Saudi Life: Unpacked

What’s really hidden inside Old Riyadh?

In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Fatimah Abusrair, a licensed tour guide, communication consultant and cultural storyteller who is helping people experience a different side of the city.Fatimah runs the first tip-based walking tour in Saudi Arabia, guiding guests through the historic Qasr Al-Hukm district - home to Masmak Fort, traditional souqs, Friday auctions and some of Riyadh’s most fascinating cultural stories.

Through her tours, she brings the history, traditions and everyday life of the area to life in a way many visitors and even long-term expats often miss.In this conversation we talk about the inspiration behind her tours, the cultural details hidden in plain sight around Riyadh, and why understanding the roots of the city can completely change how you see Saudi Arabia today.

If you’ve ever driven past Old Riyadh and wondered what’s actually there, this episode might just inspire you to go and explore it for yourself.

SHOW NOTES

• Meet Fatimah Abusrair and her unique tip-based tour concept

• Exploring the historic Qasr Al-Hukm district in Old Riyadh

• The cultural stories behind Masmak Fort and the surrounding souqs

• Why authentic walking tours are still rare in Saudi Arabia

• The famous Friday antique auctions in Old Riyadh

• Why tipping culture feels unusual in Saudi

• Understanding Saudi traditions and everyday cultural moments

• Keeping up with the rapid changes happening across Riyadh

• Fatimah’s vision to inspire more local tour guides in the Kingdom

Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What would you do if your life changed overnight?

In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with artist Aida Murad, whose life changed overnight when she became partially paralysed with rheumatoid arthritis in her early twenties. Instead of focusing on what she had lost, she chose to focus on the 1% she could still use - and that decision led her to a completely new purpose through art.

Now based in Saudi Arabia, Aida is an artist-in-residence at the St. Regis, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and an advocate for creativity as a tool for healing, innovation and personal growth.We also explore what it’s really like building a creative career in Saudi today - the opportunities, the relationship-driven culture, the need for patience and flexibility, and why this moment in the Kingdom feels like a once-in-a-generation opportunity for creatives and entrepreneurs.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a creative life in Saudi Arabia - this episode is for you.

SHOWNOTES

• Recording live at St. Regis with artist Aida Murad
• From burnout and paralysis to finding purpose through art
• The powerful “focus on the 1%” mindsetHow art supports healing, perspective and wellbeing
• Why she chose to move to Saudi Arabia
• The growing opportunities for creatives in the Kingdom
• Understanding relationship-based business culture in Saudi
• The importance of patience, flexibility and long-term thinking
• Her book Life is a Miracle and the message behind it
• Advice for expats and creatives considering a move to Saudi
  
  Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

• What is the Red Sea really like - and is it worth the trip for expat families in Saudi?
  
  In this special catch-up episode, Frankie and Lily record live from the SLS Red Sea, sharing their first impressions of one of the Kingdom’s newest destinations.
  
  From the striking contrast of desert, mountains and turquoise water to how established the resorts already feel, they talk through what surprised them most and what the experience is really like on the ground.They also explore how family-friendly the Red Sea is, from kids’ clubs and activities to the rare chance for parents to properly switch off.
  
  With a flight time of around 90 minutes from Riyadh, no time difference and easy transfers, it’s quickly becoming a convenient option for weekends, Ramadan, Eid and school holidays.
  
  If you’re living in Saudi and looking for an easy escape or wondering whether the Red Sea is worth the visit, this episode gives you an honest expat perspective.
  
  SHOWNOTES
• Recording live from the Red Sea at SLS Resort
• First impressions: desert landscapes, turquoise water and mountain views
• What surprised us most about the destination
• How family-friendly the Red Sea really isKids’ clubs, activities and time to actually switch off
• Why the Red Sea works as an easy escape from Riyadh (90-minute flight, same time zone)
• Visiting during Ramadan, Eid and school holidaysThe reality of ongoing development and what to expect
• Why short domestic getaways are becoming part of expat life in Saudi
  
  RESOURCE AND RECOMMENDATION
  Destination: SLS Red Sea
  Best Time to Visit: October to April for the most comfortable weather
  Ramadan and Eid for a quieter, slower atmosphere
  
  Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What does it really look like to build a company, raise a family, and make Saudi home - all at the same time?

In this episode, Frankie and Lily were joined by Kris Stephan - a business owner, mum of two, and CEO in the fast-growing esports industry.Kris shares her journey from growing up in Saudi as an expat child to returning years later as a founder and working mum.

We talk about what it’s really like to set up a business in the Kingdom, the opportunities Saudi currently offers entrepreneurs, and how she balances motherhood with building a company in a male-dominated industry.

This is an inspiring conversation for anyone considering starting something of their own in Saudi - especially mums wondering if it’s possible to do both.

