The Saudi Chapter

"I replied to a couple of emails out of boredom... next thing I knew, I landed in Saudi Arabia with no idea what was waiting for me." ✈️Most people spend months researching before relocating their entire life across the globe. For Jay Diaz, it started as an absolute accident.A nurse by profession and gym owner from the Philippines, Jay was among Southeast Asia’s earliest CrossFit coaches back in 2012. He signed a short coaching contract in Jeddah intending to do two years, save some money, and fly back home. Fast forward almost 10 years later: he built a career, met his wife, is raising two kids in the Kingdom, hosts the popular Beyond Reps podcast, and watched Saudi Arabia transform into a global fitness and sports powerhouse.In the FINAL episode of The Saudi Chapter (TSC), host Aziz Alserhan sits down with Jay over fresh gahwa for an unvarnished, human look at life as an expat in the Kingdom.We break down the awkward cultural mistakes (why you should never fist-bump with your left hand), why 60% of foreign workers struggle because they try to change the culture instead of adapting as visitors, what raising a family in one of the safest countries on Earth does to your mental health, and why Saudi generosity shocked him the most. Whether you’re an expat living in the Gulf, thinking about making the move, or just curious about what daily life in Saudi Arabia really feels like beneath the headlines, Jay’s journey will completely reframe your perspective. ⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Saudi Gahwa & Why Jay Accidentally Moved to Saudi Arabia 11:41 – The First 24 Hours: Old Terminals, Culture Shock & Jeddah Heat 15:09 – Navigating Unspoken Rules: Singles at Malls, Prayer Closures & Left-Hand Fist-Bumps 18:25 – The Visitor Mindset: Why 60% of Expats Struggle to Adapt 22:20 – The Identity Trap: Why Your Value Isn't Tied to Your Output 24:40 – The Fitness Explosion: How Vision 2030 Transformed Saudi Health 33:20 – Raising Kids in KSA: Absolute Safety vs. Missing the Extended Family Village 39:15 – Behind Beyond Reps: Building a Podcast from a Tent Balcony 45:30 – "They Don't Ask Why": The Reality of Saudi Hospitality 47:50 – Advice for New Expats: Tuning Out Mainstream Media & Making Your Own Mind Up 🎙️ GUEST & PODCAST LINKSGuest: Jay Diaz (CrossFit Coach & Host of Beyond Reps Podcast)Instagram: @jmpdzHost of:Beyond Reps Podcast on YouTube:  @JayDiazBR  Beyond Reps on Instagram: @beyondrepspodcast

Two men on a motorcycle pressed a gun against his forehead and pulled the trigger three times. Every single time, the weapon misfired.

In Episode 4 of The Saudi Chapter, host Aziz Alserhan sits down with international civil engineer and executive William Jacobucci (Managing Partner at Amara). Decades after building infrastructure across Brazil and Spain, an armed robbery in São Paulo forced William to make a life-altering choice: flee across the globe and restart his career in Saudi Arabia in 2013.

Over twelve years living and driving across the Kingdom, William watched the country transform from the ground up. In this wide-ranging masterclass on resilience, construction, and cultural immersion, William breaks down why the traditional "American Dream" has moved to Riyadh, how true freedom begins with physical safety, what senior leaders owe the next generation of Saudi talent, and why he is pioneering Amara—an ultra-luxury hospitality brand with authentic Saudi DNA.

📌 Key Topics Covered:

• Surviving Point-Blank: The São Paulo robbery and 3 misfires that triggered his escape to the Middle East.

• The Ramadan Landing: Arriving in Dammam with zero context, melting shoes on the asphalt, and learning local customs from scratch.

• Beyond the Capital Bubble: Driving thousands of kilometers alone from Jazan to Riyadh, and experiencing genuine Saudi generosity across the provinces.

• The "Saudi Dream": Why Saudi Arabia has replaced the West as the primary global frontier for builders and entrepreneurs.

• Mentorship Over Ego: Why foreign leaders must drop the lecture mindset and empower ambitious young Saudis.

• "The Press is Cancer": Dismantling sensationalist Western reporting and separating manufactured panic from ground reality.

• Amara at the Edge of the World: Building an indigenous Saudi luxury brand designed to compete globally.

