Inside Saudi Arabia

A year in, and Inside Saudi finally has a real studio.

In this update episode, Carly and Vesna welcome you to Chapter 2 of Inside Saudi from their brand new studio at Colabs, and catch you up on everything happening in their world and their community.

We cover the women only pool party that sold out, how women's events actually work in Saudi, why it is so hard to make friends as an expat (and how we are fixing it), the WhatsApp community and coffee pin drops, a community MVP shout out, and exactly where to travel from Saudi for the October and Christmas breaks.

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

1:09  Welcome to the new studio, Chapter 2

1:33  Out of the bed, into a proper studio

2:48  Why we chose Collabs

5:36  Guests are coming soon

6:05  The women only pool party that sold out

6:51  Self care, self love and community

7:23  How women's events work in Saudi

9:25  Why every staff member had to be a woman

10:10  What the pool day actually was

11:04  Food, drinks and an all inclusive ticket

12:13  95% came alone, and left with friends

13:23  Making friends as an expat isn't easy

13:57  More pool days before winter

14:42  Yammak, the home services team

16:59  Growing the WhatsApp community

17:59  The coffee pin drops

19:33  New groups, networking, Jeddah and women only

22:10  The community organizes itself

23:44  Community shout outs

24:59  The community MVP, Abdullah

26:10  Planning the October and Christmas breaks

27:03  Where to go for the October break

28:40  Christmas plans, further afield

31:49  AlUla and a Saudi trip at Christmas

32:31  Moving to a bigger compound

34:25  Wrapping up, guests next weekA year in, and Inside Saudi finally has a real studio.

In this update episode, Carly and Vesna welcome you to Chapter 2 of Inside Saudi from their brand new studio at Colabs, and catch you up on everything happening in their world and their community.

We cover the women only pool party that sold out, how women's events actually work in Saudi, why it is so hard to make friends as an expat (and how we are fixing it), the WhatsApp community and coffee pin drops, a community MVP shout out, and exactly where to travel from Saudi for the October and Christmas breaks.

We loved using Yammak for all of our spa services at our pool event!! They gave us a discount code for you to get 20% off all services!! INSIDESAUDI20

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

1:09  Welcome to the new studio, Chapter 2

1:33  Out of the bed, into a proper studio

2:48  Why we chose Collabs

5:36  Guests are coming soon

6:05  The women only pool party that sold out

6:51  Self care, self love and community

7:23  How women's events work in Saudi

9:25  Why every staff member had to be a woman

10:10  What the pool day actually was

11:04  Food, drinks and an all inclusive ticket

12:13  95% came alone, and left with friends

13:23  Making friends as an expat isn't easy

13:57  More pool days before winter

14:42  Yamik, the home services team

16:59  Growing the WhatsApp community

17:59  The coffee pin drops

19:33  New groups, networking, Jeddah and women only

22:10  The community organizes itself

23:44  Community shout outs

24:59  The community MVP, Abdullah

26:10  Planning the October and Christmas breaks

27:03  Where to go for the October break

28:40  Christmas plans, further afield

31:49  AlUla and a Saudi trip at Christmas

32:31  Moving to a bigger compound

34:25  Wrapping up, guests next week

How do you actually launch something in Saudi Arabia? The honest answer surprised us too.

In this (bed) episode, Carly and Vesna share what really helped them build Inside Saudi over their first year, and it is not the business advice you would expect. It is about patience, relationships, gut feeling and serving people first.

We cover the advice that is more nuanced, why we run everything on vibes and our gut, playing to your strengths, the how can I help you mindset that defines Saudi business, setting boundaries, the licenses and language barriers we are still working through, why not everyone will like you, how to finally start putting yourself out there, and also how we choose our guests.