SHOW NOTES
Growing up on a compound in Saudi - then returning as an adult

• Why Saudi is becoming a global hub for gaming and esports
• What it actually takes to set up a business in the Kingdom
• The realities of paperwork, timelines, and costs
• Female leadership in male-dominated industries
• Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood
• Why Saudi can make working motherhood easier
• The opportunity Saudi offers for long-term expat life
• Kris' advice for anyone wanting to start a business: don’t overthink it
  
  RESOURCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Saudi Vision 2030 (entrepreneurship industry growth)
• MISA (Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia) – business licensing
• Esports World Cup (Riyadh annual event)
  
  Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

• Ramadan Kareem! If this is your first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, or you’re simply wondering what to expect, this episode is your practical, expat-friendly guide.
  
  Frankie and Lily share what really changes during Ramadan, from working hours and supermarket schedules to iftar etiquette, traffic patterns, and the cultural rhythm of daily life. They also talk about the spirit behind the holy month and how expats can show respect, patience, and kindness while embracing this special time in the Kingdom.
  
  Think of this episode as your gentle guide to navigating Ramadan with confidence, kindness, and an open mind. Whether you’re new to Saudi or many Ramadans in, this episode will help you feel more prepared, confident, and connected.
  
  SHOWNOTES
  When Ramadan starts why dates are confirmed last minute

• What changes during Ramadan (work, school business hours)
• Fasting explained public etiquette for expatsIftar basics and what to expectIf invited: what to bring what to wear
• Supermarket hours, restaurants daily routines
• Traffic patterns and the shift to evening life
• Tips for families and children during Ramadan
• The Ramadan atmosphere: slower pace, family time community
• Final advice: be flexible, patient and embrace the experience
  
  RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Iftar ExperiencesFairmont Hotel – Ramadan iftar experiences
• Lilou Restaurant – featured Saudi Life Unpacked community iftar
  
  Shopping Supermarkets
• Danube
• Spinneys
  
  Ramadan Fashion (modest wear ideas)
• COS
• HM
• Next
• Marks Spencer
  
  Education Event
• Anderson Education – UK Boarding School Exhibition (Fairmont, Riyadh)
  
  Travel Ideas During Ramadan
• AlUla
• Red Sea
• Abha
  
  Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What happens when you say yes to moving somewhere most people don’t understand?

In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Sharn, an Australian social media manager who recently moved to Riyadh and has already made waves online sharing her experience of life in the Kingdom.

From going viral with a falcon video to navigating culture shock, homesickness, and Riyadh traffic, Sharn opens up about the real highs and lows of starting over abroad. The conversation explores how social media is reshaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia, what it takes to build a community as an expat, and why curiosity and kindness go a long way.

They also talk about Saudi’s evolving entertainment scene, mental health during big life transitions, and Sharn’s goal to keep learning and growing - especially as she prepares to experience her first Ramadan in the Kingdom. If you’ve ever wondered what expat life in Saudi Arabia is truly like, this episode offers an honest, modern, and refreshingly human perspective.

SHOW NOTES

• Sharn’s move from Australia to Riyadh and starting over in
• Saudi Building a social media presence and going viral while sharing real expat life
• Learning cultural nuances with curiosity, respect, and a few lessons along the way
• Making friends from scratch and finding community abroad
• Adjusting to daily life in Riyadh - traffic, systems, and patience
• Experiencing Saudi’s evolving entertainment and social scene
• Navigating homesickness, mental health, and the balance between honesty and positivity
• Embracing growth and looking ahead to learning more about Saudi culture and Ramadan

Stay Connected: 📍

Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What happens when you say yes to moving somewhere most people don’t understand?

In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Sharn, an Australian social media manager who recently moved to Riyadh and has already made waves online sharing her experience of life in the Kingdom.

From going viral with a falcon video to navigating culture shock, homesickness, and Riyadh traffic, Sharn opens up about the real highs and lows of starting over abroad. The conversation explores how social media is reshaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia, what it takes to build a community as an expat, and why curiosity and kindness go a long way.

They also talk about Saudi’s evolving entertainment scene, mental health during big life transitions, and Sharn’s goal to keep learning and growing - especially as she prepares to experience her first Ramadan in the Kingdom.

If you’ve ever wondered what expat life in Saudi Arabia is truly like, this episode offers an honest, modern, and refreshingly human perspective.

SHOW NOTES

• Sharn’s move from Australia to Riyadh and starting over in Saudi
• Building a social media presence and going viral while sharing real expat life
• Learning cultural nuances with curiosity, respect, and a few lessons along the way
• Making friends from scratch and finding community abroad
• Adjusting to daily life in Riyadh - traffic, systems, and patience
• Experiencing Saudi’s evolving entertainment and social scene
• Navigating homesickness, mental health, and the balance between honesty and positivity
• Embracing growth and looking ahead to learning more about Saudi culture and Ramadn

Stay Connected:📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What is it really like living and working in Saudi Arabia as an expat woman in leadership?

In this episode of Saudi Life Unpacked, Frankie Lily sit down with Noirin Hegarty, Editor-in-Chief of List Magazine Saudi, who shares her honest journey from once believing the media stereotypes about Saudi Arabia… to now calling it one of the most exciting places she’s ever lived and worked.

