophe Farnaud – a seasoned diplomat and self-described Arabist, who shares insights into his role and the significance of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

Connection Is Why We're Here - Vision 2030Week 1Ephesians 4:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

If you gave your life to Christ today, contact us at thecityofthelordzambia@gmail.com If you would like to join the COL Church, you may use the link below to register. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WvKlPpoqe5DuZJmcx2Qg7hLyN9gz2EsFeG0JBqMf1Os/edit Be Blessed

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Today’s Peoples Bank Let’s Talk Indianola features Indianola City Manager Ben Reeves about the future of the City of Indianola facilities, called Vision 2030.

The 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 billion compared to USD60 billion in 2022. Aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification and investment goals, this value represents only 6% of the potential pipeline, highlighting substantial opportunities within the sector.Join us for another timely and informative episode of The 966.SummaryLaura Morgan, Market Intelligence Lead Middle East, and Africa for JLL, discusses JLL's latest KSA Construction Market Intelligence Report and the construction market in Saudi Arabia. The report highlights the potential for GDP growth in Saudi Arabia, driven by Vision 2030 giga projects and infrastructure developments. The report also examines the construction pipeline, awarded and unawarded projects, and the challenges faced by the sector. Laura emphasizes the importance of data and transparency in understanding market trends and risks. She also discusses the progress of economic diversification in Saudi Arabia and the impact of rationalization efforts on the contracting sector.Keywords JLL, KSA Construction Market Intelligence Report, Saudi Arabia, construction market, Vision 2030, infrastructure developments, GDP growth, construction pipeline, awarded projects, unawarded projects, challenges, data, transparency, economic diversification, rationalization, contracting sector.TakeawaysSaudi Arabia's construction market is experiencing significant growth, driven by Vision 2030 projects and infrastructure developments.The construction pipeline in Saudi Arabia is substantial, with a value of around $1.5 trillion, and there is still a large portion of projects in the design and pre-qualification phases.Data and transparency are crucial in understanding market trends and risks in the construction sector.The efforts to build up local contracting capability in Saudi Arabia are progressing, but there is still a need for skilled labor, particularly in the MEP sector.Despite challenges such as inflation and geopolitical tensions, Saudi Arabia remains committed to its Vision 2030 goals and the construction projects associated with it.TitlesData and Transparency: Understanding Market Trends and RisksThe Construction Pipeline: A Look at the Projects in Saudi ArabiaSound Bites"Saudi Arabia's progress on numerous Vision 2030 giga projects and infrastructure developments has cemented the kingdom's position as a leader in construction activity regionally and globally.""Around 5% of the pipeline projects in Saudi Arabia are under a main contract, while the remaining 94-95% are in the design and pre-qualification phases.""Despite challenges such as inflation and geopolitical tensions, Saudi Arabia remains committed to what they've announced and what they've said they want to achieve by 2030."Chapters00:00    Introduction and Overview of JLL and the Construction Market in Saudi Arabia03:11    Vision 2030 and Infrastructure Developments Driving Growth08:11    The Construction Pipeline: Overview and Status of Projects13:12    Data and Transparency: Understanding Market Trends and Risks15:57    Building Local Capability: Challenges and Progress in the Contracting Sector23:14    Commitment to Vision 2030: Overcoming Challenges in Saudi Arabia's Construction Market 

Join us for Episode 10 of the "All Roads Lead to Saudi" podcast for an exclusive interview with Prince Khaled bin Abdulaziz. In Prince Khaled's first ever podcast, he discusses his role at Al Shabab, the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo and the future of the Saudi Pro League.  He also shares his thoughts on Vision 2030, the exciting progress made by the Ministry of Sport, and memorable encounters with icons like Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi and David Beckham.  Don't miss this extraordinary episode packed with exclusive content and personal anecdotes from Prince Khaled This episode is sponsored by Almajdiah investment: Official website : https://almajdiahinvestment.sa/Contact us : https://almajdiahinvestment.sa/contact-usInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/majdiah_invest/?igsh=MTk3ZG5laGVnMW1oMA%3D%3DX : https://x.com/majdiah_invest?s=21Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/company/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1/  Follow us on:X : https://twitter.com/MicsPodInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/micspodFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/MicspodofficLinkedInn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micspodTikTok : https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSehjfoBt/      