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

1:04  Welcome, and why we love the bed episodes

2:04  Today's topic, how to launch in Saudi

2:24  The launch advice nobody wants to hear

2:56  Carly's story, arriving as a full time mum

4:11  How it all happened so fast

5:04  How Saudi opens up space and time

6:47  Running a business on vibes and gut feelings

7:41  Lessons from Oprah and Mel Robbins

9:09  Women, intuition and the gut

9:50  Saying yes to everything in year one

10:57  Divide and conquer, playing to your strengths

13:20  Doing business in Saudi, put the time in

13:39  How can I help you, not what can you do for me

14:48  Boundaries, don't deplete yourself

15:54  Serving the community and the WhatsApp groups

17:56  Designing the job and life you want

21:03  Advice if you want to start something here

21:26  Don't be afraid to fail

22:07  Our biggest challenge, licenses and red tape

22:56  The language barrier, and giving grace

23:57  Feeling blocked, and changing your approach

26:17  Opportunities come from giving value

26:58  Sticking to your values, the kebab rule

27:48  Putting yourself out there online

28:51  Not everyone is going to like you

30:48  The videos made about us, and the dark times

32:51  Protecting your energy online

33:57  Just start, and be yourself

34:45  Getting ghosted, and Saudi politeness

35:42  How we choose our guests

37:40  Everyone has a platform

39:52  Wrapping up

40:56  Float and Glow, our women only pool day

One year ago, we packed our bags and moved to Saudi Arabia. In our very first episode, we shared everything we thought we knew. Now, 365 days later, we're revisiting every claim, do we still stand by them?

From compound life and close friendships to the heat, the winter cold, bringing dogs, plant-based food struggles, the cost of living, and whether you should really "just pack two suitcases and go", we're getting honest about what we got right, what we got wrong, and what a year of living in Riyadh has actually been like.

🎙️ Hosted by Carly Overman & Vesna Petrovic

@caroverman 

@vesnapetrovicx

@insidesaudiarabia

🔑 Use code INSIDESA10 for 10% off tickets to see Aleph Abi Saad & his Orchestra "Dance of Sands" at Boulevard City on October 2nd at 7pm.  Book on WeBook (search "Aleph").

📌 In this episode:

Do we still say "Don't Google it, just go"?

Kids on the compound: silliest concern or real drama?

Choosing where to live — still the most important decision?

Friendships, meeting up, and social life in Riyadh

Misconceptions about women in Saudi Arabia

Family-friendly culture and big Saudi families

Plant-based food: still not a thing?

The heat, the AC sickness, and adjusting your routine

Winter in Saudi: trench coats and UGG boots?!

No tax, better lifestyle — but the cost of living is rising

Bringing dogs: regret it or not?

Two suitcases vs. eight suitcases — what to pack

Compound amenities vs. getting off the compound

Bargaining at the souqs for abayas

Saudi National Day outfits

What the move actually cost us

Days in Saudi tally: 319 vs. 365

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, PLEASE rate and review us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts! It really helps.

📩 Have a question about moving to Saudi? Drop it in the comments.

YOUTUBE CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro & Teaser

1:14 - Welcome Back to Inside Saudi (Bed Part 3!)

3:33 - Claim 1: "Don't Google It, Just Go" — Do We Still Stand By It?

4:34 - Claim 2: Kids Are the Silliest Concern

5:47 - Claim 3: Where You Live Is the Most Important Decision

7:02 - Claim 4: People Are More Open to Meeting Up

8:17 - Claim 5: You Build Close Friendships Fast Here

9:06 - Claim 6: Misconceptions About Saudi Arabia

9:06 - Claim 6 (cont.): It's a Family-First Society

10:06 - Sponsor Break: Aleph Abusad "Dance of Sands" Event

11:18 - Claim 7: Plant-Based Food Is Not a Thing Here

12:43 - Claim 8: The Heat — Working Around It

14:28 - Claim 9: Winter Is Super Cold (Yes, Really)

15:58 - Claim 10: No Tax, Better Lifestyle

17:41 - The Reality: Cost of Living Is High

18:55 - Claim 11: Bringing Dogs to Saudi — Regrets?

25:33 - Claim 12: Don't Never Leave the Compound

27:44 - Our "Off-Compound Experience" Segment — What Happened

30:04 - Claim 13: National Day Outfits — Plan Ahead!

