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

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

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

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

***

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

Riyadh Season, a globally unique and dynamic annual series of events in Saudi Arabia, is back for 2024-2025. It's *so* back -- and this year is likely to be the best yet.

Lucien leads the episode's DEEPDIVE segment on the season, now well-established and evolving with new offerings each year, includes a diverse range of activities such as theme parks, concerts, pop-up restaurants, sports events, and fashion shows across multiple venues in Riyadh. Some key highlights for this year include the introduction of notable sports events like tennis and boxing matches, UFC, elite soccer games, and fashion showcases by designers like Elie Saab. Dr. Hannah and Lucien highlight some of these events. Lucien emphasizes the extraordinary nature of Riyadh Season, describing it as a 'tradition' that is constantly changing and improving, reflective of Saudi Arabia's dynamic evolution.

We encourage listeners to check out the full 294-page booklet on Riyadh Season events and explore the variety of free and paid activities available. The DEEPDIVE segment couldn't possibly conclude without Hanaa making sure that everoyne knows that other upcoming seasons are happening too, including in her beloved home of in the Eastern Province.

The hosts conclude with top news items from the week, including:

•A discussion of solar and renewables in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi energy company ACWA Power has secured SAR9.7bn (US$2.6bn) in financing for the construction of three large-scale solar PV power plants in Saudi Arabia

•A new investment law in Saudi Arabia. On August 11, 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unveiled a new Investment Law to enhance attraction of international investments and equality between domestic and foreign investors.

•Wild thunderstorms and rain in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia was struck by thunderstorms and flash flooding on most of its Red Sea on Friday with footages on social media showing roads inundated and cars stranded in floodwater.

•The growing Saudi fintech ecosystem. Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the number of fintech companies in Saudi Arabia reached 224 by the end of Q2 2024, surpassing the Financial Sector Development Program's (FSDP) target of 168 companies for the same period.

SHOUTOUTS:

In the episode's SHOUTOUTS segment, highlighting exceptional Saudis or others driving change in the Kingdom, the hosts draw attention to:

•Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, for what he's doing growing the game in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as LIV GOLF announced its first tournament in Riyadh.

•Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi, who won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

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://thetwenty30.com

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

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

©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.

In Episode 26, the hosts begin by commenting off the cuff on an element of The TWENTY30's introduction track, and how an effect of Dr. Hanaa's voice made them think about a Rihanna song, which caused Hanaa to share some interesting things she learned in a recent singing instruction. Despite Lucien's pleas, Hanaa declined (!) to sing the Rihanna song she practiced in that class.

Hanaa then leads the show's DEEPDIVE segment with a discussion on generational identities in Saudi Arabia. A new report highlights Saudi Arabia's generations, and Hanaa notes how fascinating they are as they define the people of the Kingdom.

The hosts then get to the latest news on Saudi Arabia and conclude with the SHOUTOUT segment, highlight exceptional changemakers in Saudi Arabia.

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://thetwenty30.com

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

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

©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.

As The TWENTY30 reaches an exciting milestone of 10,000 subscribers (!) and 25 episodes, the hosts begin by reflecting briefly on the journey so far, and why they feel grateful and appreciative of all the listeners and viewers who have supported the show with subscriptions, follows, shares, and feedback (it’s not too late to do so, by the way! Click on the subscribe link wherever you’re listening or viewing today’s episode).

Last episode (#24) with special guest and former SIDF CEO Ibrahim Almojel, generated a large volume of positive feedback on the conversation. Hanaa and Lucien begin the show with a few minutes sharing a small portion of that feedback from that show with listeners and viewers.

Then, the hosts do a DEEPDIVE on the announcement that the Riyadh Metro will launch this year. Lucien highlighted the Riyadh Metro project and its near-launch to address a common point of negative criticism he often hears about it — and that is how long it took to complete. Lucien makes the point that major transportation infrastructure projects around the world are more often delayed (and overbudget) than not, and in the United States especially, is par for the course. Hanaa notes that it is part of a wider theme in Saudi Arabia — the incredible transformation of human mobility in just the past few years.