In Episode #133 of The 966 podcast, Dr. Jennifer Peck, Swarthmore College, expands on her excellent article in Foreign Affairs magazine (Working Women are Changing Saudi Arabia: Reforms Have Made the Economy More Productive, Families More Resilient, and Saudis More Tolerant) where she writes, "This economic transformation has also raised women's visible participation in public life, made families more financially resilient, and boosted businesses' productivity by increasing their access to talent. These shifts, in turn, appear to be driving a feedback loop: the more Saudi society embraces women in the workplace, the more the government is encouraged to pursue ambitious reforms." In this episode Dr. Peck also discusses the evolution of women's participation in the Saudi labor force and the impact of reforms on the economy and society. She highlights key historical timeframes, such as the 60s, 80s, Arab Spring, and Vision 2030, that have shaped women's access to and impact on the workforce. She also discusses the challenges and opportunities that remain, including cultural adaptation, mentorship programs, and the long-term effects of labor quotas on firms.

Headlines: -Dubai's '20-Minute City' Vision Drives Metro Expansion To 140 Stations-Saudi Vision 2030 Boosted by all time high of $753bn in Liquidity-Eric Trump Announces Family's Expansion Plans in Middle East

In den News der Woche diskutieren Markus und Daniel die folgenden spannenden Themen:

Visit Parkland's Vision 2030 web page for updates and presentations:  https://www.parklandsd.org/departments/superintendents-office/vision2030

Headlines:Vision 2030 Could Cost Saudi Arabia $1.3 Trillion in Construction AloneQatar Signs Major AI Deal with Nvidia, Boosting Tech Capabilities in Five Middle Eastern NationsSaudi Construction Sector Set to Lead Global Market with $181.5 Billion Growth

Faisal Durrani, Partner and Head of Research, Knight Frank Middle East joins The TWENTY30 Podcast hosts Lucien and Hanaa for a discussion on a wide range of topics on Saudi Arabia's booming real estate sector, giga projects, construction, and other developments. Knight Frank is one of the world's leading real estate consultancies, and the reports that it produces especially on the markets in the Middle East is second-to-none. Its latest, "Destination Saudi," is over 140 pages of facts and data released by Knight Frank -- part of which stems from a survey done by the organization on consumer habits and interests in real estate in Saudi Arabia.  Before the conversation with Faisal, the hosts discuss Hanaa's DeepDive, which is the status of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives in Saudi Arabia and how the Kingdom is evolving with ESG at the forefront of public and private sector management.   The hosts conclude as always with a discussion of the news, including Hajj Preparations, a slow down in investment deals, drug smuggling, a new Saudi semiconductor hub, and the latest with OPEC+. Subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts:   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://twenty30.beehiiv.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.   

In this episode of “All Roads Lead to Saudi” we explore the remarkable journey of Ali Abdelaziz, from his roots in Cairo to becoming the biggest manager in the UFC, representing stars like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makachev, Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo. As a co-founder of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Abdelaziz discusses its growth, underscored by an investment of $100m from the Public Investment Fund. Ali shares his insights on raising a religious family, the dominance of Muslim fighters in MMA, and his relationships with legends like Mike Tyson and Dana White. He also discusses the potential mega-fight between Islam Makachev and Conor McGregor, the rise of Middle Eastern champions, and the cultural impact of Saudi leadership on youth and sports.  Follow us on:X : https://twitter.com/MicsPodInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/micspodFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/MicspodofficLinkedInn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micspodTikTok : https://vm.tiktok.com/Micspodoffic

The TWENTY30 co-hosts meet up in Hanaa's adopted hometown of London for a special "live" recording of TheTWENTY30 for Episode 4 from studios in the neighborhood of Hackney. The hosts jump into a Deep Dive segment on the recently-announced Vision 2030 report card on the progress of the Vision. Then, the hosts discuss a menu of excellence on all things Saudi Arabia, kicking off first with sports in the Kingdom and discuss camel racing, the WEF, and so much more from Saudi Arabia this week.    Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show's creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!   You can also email the show's hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts |at| TheTwenty30.com.   The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.    ©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.   