32:22 - Claim 14: Bargaining for Your Abaya

33:57 - A Year On: What Did We Actually Get Wrong?

35:51 - What the Move Cost Us

38:44 - Rate & Review Us!

Living in Saudi is not always the highlight reel. This week we get honest.

Carly and Vesna talk through the hard parts of living in Saudi Arabia, the things nobody posts about. From the fear of driving in Riyadh, to the loneliness of expat life, to the real struggle of starting a business here.

If you are moving to Saudi Arabia or already living in Riyadh, this episode covers what it is actually like: why everyone is scared to drive and how to get over it, buying a car in Saudi, the road rules nobody tells you, finding friends and beating loneliness, and navigating Misa, premium residency and business licensing as an expat.

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

1:04  Welcome, the bedroom episode and the new studio

2:32  Today's topic: the hard parts of living in Saudi

2:56  The number one fear: driving

3:34  Ubers with no seatbelts

5:02  Buying a car, why we went Chinese

6:52  What our car cost and how we paid for it

7:21  Getting your license and hitting the road

9:14  Which side of the road do you drive on?

13:33  Just dive in, start from day one

14:45  Driving tips, always be alert

16:25  U-turns and missed turns

18:24  What to do if you have an accident, the Najm app

19:27  Merging into aggressive traffic

20:18  The loneliness nobody talks about

22:17  Feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated

23:49  Holding it together while partners work

24:50  Compound friendships and the Mystery Pin Drop

26:49  The reality of starting a business in Saudi

27:23  The licensing struggle

28:44  The anxiety of not knowing the future

30:26  It's not always easy, and that's okay

We toured every compound in Riyadh, so you don't have to.

In this Inside Saudi episode, Carly and Vesna give an honest review of the best compounds in Riyadh, from Flow Granada to Palma 2, Vives, Wadi Qortuba, Al Nakhla and more, then answer your questions in a full Q&A.

If you are moving to Saudi Arabia or living in Riyadh, this is your guide to compound life: what it really costs, the Ejar rent freeze that can save you money, the best dog friendly compounds, how to actually make friends as an expat, nanny agencies and a scary nanny story, after school routines, nursery versus school, and more.

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

0:57  The bed episode, why we're recording here

1:52  Why we did a full compound tour

3:22  The Q&A questions we're answering

4:19  How Carly picked her compound online

5:02  Honest review of Flow Granada

6:55  What Flow is missing (kids and dogs)

7:46  The community at Flow

8:16  Touring the Azura compounds

9:14  Palma 2, the Bali villa compound

10:42  Carawan, the new luxe one

12:04  Hidden, a great location

13:46  Lamara, they listen to residents

15:11  Kaft, for work focused execs

16:07  Vives, renovating villas for residents

19:52  Al Nakhla and its 20 pools

20:30  Antara, the resort style pool

21:03  Renovate your own villa for 110k

23:06  Wadi Qattuba, green and walkable

24:37  The Ejar rent freeze hack

25:38  Honorable mentions (Arizona, Sedra)

27:53  The best dog friendly compounds

28:49  Compound hunt update

29:17  Why community is everything in Saudi

32:20  You pay a premium for compound life

33:15  Getting your UK house on Airbnb

33:39  Getting a job in Saudi

34:37  Travel plans, the Commonwealth tour

35:16  Nanny agencies and a scary story

37:33  After school routine with the kids

40:03  Nursery versus school

41:47  Is summer in Saudi humid?

42:28  Vesna's 40th and what's next

This one is bittersweet. It is our goodbye episode.

Carly and Vesna are back from summer and packing up their studio for the very last time. In this catch up they get into everything that went down over the break, the good, the dramatic, and the completely ridiculous.

From the nanny who left the baby home alone and then did a runner, to a 300 year old house falling apart, kids catching 12 fish spearfishing in Greece, dogs that look like they got run over, and the honest truth about why they are outgrowing their Riyadh compound. Grateful for the last year and everything that came with it and ready for the next chapter. Plus a big tease about what is coming next.