The hosts conclude with news, including the discussion of a new VC fund, a wonderful-smelling IPO, an interesting cloud computing move at KACST, and a silly (but funny) college football scandal that included a little bit on Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Ibrahim Almojel joins The TWENTY30 hosts Hanaa and Lucien for an exclusive conversation in Episode 24. Almojel, who sits on the board of nearly a dozen of the most active government and private investment funds in Saudi Arabia, also lead Saudi Arabia’s most powerful industrial investment body for 5 pivotal years after Vision 2030 launched. During that time, Almojel not only transformed the fund into an investment powerhouse and ecosystem developer, he was also tasked with implementing the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), one of the most consequential transformation programs in the Vision.

The TWENTY30 hosts ask Almojel about all of the above. In the conversation, Almojel shares real stories of changes in governance, how the SIDF moved quickly to implement the NIDLP, and how talent in Saudi Arabia is transforming the Kingdom from the inside-out.

The hosts also discuss his investment career, including his investments as founding partner of his currently active and diversified fund, Khwarizmi Holding, backs specialized investment companies in venture capital (Khwarizmi Ventures), private equity (Khwarizmi Partners), and real estate (Urbium Capital). They also discuss the VC, PE, and mining sectors and gain his insight on how those sectors are beginning to mature.

After the exclusive interview with Ibrahim Almojel, the hosts discuss some of the latest news stories on Saudi Arabia.

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://thetwenty30.com

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

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

©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.

About The TWENTY30 Podcast

New futuristic cities built from scratch. Giga-projects. Major sports investments. Trillions in spending. An economy and society changing so quickly even locals sometimes can’t believe their eyes. Saudi Arabia is on a mission to change itself from a conservative society with an oil-dominated economy to a modern and open society with a diversified economy - and to become a global tourism destination. Such a transformation has never before been attempted, and the stakes for the Middle East - and the world - are high. The TWENTY30 is a new media network and podcast that explores the seemingly endless dimensions of the social and economic transformations in Saudi Arabia, which few living outside the Kingdom can truly grasp. From the creator and co-host of The 966 Podcast comes a new platform that tackles the news, issues, challenges, and opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region as it continues forward in a full-throttle effort to remake itself while the world watches. Featuring exclusive interviews, frank conversations, and in-depth topic exploration, The TWENTY30 is the first bi-weekly English program of its kind dedicated to uncovering and highlighting the road ahead for Saudi Arabia and the region and why it matters.

In Episode 23, hosts Hanaa and Lucien discuss a recent interview with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sport Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud and how the Kingdom is going all-in on football with its recent finalized bid for the World Cup 2034 and major investments into stadiums and the development of local talent -- not just on the pitch but in the administration of its up and coming Saudi Pro League. The hosts conclude as always with the latest news out of Saudi Arabia, a new Arabic word for the episode, and shoutouts to Saudi changemakers playing a key role in the Kingdom's transformation.

Hosts Lucien and Hanaa, both located in the U.S. for the first time (though on opposite coasts), catch up on their recent travel and share some feedback from a listener. Before the DEEPDIVE segment, the hosts also share a new segment they're introducing this episode, a "SHOUTOUTS" portion to conclude the program, which shares stories of people who are doing interesting, good, or productive work - especially as it relates to the advancement of Vision 2030 and the transformation underway -- the very subject of this podcast.

In the DEEPDIVE, Lucien gives an overview of a new massive real estate development outside Riyadh. Dubbed "Banan City," this project spans 10 square kilometers and will feature over 20,000 smart homes. The community aims to blend modernity and tradition by offering essential services, educational institutions, and smart city technology, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals. That leads to a discussion of housing market in Saudi Arabia, the Construction market in Saudi Arabia, and a lot more.

In the news, the hosts once again talk football (soccer?), and IMG's new partnership with the Saudi Pro League, an update on the Saudi economy and oil, and more.

To conclude the show and others going forward, the hosts introduce the SHOUTOUTS segment - recognizing impactful individuals and their recent impressive accomplishments like Abdul-Rahman Al-Gabban of Bechtel Saudi Arabia and Samar Sultan of META. Al-Ghabban recently launched the first Saudi Arabia chapter for buildingSMART International, the worldwide industry body driving the digital transformation of the built asset industry.