Kicking off the third episode of The TWENTY30, co-hosts Lucien and Hanaa consult a magic 8 ball, the famous toy, on how the forthcoming show is going to turn out — receiving a funny answer with which you hopefully disagree (inshallah).   Then, Hanaa kicks off Episode 3's DEEPDIVE segment, highlighting a recent interview from Mohammed Al-Jadaan, which produced a number of interesting comments on a range of topics including income tax and VAT in Saudi Arabia, the importance of open communication between government leaders and the public, and much more. The segment is part of an ongoing effort by The TWENTY30 to bring to light media items that made waves in the Arabic world but which may have been overlooked by Western media and the English-speaking world.   The hosts round out the show as always with a discussion of some interesting recent news items, including Ronaldo's hot temper and flooding across Arabia including shocking images from Dubai, the IMF setting up shop in Saudi Arabia, and more.   Programming note: on Wednesday, Lucien and Hanaa will publish Episode 4 from a LIVE recording in studio from London, UK, discussing Vision 2030's “report card” and much more!   Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show's creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!   You can also email the show's hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts@TheTwenty30.com.   The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.    ©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved. 

Das Mammut-Bauvorhaben "The Line" wird offenbar erheblich eingedampft. Die Stadt in der Wüste von Saudi-Arabien und Vorzeigeprojekt der "Vision 2030" wächst zu langsam. Laut "Bloomberg" sollen 2030 nur ein Fünftel der ursprünglich geplanten 1,5 Millionen Menschen leben.Mit? Nahost-Experte Sebastian Sons vom Forschungsinstitut CarpoSie haben Fragen? Schreiben Sie eine E-Mail an podcasts@ntv.deSie wollen keine Folge mehr verpassen? Dann abonnieren Sie "Wieder was gelernt" als Push-Nachricht in der ntv App oder bei RTL+ Musik, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify oder über den RSS-FeedSie möchten eine Bewertung schreiben? Apple Podcasts, SpotifyUnsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://datenschutz.ad-alliance.de/podcast.html+++ Alle Rabattcodes und Infos zu unseren Werbepartnern finden Sie hier: https://linktr.ee/wiederwasgelernt +++ Unsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://art19.com/privacy. Die Datenschutzrichtlinien für Kalifornien sind unter https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info abrufbar.

In this sponsored episode of Edge of NFT, dive into the future of web3 technology with Mohammed Hadhrawi of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST!) Discover the groundbreaking advancements in immersive gaming experiences and NFT integration at Outer Edge - Riyadh on April 23. Explore the potential impact of Web3, AI, eSports, and the broader entertainment space as KACST pushes toward Saudi Vision 2030.

Catholic Charities recently announced a new Strategic Plan called Vision 2030 to enhance its core programs and deepen its impact in Cook and Lake Counties. Sally Blount, Catholic Charities President and CEO has worked with her Board of Directors over the past four years to create this pathway forward that sharpens the agency's focus while maintaining its founding mission. Join Sally Blount and Katie Bredemann for a discussion about Vision 2030 on this special edition of The Voice of Charity.

In Episode 125, the hosts welcome veteran columnist and analyst Hussein Ibish onto The 966 for his third appearance on the program to unpack the implications of Israel's brutal war in Gaza and the shifting regional and global power dynamics since October 7th. Hussein Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and is a weekly columnist for The National (UAE) and The Atlantic. He's also a former columnist for Bloomberg, regular contributor to The New York Times and The Daily Beast, and frequent contributor to many other U.S. and Middle Eastern publications.Hussein discusses the war in Gaza and calls it a "savage war of vengeance" and the Biden Administration's response to it. He also talks about how the war has aligned the U.S. and Saudi Arabia's interests in forming a Palestinian state when the war is over and how the issue has brought the U.S. and Saudi Arabia closer diplomatically. 