Inside Saudi is the English language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

0:56  It's our goodbye episode

1:33  Why this is a new beginning

2:26  All good things come to an end

2:38  Coming back for year two, a different feeling

4:16  Carly's news: two months left, gave her notice

5:03  From a hobby to a real business

5:29  Carly's UK summer and the 300 year old house

7:04  The nanny who wore ball gowns

8:12  The nanny drama begins

9:14  She left the baby home alone

9:58  The nanny did a runner

10:44  Finding the new all rounder nanny

12:33  The dogs look like they got run over

13:25  The last day in the studio

13:49  Vesna's summer in Greece

16:39  The kids caught 12 fish

18:36  Setting up the apartment from scratch

20:07  Gyros and the Canadian accent

20:30  A summer of roaming free

22:44  Why we need outdoor space

24:29  Renting in Riyadh is insane

25:43  Outgrowing where we landed

28:54  Kids, dogs and needing more space

30:18  From a hobby to where we are now

31:09  What's next, a fan favorite guest

31:44  Signing off

This might be the most important conversation we have had on Inside Saudi.

We sit down with Sajid Khan, a child safeguarding and education expert who moved from Birmingham to Riyadh at 24 and has spent over a decade protecting children in schools across the Kingdom. We get into what safeguarding really means, why Saudi can feel safer than the UK, the neglect cases that changed how he sees parenting, how AI is creating a whole new risk for kids, why the teacher matters more than the school, and the exact questions every parent should ask before choosing one.

Whether you are raising kids in Saudi, moving here soon, or you just care about keeping children safe, this episode is essential listening.

Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh.

New episodes every Monday. with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx, featuring @sajidkhanfcct

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

Guest, Sajid Khan: @sajidkhanfcct

🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode

💬 Parents, what would you add? Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Teaser

0:45 Intro

2:10 Meet Sajid Khan

2:40 From Birmingham to Riyadh, finance to education

4:46 Why he moved to Saudi at 24

6:03 Arriving at 2am to a cold, empty building

9:42 Becoming a lecturer, then building schools

11:08 What child safeguarding actually means

13:22 The coffee shop test, nobody had heard of it

15:02 Why Saudi feels safer than the UK

15:44 The gap in background checks

18:50 Affluent neglect, the Oreos case

20:46 How harm starts at school, and AI

23:58 Nannies, drivers and basic needs

25:26 The CCTV driver dilemma

29:08 When emotions are high, intelligence is low

32:49 Get a criminal record check for anyone you hire

35:47 Saudi is not a ski in, ski out resort

36:43 Investing in the Kingdom, hiring locals

37:16 The teacher is everything

38:06 Kids can feel if you care

41:29 Growing up online, the new dangers

42:32 The London school trip lesson

44:23 Saudi has its own child protection policy

46:53 The biggest gap he sees in schools

49:28 Teacher training and career pathways

54:49 Advice for parents, 10 minutes a day

56:35 Put the phones away at dinner

58:14 Friend versus friendly, boundaries

1:00:42 Discipline, respect and the good cop bad cop trap

1:03:57 Guilt syndrome and screen time

1:06:25 The questions every parent should ask a school

1:09:00 The grooming red flag nobody spotted

1:10:42 Why he would rather be extra

1:13:59 The UAE horror story that changed the law

1:15:13 Thank you and close

We went to our first Saudi weddings, and nothing could have prepared us.

This week Carly and Vesna break down everything they have learned about Saudi weddings and gatherings, from a total newbie point of view. Dinner served at 2:30 in the morning, glam that rivals the Met Gala, and the unspoken rules of what to wear.

We get into the real flow of a Saudi wedding, why you can never overdress, the coffee and chocolate before the 2:30am dinner, how the women only celebrations actually go, the gatherings that run until 3am, what to bring as a gift, and the best advice for anyone new here: say yes and be open.