  ⏱️ Chapters

• 00:00 – Saudi Gahwa & Surviving the 2008 Crash

• 15:16 – Held at Gunpoint in Brazil: 3 Misfires at Point-Blank Range

• 21:10 – "Take Me Out of Brazil": Landing One Day Before Ramadan

• 32:00 – Discovering Authentic Saudi Hospitality & Culture

• 46:15 – Driving the Provinces: Jazan, Najran & Cultural Immersion

• 58:45 – The "Saudi Dream": Why the American Dream Moved to KSA

• 01:07:45 – Advice for Young Talent: Eliminating Unnecessary Distractions

• 01:14:48 – "The Press is Cancer": Media Misconceptions & Building Amara

What happens when you leave the predictability of the West to raise a family in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing era?In this episode of The Saudi Chapter, Aziz sits down with entrepreneur and creator Carmen Lincoln. After growing up in northern Germany, living 7 years in Sydney, and 7 years in London, Carmen and her family made the bold leap to relocate to Riyadh with two toddlers under the age of five.From navigating compound living and experiencing genuine Saudi hospitality to tackling the contrast between Western high-alert parenting and Riyadh’s safety, Carmen pulls back the curtain on the real expat experience on the ground. We dive deep into the cultural power of Tawakkul (trust in God) in business, the mind-blowing development speed under Vision 2030, and why breaking past media headlines is the ultimate key to expanding your worldview.CHAPTERS:00:00 – Why We Left the West: Family, Mindset & Saudi Coffee09:30 – Relocating Toddlers: Pushback, Safety & The London Contrast14:48 – First Impressions vs. Reality: Hospitality & Saudi Women22:42 – Faith in Daily Life: The Power of Tawakkul & Pausing for God30:16 – Life on the Ground: Ramadan Nights, Compound Freedom & Desert Trips34:49 – The Speed of Vision 2030: Building Faster Than Dubai48:27 – The Expat Perspective: Raising Culturally Sensitive Kids & Final AdviceFollow Carmen on Instagram: @carmen_in_the_worldFollow the show on Instagram and Tiktok at: @aziz.alserhan

What is it actually like to pack up your life in Paris and move to Riyadh?In this episode of The Saudi Chapter, host Aziz sits down with Simone De Comptior, a French executive coach who made a bold, leap-of-faith move to Saudi Arabia with her entrepreneur husband. From her initial impressions landing in the July heat to navigating day-to-day life outside of an expat compound, Simone opens up about the reality of living in a country undergoing a massive societal and cultural shift.We dive deep into:The Power of Unplugging: Experiencing her very first Ramadan in a Muslim country and discovering the unexpected peace that comes with shifting from a fast-paced Western hustle to a intentional societal "reset."Identity vs. Environment: How expats handle the mental load of losing their familiar routines (like running along the Seine) and how a local French bakery provides a sweet sense of comfort. The Human Cost of Speed: The internal pressures Saudi men and women face as they rapidly adapt to the bold goals of Vision 2030 and modern technology. The Power of Tawakkul: How moving to Riyadh completely changed Simone’s perspective on stress, success, and learning to leave the results in the hands of God. Whether you’re curious about life in the Kingdom, dealing with your own identity shift, or wondering what the Western media gets wrong about Saudi culture, Simone’s perspective as an observer and coach is a must-watch. Chapters:00:00:00 – Preview: Culturally adapting to the Kingdom 00:03:25 – Leaving Paris: The bold decision to move 00:09:20 – First Impressions: Heat, construction, and landing in Riyadh 00:21:04 – Decompressing: A transformative first Ramadan 00:26:04 – Vision 2030: Modernization vs. Westernization & the mental cost of speed 00:44:22 – Expats & Identity: Dealing with the shift when your environment changes00:55:10 – Adopting Tawakkul: Finding a sense of peace & final messageFollow Simone on Instagram @simone_de_comptoir​

In the premiere episode of The Saudi Chapter, I sit down with Saoirse Gardner, an American expat in Saudi Arabia who relocated six months ago with her husband and son. What began as a major international relocation quickly turned into a journey of discovery, reframing perspectives, and building a new home—and a lasting friendship along the way.Saoirse shares an honest, firsthand look at her family’s transition, breaking down what it’s really like living in Saudi Arabia and navigating daily life, culture, and community in the Kingdom today. Whether you are researching how to move to Saudi Arabia, curious about expat life in Riyadh, or just love stories about human connection across cultures, this chapter is for you.Follow Saoirse on Instagram: @saudisideupLike and subscribe. Share this episode with friends and family.

Telling the expat stories of Saudi Arabia