Selbst in Saudi-Arabien sitzt das Geld derzeit nicht so locker, wie es scheint. Trotz aller Großinvestitionen in riesige Bauprojekte, eine neue Airline und den Fußball, spricht Experte Sebastian Sons von einer "herausfordernden Situation". Saudi-Arabien musste inzwischen sogar etwas tun, was es seit Jahren vermieden hat: Kredite aufnehmen, damit die Vision 2030 erfolgreich wird.Sie haben Fragen? Schreiben Sie eine E-Mail an podcasts@ntv.deSie wollen keine Folge mehr verpassen? Dann abonnieren Sie "Wieder was gelernt" als Push-Nachricht in der ntv App oder bei RTL+ Musik, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify oder über den RSS-FeedSie möchten eine Bewertung schreiben? Apple Podcasts, SpotifyUnsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://datenschutz.ad-alliance.de/podcast.htmlUnsere allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien finden Sie unter https://art19.com/privacy. Die Datenschutzrichtlinien für Kalifornien sind unter https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info abrufbar.

Waleed Abdel-Fattah, President of the MENA Region at Hill International, joins The 966 to talk about Saudi Arabia's building boom and Hill's traction in KSA since entering the market to help build out what is now known as KAFD. Hill has 100 offices across 42 countries, and its main geographical areas are the US, Europe and the North Africa/Middle East region.Hill has worked on developments like King Salman Park, Jabal Omar development in Makkah, the Riyadh Metro, and others.

For more helpful and hopeful content, visit smccutah.org/resources.

Lucien Zeigler sits down with an exclusive conversation with Jerry Todd, Head of the National Development Division at the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, in a new format and program called 966 Live, recorded at PIF studios in a fireside chat style of engagement.Jerry Todd, who is also on the PIF's Management Investment Committee, speaks with Lucien about a range of topics related to the PIF's investment in key sectors in the local economy, human capital in Saudi Arabia, the development of strong supply chains and competitive ecosystems, and more. The conversation takes place just days before the PIF is launching its second annual major forum in Riyadh, called the Private Sector Forum, which will see the massive sovereign wealth fund engaging directly with private sector partners as the PIF continues to develop the local content ecosystem. That Forum, which is set to be at least twice the size of the inaugural event in 2023 in Riyadh, will feature panel discussions, fireside chats, an exhibition for the PIF's 80+ companies to engage with private sector suppliers, and more. The conversation begins with a discussion of the Forum and what it hopes to accomplish. Then, Lucien asks Jerry about the PIF as an investment institution. How can the PIF “crowd-in” competing companies in spaces in which it is operating to create a thriving local ecosystem? The conversation then steers to a discussion of Musahama, the formal name of the PIF's wide-ranging efforts to achieve important local content goals, and how PIF companies are working toward achieving a local content target of 60% by 2025.Jerry Todd is a member of the PIF Management Investment Committee. Prior to joining the PIF, he served as a Managing Director and Head of Business Development for NCB Capital, the largest investment bank in Saudi Arabia (2014-2020). Previously, he was a Managing Director and Head of Private Equity and Investment Banking at Jadwa Investment, a Saudi merchant bank (2007-2014). Mr. Todd was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, developing and implementing growth strategies, and creating high performing organizations (1999-2006). Early in his career, Mr. Todd worked as an Energy Engineer for Dobbs International and Johnson Controls (1994-1997). Mr. Todd holds an MBA from Cornell University (1999) and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Christian Brothers University (1994).