We talk about women in leadership in Saudi, the reality of expat life in Riyadh, misconceptions about Islam and Saudi culture, and what it’s like moving to the Kingdom when you’re the one with the big career opportunity - and your husband is the “supportive spouse.”Noirin also gives us an insider look at Saudi’s rapidly growing media and tourism industries, why Vision 2030 feels different on the ground, and the destinations in Saudi Arabia she believes the world is seriously sleeping on including the Red Sea luxury resorts, AlUla, and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered what life in Saudi Arabia is truly like for expats, professionals, and families, this episode is for you.

SHOWNOTES

- From media stereotypes to real life in SaudiExpat life in Riyadh: expectations vs reality

-When the wife moves for work: the supportive spouse dynamic

-Loneliness, community, and life beyond the compound

-Compound vs city living in Saudi ArabiaWomen in leadership in the Kingdom

-Working culture and gender perceptions

-Misconceptions about Islam and Saudi society

-Hospitality, family values, and daily life

-Storytelling and media from inside Saudi

-The shift from print to digital in the region

-Vision 2030 and Saudi national prideLiving in a fast-changing, future-focused country

-Saudi’s growing global cultural and entertainment scene

-Travel highlights: Red Sea, AlUla, Abha and beyond

-Raising global families and redefining “home”

Resources Recommendations

List Magazine Saudi – English-language luxury lifestyle, culture, and travel publication based in Saudi

SRMG (Saudi Research Media Group) – The media group behind List Magazine

Tahlia Street, Riyadh – Central lifestyle area known for cafés, restaurants, and walkable city living

SoMatcha / café co-working culture in Riyadh – Example of modern social/work spaces in the city

Saudi Compounds – Referenced in discussion about expat housing and community living

Lamb Bakery, Paris – Bakery founded by a Saudi former doctor (story featured in List, tied to Saudi pride)

Stay Connected:

📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

Welcome back, it’s our first catch up of 2026 and we’re kicking off the year with a proper life update!

Frankie and Lily kick off the new year with big updates - including Saudi Life: Unpacked officially launching on YouTube and a brand new recording space in the works before diving into a real, honest catch-up on winter break travels (UK + Ireland), expat family life, and the reality of getting back into routine after the holidays.

We also get into the stuff no one really talks about: post-travel reset with kids, screen time culture shocks, and the emotional side of expat life - all while keeping it light, funny, and very us.Plus, we answer your burning questions about moving to Riyadh - from short-term rentals and job hunting, to how to meet people as a newcomer (especially if you’re arriving solo).

SHOWNOTES:
- Our first catch up of 2026 + what’s been happening behind the scenes
- SLU updates: YouTube launch + a new recording space coming soon
- Winter break travel recap: UK highlights, Ireland trip, and expat holiday realities
- Frankie’s renovation / project house update (and the chaos that comes with it!)
- The post-travel routine reset: kids, emotions, and back-to-school transitions
- Screen time culture shocks + parenting abroad
- Why Saudi winter is an underrated time to explore (or stay put)
-QA: Your burning questions
Do you need a “perfect plan” before moving?
Short-term accommodation options in Riyadh
Job hunting in Saudi - what the market feels like right now
How to make friends and build community as a newcomer (at any age)

Resources Recommendations:
Opal (screen time + focus app)
Pinterest (vision boards / goal setting inspiration)
Fairmont (near Olaya / Ramla Plaza) - long-stay studio apartment area option
Antara Compound - short-term compound stay option
The Botanist (mentioned as an example of a small business journey)

Stay Connected:
📍 Follow @saudilifeunpacked for updates, resources weekly episodes.

What does it really take to walk across Saudi Arabia on foot - as a woman?

In this extraordinary episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Lily sit down with Alice Morrison, a British explorer, journalist, and adventurer who has just completed a world-first journey: walking 2,195km across Saudi Arabia over 112 days, from the Jordan border all the way down through the Kingdom.

Recorded only moments after she finished (still in her desert expedition gear!), Alice takes us behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious overland journeys ever attempted in Saudi Arabia. We talk about the reality of daily life in the desert - no bathrooms, limited water, blistered feet, survival logistics and the deep human moments that made it unforgettable.

Along the way, she shares what she learned about Saudi hospitality, cultural respect (ehdram), the kindness of strangers, and why Saudi Arabia felt not only welcoming but surprisingly safe - even as a solo female traveler.

If you’ve ever been curious about Saudi Arabia beyond the headlines, this episode is a rare window into the country’s landscapes, people, and spirit - told through a journey few could imagine.Listen now, and if you’re navigating life in Saudi (or thinking about moving), this one will leave you inspired.

SHOW NOTES:
Walking across Saudi Arabia solo: route + logistics
Desert survival: water, navigation the role of her support team
The mental game of solitude and endurance
Camel culture (yes, emotional support camels!)
Saudi hospitality, safety what locals really thought of the expedition
What Alice is doing next (book + possible TV series)