If you are moving to Saudi, planning a visit, or just curious about the culture, this one is for you.

Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW

Inside Saudi: instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode

💬 Going to a Saudi wedding soon? Ask us anything in the comments.

CHAPTERS

0:00  Teaser

0:54  Cold open, why we made this episode

2:28  Dinner at 2:30 in the morning

3:24  Saudi is a night culture

4:20  Walking in, it felt like the Met Gala

5:16  Weddings here are women only

6:44  What we wore, and underdressing the first time

8:54  The compliment: you look like Saudi girls

10:29  The second wedding, leveling up

12:09  The flow, coffee, chocolate, tea and dinner at 2:30

15:17  Perfume stations and flowers

16:00  You cannot be on time, arrive fashionably late

16:54  People watching and the perfect night

17:44  Dancing at a Saudi wedding

20:29  Saudi ladies gatherings

22:27  What to bring as a gift

23:38  Gatherings that run until 3am

24:16  Doing life with the locals

25:12  Tips if you get invited

26:00  Say yes to the DM, how we get invited

26:54  Wrap up

From night classes in Cairo to a runway at Paris Fashion Week. This week Carly and Vesna sit down with Pacinthe, the Egyptian couture designer behind two Vogue Arabia covers, a Paris Fashion Week show, and a client list full of Arab stars and red carpet moments.

We get into how she built her fashion house from the ground up, her signature draped corsets and sustainable line, dressing for weddings across cultures, and why she does her best creative work at 2am. We also go somewhere real: the burnout that led to an autoimmune diagnosis, the mum guilt, and why she believes you were never meant to do it all.

She finishes with honest advice for anyone dreaming of a career in fashion. Whether you love fashion, run a business, or just need to hear that slowing down is allowed, this one is for you.

Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh.

New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

Find Pacinthe here: https://www.instagram.com/pacinthe_badran/

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Inside Saudi: https://www.instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

Carly: https://www.instagram.com/caroverman

Vesna: https://www.instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode 💬

What is your dream career, and what is stopping you?

Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Teaser

1:22 Cold open, meet Pacinthe

1:47 How the hosts met Pacinthe

2:27 Shopping local and Egypt's design scene

5:23 How she got into fashion

7:19 Quitting her job to launch her own label

10:11 Three lines and the signature draped corsets

12:41 Getting to Paris Fashion Week

13:48 Vogue Arabia covers and red carpets

15:36 Expanding into Saudi

15:48 Wedding fashion, too fancy for a Western wedding

17:32 Saudi's booming fashion scene

19:22 Jeddah versus Riyadh

21:13 Cairo, chaos, and where creativity comes from

23:22 Why she creates at 2am

26:07 Burnout and an autoimmune wake up call

29:28 Mum guilt and making space for yourself

31:31 You were never meant to do it all

35:15 How men and women recharge differently

38:39 The Serenity collection and celebrating wins

41:19 Advice for anyone starting in fashion

43:29 Wrap up

One year in Saudi, and we finally figured a few things out. In this episode, Carly and Vesna swap the ten lessons they learned after their first year living in Riyadh, going back and forth without knowing each other's list.

We get into being kind to yourself through the move, whether you really need the big compound, why making Saudi friends changes everything, the truth about getting help at home, what drivers and nannies actually cost, what to pack and what to buy once you land, road tripping across the country, and the real cost of living in Riyadh. We finish on the honest part: the peaks, the valleys, and why everything here takes time.

If you are moving to Saudi, thinking about it, or already here and nodding along, this one is for you.

Inside Saudi is the English-language podcast about daily life in Saudi Arabia today, hosted by Carly Overman and Vesna Petrovic in Riyadh. New episodes every Monday.

with @caroverman and @vesnapetrovicx

FOLLOW US:

instagram.com/insidesaudiarabia

instagram.com/caroverman

instagram.com/vesnapetrovicx

🎧 Follow so you never miss an episode

💬 What was your biggest lesson from your first year abroad? Drop it in the comments.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Cold open