In Episode 119, The 966 hosts Lucien and Richard discuss a variety of topics and some of the latest news and developments on Saudi Arabia. First, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, an update on the Saudi Pro League and the latest news and developments for football in Saudi Arabia heading into key portion of season. The hosts discuss some developments with PIF's investments into the sport and the planned upcoming match between Ronaldo and Messi in the Kingdom. Next, the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, his first since moving to Riyadh for a few months with his family: two new announcements for large entertainment projects that are impressive and unique, even by Saudi standards these days. Lucien was struck by how quickly Riyadh is changing in virtually every neighborhood, and how seemingly every week there's a new announcement of a project or development. This last week saw the rollout of new designs for a Saudi football/soccer stadium in Qiddiya, the Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, which are jaw-dropping and innovative. The second project that had been announced but which had new details released is The Rig, an entertainment destination that is situated on an oil rig 10km off the coast of Saudi Arabia to be built and owned by the Public Investment Fund. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed on Saudi Arabia this week. •The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 15–19.•Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has allocated an additional $4 billion to its global venture capital arm, Aramco Ventures.•Analysts at real estate firm Savills KSA told Arabian Business that apartment rents in Riyadh surged by as much as 23 percent in northern neighborhoods last year. •Aramco Digital and Intel plans to establish Saudi Arabia's first Open RAN (radio access network) development center•Konoz, an initiative of the Saudi Ministry of Media's Center for Government Communication, launched "Horizon", a new documentary documenting the Kingdom's rich biodiversity and natural resources.•Rafael Nadal's role in helping to grow tennis in the Gulf is set to increase significantly after the Spanish great was appointed ambassador of the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF).

The 966 speaks with Rayan Alyusufi, a young Saudi researcher in public diplomacy and international communication to discuss the Kingdom's public diplomacy, "sharp power," and evolution of Saudi as an emerging diplomatic player. Rayan is a PHD Candidate at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom. Recently, Rayan wrote a blog post entitled "The Transformation of Saudi Arabia's Public Diplomacy" for the University of Southern California's Center for Public Diplomacy website that discussed Saudi Arabia's "significant influence in the international arena.""As the wealthiest Middle Eastern state and the birthplace of Islam, it holds a prominent position in the Middle East and the Muslim world. Internationally, Saudi Arabia is a major contributor to organizations such as the Global Fund and the World Health Organization, in addition to being the largest oil exporter. However, its soft power and public diplomacy remain underexplored."The 996 team explores the reasons for this with Rayan and how Saudi Arabia's public diplomacy has evolved since the launch of Vision 2030.

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 on January 13-14. Lucien will attend the festivities and race there in person. Richard gave a run-down of the race's challenges, vehicle classifications, and importance of Saudi Arabia as a host. According to the Dakar Rally's official site, the race's origins began in 1977, when Thierry Sabine got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally. Saved from the sands in extremis, he returned to France still in thrall to this landscape and promising himself he would share his fascination with as many people as possible. He proceeded to come up with a route starting in Europe, continuing to Algiers and crossing Agadez before eventually finishing at Dakar. The founder coined a motto for his inspiration: "A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind."Next, the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, the PGA-LIV merger and the future of golf which hangs in the balance as a deadline for an agreement announced in 2023 between PIF and PGA passed with no concrete deal, other than to keep discussions going. The delay creates uncertainty for both pros and fans as the PGA season kicks off in Hawaii. Just weeks after top golfer John Rahm joined the LIV golf tour, 4-time champion Rory McIlroy walked back criticism of LIV players. "I think at this point, I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Wood's position," the former world number one told the Stick to Football podcast. "We all turn professional to making a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that's what I realised over the last two years. I can't judge people for making that decision."Lucien discusses the latest with the merger and notes a reason why many Saudis don't care as much about it compared to the coverage it receives. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines from Saudi Arabia this week...-U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to the Middle East region this week to “discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, and reduce regional tensions,” according to a press release from the State Department.-A recent study by Gallup International, in collaboration with the Saudi Center for Opinion Polls, has revealed the high level of optimism among Saudi citizens as they look forward to the year 2024.-Saudi state TV said on Tuesday that the Kingdom had officially begun its membership of the BRICS bloc. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister had said in August that the Kingdom would study the details before the proposed January 1 joining date and take “the appropriate decision.” Prince Faisal bin Frahan had said BRICS was “a beneficial and important channel” to strengthen economic cooperation.-Saudi capital Riyadh has emerged as a new regional hub for over 200 international companies, aligning with an upcoming Saudi government policy. Effective January 1, 2024, the policy requires international firms to establish their regional headquarters in the Kingdom to be eligible for government contracts.-Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund spent more than any other last year after splashing out $31.5bn (£24.7bn) on investments ranging from a stake in Heathrow to ownership of a US gaming company. The Kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has topped an annual ranking of sovereign investment fund spending, compiled by consultancy Global SWF, for the first time.Investment by PIF accounted for just over a quarter of the $123.8bn (£97.2bn) spent in total-The ongoing ‘Riyadh Season', featuring a series of entertainment, fashion, technology and gaming events, attracted a whopping 12 million visitors in the last 60 days, the organizers said. The popular event, which opened in October 2023, targeted 12 million visitor participation during the entire event period, but achieved the target in the middle of the season.

