In Episode #20 (!) of The TWENTY30 Podcast, hosts Hanaa and Lucien catch up on all the feedback they've gotten over the past week, which included a flood of positive comments on Fatima Batook's episode (#19). Then the hosts get to Lucien's DEEPDIVE segment, which is an overview and analysis of all of the stadiums that Saudi Arabia is building now as the Kingdom rolls up its sleeves and begins preparation for both The 2027 AFC Asian Cup (the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup) and, of course, the FIFA World Cup in 2034. The DEEPDIVE was prompted by the announcement of the Kingdom's newest planned stadium at New Murabba, which is inspired by the native acacia tree in Saudi Arabia and is truly a unique and amazing design for the capital city's new district, owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

Lucien makes the point that, these days, stadiums must offer much more than just a venue for sports, as that business model has proven to be weaker to more expensive stadium builds that offer revenue-generating opportunities for events when teams aren't playing.

The hosts then get to the news. In the News this week:

•The groundbreaking strategic cooperation between Riyadh Air and Delta Airlines, highlighting the potential benefits for travelers and the aviation sector.

•The U.S.-Saudi framework agreement for space collaboration

•Goldman Sachs' forecast on peak oil demand and its implications for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

•The burgeoning movie theater industry in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on IMAX's expansion and the evolving cinema culture

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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.

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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.

©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.

In Episode 19, hosts Hanaa Almoaibed and Lucien Zeigler talk with Fatima Batook, a trailblazer for Saudi women in sports and the founder of Teema, the first Saudi Arabian sports apparel brand. Fatima discusses her transformative journey in the world of fitness and sports. She shares her experiences and challenges establishing spinning and fitness studios across Saudi Arabia and the region, and observations from her roles serving on various boards in the Kingdom, including the Saudi Business Women's Executive Council, the Saudi Tennis Federation, and the Al Qadisiyah Football Club.

Fatiwma delves into the changes she’s observed in the sports sector, driven by Vision 2030, and the significant role of women in this transformation. She also reflects on the challenges of creating opportunities for women to participate in sports and the support from the society.

The conversation also touches on the grassroots efforts to engage young Saudis in sports, the developments within the Saudi Tennis Federation, and the remarkable progress of Al Qadisiyah Football Club. Fatma emphasizes the collaborative efforts between the government and private sector to formalize the sports sector through new regulations and laws.

Watch the conversation here with Fatima on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ovgD7WA-Riw?si=ssVwODAlb0uyxHNr&t=1

After the conversation, Lucien and Hanaa talk about some of the latest news stories emerging from Saudi Arabia, including the Saudi reinsurance company's capital boost through a PIF subscription deal, the granting of Saudi citizenship to global talents to aid in Vision 2030, the re-establishment of the Saudi Canadian business council, and the Saudi Pro League's push to attract more international football talent. The hosts also touch on the economic revival in Saudi-Turkish relations and various initiatives aimed at bolstering trade and investment between the two nations.

***

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.

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.

Saudi Arabia's transformation is full speed ahead. So how is it going so far? The latest IMF report on Saudi Arabia ("Saudi Arabia: Concluding Statement of the 2024 Article IV Mission") is, in some ways, a report card on Saudi Arabia's reforms and the changes happening to the Kingdom's economy. Successes in non-oil growth, employment, inflation control, and financial sector stability top the performance report for the IMF.

The IMF notes that Saudi Arabia’s "unprecedented economic transformation is progressing well. Prudent macroeconomic policies, transformative changes—including through fiscal reforms and in the regulatory business environment—and strong domestic demand have helped prop up non-oil growth. Inflation remains contained. Spending reprioritization and recalibration of major spending programs are ongoing. Efforts to diversify the economy have started to bear fruit."

Lucien and Hanaa discuss the report and some of the recommendations from the IMF.

The hosts conclude as always with a discussion of some of the latest news headlines.