There'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 comments from Mohammed Al-Jaddan, Minister of Finance. "The government, which is forecasting budget deficits every year out to 2026, has decided on the extension to build capacity and avert huge inflationary pressures and supply bottlenecks, Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan said Thursday. He didn't specify which projects would be affected..." Then the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, the new US Embassy building in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. The United States has officially broken ground on its new embassy project in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, a sprawling new building blending traditional and modern architecture on a 27.5 acre site.When completed, it will be the largest embassy in Riyadh. U.S. and Saudi officials participated in a ceremony to break ground on the new compound this week, marking a milestone in the longstanding U.S.-Saudi bilateral relationship. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, joined U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney for the event. Next, Lucien and Richard welcome onto The 966 Dr. Basma Al-Buhairan, Managing Director for the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR). Dr. Basma discusses her work leading Saudi Arabia's efforts at developing what is called "Industry 4.0" or "the Fourth Industrial Revolution" or "4IR" which is the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector, driven by disruptive trends including the rise of data and connectivity, analytics, human-machine interaction, and improvements in robotics. The center supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by being a platform for public-private, multi-stakeholder collaboration to maximize technological benefits to society and minimize the risks associated with 4IR technologies in The Kingdom. Dr. Basma is also an adviser and part of the founding team of the Research Development Innovation Authority (RDIA)Lucien and Richard conclude as always with a jam-packed "Yallah!" segment, covering 6 top storylines from Saudi Arabia from the last few weeks, including Expo2030 in Riyadh, a new type of Saudi-made sustainable firewood, and much more...

Hassan Jameel is a prominent Saudi businessman. He is the Deputy President and Vice Chairman at Abdul Latif Jameel, an internationally diversified business founded by his grandfather in 1945. A substantial part of his life has been immersed in Japan, where he grew up, and worked with Toyota. Proficient in Japanese, he has a deep affinity for the culture and feels entirely at home there. He has embraced the Japanese principle of “kaizen,” meaning continuous improvement, in both his business ventures and personal well-being. He is an aficionado of automobiles.

The 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 lead the way with hundreds of millions in investments into figuring out how to make humans age healthier. HRH Dr. Haya tells Lucien and Richard how she got involved with Hevolution as "Employee #1," the importance of the Foundation's work, the importance of Hevolution as an impact investor, and much more.After that conversation, Lucien and Richard welcome back onto The 966, in perhaps the quickest return for a special guest to-date, the incomparable Dr. Mehmood Khan, Chief Executive Officer of The Hevolution Foundation. Dr. Khan, always dynamic and engaging, recaps the event and all the prizes and grants awarded at the event, while discussing some of the Foundation's next steps in their battle to combat the challenges associated with aging and advancing geroscience from their main HQ in Riyadh. 

Amit 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. 

The 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 perceives and acts, catalyzing the discussion from lifespan to healthspan.Dr. Khan's interview begins at the 7:55 mark. #Hevolution is headquartered in Riyadh with additional international hubs to support the expansion and execute the global mission. Its vision is to expand healthy human lifespan for the benefit of all humanity.  Hevolution Foundation aims to be positioned as a global leader, catalyst, partner, and convener, to increase the number of scientists entering the field, to increase the investable opportunities in the field of aging, to help shape the regulatory and government environment.Dr. Khan also currently serves as the Executive Chairman of Life Biosciences Inc. where he joined the company in April 2019 as the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member. Life Biosciences was founded to advance scientific research and develop innovative new therapies to improve and extend healthy lives for everyone.Dr. Khan previously served as Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development at PepsiCo, a Fortune 50 company employing upwards of 250,000 employees across 22 brands. At PepsiCo, Dr. Khan played a pivotal role in the company's global R&D efforts to create breakthrough innovations in food, beverages, and nutrition, including the incorporation of healthier and more nutritious offerings across its portfolio. Dr. Khan also oversaw PepsiCo's global sustainability initiatives based on the belief that success in business is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world we share. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Dr. Khan served as President of Global R&D at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, leading the global efforts of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue.Before moving into industry, Dr. Khan had a distinguished medical career as a faculty member in endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School where he served as Director of the Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutritional Trials Unit. He also spent nine years leading programs in diabetes, endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition in Minneapolis, MN.Dr. Khan is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Reckitt Benckiser.

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 region. From 2021-22, he served as special advisor to the executive director for Saudi Arabia at the IMF's Executive Board. Callen's research interests focus on oil exporting countries and include prospects and policies for economic diversification away from oil, frameworks and institutions to limit procyclical fiscal policy, and appropriate exchange rate policies. Before the discussion, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, a follow up to a recent episode The 966 did with experts Mansour El-Zahab and Zeynep Kösereisoğlu from Frontierview on the Regional HQ program, commonly referred to as the "#RHQ" program. 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. Foreign companies are scrambling to meet a Saudi deadline to locate their regional headquarters in the kingdom by January or risk losing hundreds of billions of dollars in government contracts in Saudi Arabia if their regional headquarters are based elsewhere.Then the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, a preview of an exciting mega-conference coming up presented by the #Hevolution Foundation called the Global Healthspan Summit, and some interesting and exciting announcements for The 966 in the coming weeks.  The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed heading into the weekend. -Saudi Arabia has postponed the fifth Arab-African summit that was scheduled for Friday and will, instead, host emergency Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Co-operation summits on Friday and Saturday to discuss Israel's war on Gaza.-Foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia rose 22 per cent annually last year as the kingdom continues to pursue its economic transformation agenda and open up more sectors for foreign investments.-International investors no longer have to visit a Saudi embassy to get a visa to travel to the Kingdom after the process for applying for the permit was moved online. The government have introduced the second phase of the “Investor Visitor” e-visa service, expanding its coverage from nearly 60 nations to include all countries worldwide, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. -Saudi Arabia was recently crowned the Overwatch World Cup Champions at the Overwatch World Cup becoming the first team from the Middle East to win the tournament.  -The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has unveiled the line-up for its Competition and Arab Spectacular strands.The festival will take place from November 30-December 9 in the port city of Jeddah under the theme 'Your Stories, Your Festival.'-The Saudi Fund for Development will sign agreements worth 2 billion riyals ($533 million) with African countries, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Thursday during the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in Riyadh.

In 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 Gregorian calendar for all official dealings, except those related to the provisions of Islamic Shariah where the calculation of periods will continue to be based on the Hijri calendar. The Kingdom has traditionally prioritized the Hijri calendar with the Gregorian used as a secondary measure. However, some official and legal activities had already been aligned with the Gregorian calendar before Tuesday's ruling.Then the host discuss Lucien's One Big Thing, which is the announcement of key details surrounding Neom's new destination, Leyja. The mountainous wellness resort joins Trojena and Sindalah as tourism locations for Neom, and new photos and a video released of the designs of the area are fascinating. One of the details announced this week is that Habitas, the luxury hotel management company who Lucien notes has created a masterpiece experience in Al Ula, having recently stayed at that resort. Habitas Neom will likely be something for many people's bucket list, when completed. The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines on Saudi Arabia to get you up to speed heading into the weekend.

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 key deadline on January 1, 2024. What companies are subjected to this rule, and what defines compliance here? How have these requirements of compliances changed over time since they were announced? What are some challenges that MNCs are facing in their new HQ setting, or in their journey to get there? And how are neighboring states, like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reacting to the policy? Mansour and Zeynep dive into these questions and much more. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss Richard's One Big Thing, which is Saudi Arabia's investments into the development of its own local defense sector. The Kingdom is effectively seeking to build a local military industry from scratch - a tall order with a high price tag. But an even higher price tag for Saudi Arabia to-date has been its foreign military purchases from other nations, especially the United States. The hosts discuss the progress of the development of the sector, headed by GAMI and SAMI in Riyadh, ahead of the forthcoming World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia in 2024. Next, the hosts discuss Lucien's One Big Thing - a Goldman Sachs article that was published earlier this week on the progress and achievements of Vision 2030. The 154 year old financial services behemoth, maybe the most recognizable name in banking and financial services in the world, and the second largest investment bank by revenue in the world behind only JP Morgan Chase, published an article entitled "How Saudi Arabia is investing to transform its economy" and is available on the Goldman Sachs website. Goldman Sachs Research identifies as areas that are benefiting from increased investment and are likely to drive a “capex supercycle” through the end of the decade.The hosts conclude as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed on Saudi Arabia heading into the weekend. •A week after revealing talks with Australia about bidding to co-host the 2034 World Cup, Indonesian soccer leader Erick Thohir said his federation is now supporting Saudi Arabia's candidacy to host the tournament. •The second edition of the “Made in Saudi Expo” exhibition will be held at the Roshn Front in Riyadh from October 16 to 19, 2023, under the patronage of Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Saudi Export Development Authority. •Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports in August hit their lowest level in 28 months as they fell for a fifth straight month, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) showed on Monday.•Saudi Arabia's $700 billion Public Investment Fund has disclosed that Swedish venture capital fund Northzone has taken investment from its venture investment arm Sanabil — the only European VC firm known to have done so. •Amin Nasser, said his company is looking at more investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) to boost its plans to become a leading player in the seaborne gas market.•A landmark report released during the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week, which ran here from Oct. 8 to 12, highlights the challenges that Saudi Arabia might face in a world that is warmer by 3 degrees Celsius.

Hamas' 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 that may leave even more dead and displaced. The internet, meanwhile, is dangerously divided and chronically misinformed, with the general discourse lacking nuance and with the ignorant empowered by a short-sighted view of the centuries-old conflict for supremacy in the region with peace perpetually elusive. The 966 hosts discuss the situation, some of the meaning for Saudi Arabia and the region, and what might happen next.After that, the hosts discuss an interesting quote from Karim Benzema on his participation in the Saudi Pro League. Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad this summer because he always wanted to live in Saudi Arabia and "help Saudi football grow."The hosts finish the episode as always with Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed headed into the weekend. 

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 Initiative in Riyadh in just a few weeks. Richard's One Big Thing is Saudi Arabia's bid for the World Cup in 2034. The Saudi announcement came shortly after FIFA named Morocco, Spain and Portugal as hosts of the 2030 World Cup, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay hosting the opening matches to mark the tournament's centenary, per Reuters. "Saudi Arabia's inaugural FIFA World Cup bid is backed by the country's growing experience of hosting world-class football events and its ongoing plans to welcome fans across the world to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup."Lucien's One Big Thing is the upcoming 7th Future Investment Initiative which will take place in Riyadh in just a few weeks. The new theme and slogan (which it rolled out earlier this year) is “The New Compass." Lucien notes that in recent years, the FII conference in Riyadh was a truly massive and frankly an impressive sight to be seen, but that might change slightly in coming years as the FII Institute becomes established and serializes the event in different formats around the world throughout the year. 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.