Rijal Almaa UNESCO World Heritage site in the Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia, featuring traditional multi-storey stone architecture in a mountain village.

When Abha Becomes a Destination

Abha is emerging as one of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations, drawing visitors to the Asir region in record numbers. The shift is welcome, but it is reshaping local life in ways residents are still trying to understand.

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 20th Jan 2026

Conversations

Portrait of Lily Moffatt, Australian journalist and co-host of the Saudi Life: Unpacked podcast, photographed against a light background.

Inside Saudi Arabia Through a Podcast Lens

In Saudi Life: Unpacked, journalist Lily Moffatt explores Saudi Arabia as it is lived — through daily routines, small encounters, and conversations that rarely make headlines.

Dec 16, 2025

Jean-Philippe Linteau, Canada’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, during an interview in Riyadh on diplomacy, education, and sustainability.

A Diplomat of Quiet Reach: Canada’s Jean-Philippe Linteau in Saudi Arabia

Canada’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jean-Philippe Linteau, speaks to Saudi Times about diplomacy built not on spectacle but on trust, education, and steady engagement. From his first encounter with the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to his work in Riyadh since 2023, he offers a grounded view of a country in motion—and of the subtle bridges that form when communication becomes a shared priority.

Dec 12, 2025

Courtney Freer, a scholar of Gulf politics and Islamism, smiling while seated in an office setting during an academic interview.

Beyond Oil: Courtney Freer on Islamism, Nationalism, and Saudi Arabia

Islamism, nationalism, and the shifting politics of the Gulf are often treated as disconnected themes. Yet Dr. Courtney Freer, a political scientist at Emory University, argues that these forces intersect more deeply than outsiders assume. In her conversation with Saudi Times, she explains how the Muslim Brotherhood, state-led nationalism, and new forms of Gulf identity continue to shape the region — far beyond the familiar narratives of oil and security.

Dec 2, 2025

Rowa Talal Fitaihi, Saudi humanitarian and UNHCR officer, photographed against a dark background wearing a black abaya and smiling confidently.

Rowa Fitaihi: Linking Local Values to Global Aid

From Jeddah to the UN, Rowa Talal Fitaihi bridges Saudi values with global humanitarian action. At UNHCR Saudi Arabia, she helps translate the Kingdom’s long tradition of giving into structured, transparent systems of international support—linking faith, strategy, and compassion.

Nov 4, 2025

Koelnmesse, Cologne — where experts discussed Saudi Arabia’s social transformation and its impact on global business in 2025.

Interview with the Cologne/Bonn Fair: Observing Saudi Society and Business Dynamics

As Saudi Arabia undergoes a profound social and economic transformation, its evolving identity offers valuable lessons for international partners. The Kingdom’s modernization—spanning workplaces, public life, and trade—reveals a society balancing continuity with change, and a market that rewards cultural understanding as much as commercial strategy.

Oct 31, 2025

Minimalist illustration of Kuwait City and Riyadh skylines connected by a golden arrow over desert dunes, symbolizing parallel progress and transformation across the Gulf.

From Perception to Reality: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s Parallel Paths

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia share more than a border; they share a rhythm of reform. Once seen as cultural opposites, the two Gulf states now move along parallel paths of renewal — modernising economies, reshaping societies, and closing the gap between perception and reality.

Oct 30, 2025

Silhouette of oil pump jacks at sunset symbolizing Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and energy transition toward a post-oil, data-driven future.

From Oil Barrels to Data Streams: Saudi Arabia’s Real Transformation

In the 1970s, Saudi families measured prosperity by new Toyotas and air-conditioned homes. Today, the symbols of wealth are changing again—from oil rigs to laptops, from concrete to code. As the Kingdom moves toward a post-oil future, its greatest challenge may not be economic but cultural: how 36 million Saudis learn to redefine success in a world powered by knowledge rather than crude.

Oct 15, 2025

Saudi female scuba diver Bashaer documenting coral reefs underwater in the Red Sea with diving equipment and camera.

Meet Bashaer: A Saudi Pioneer Beneath the Waves

When Saudi women break new ground, the world takes notice—but Bashaer’s story flows deeper than headlines. As a scuba diving instructor and marine conservationist, she is not only exploring the underwater world but also helping to safeguard it, inspiring a new generation of Saudis to view the Red Sea not just as a marvel, but as a shared responsibility.

Sep 30, 2025

Steffen Hertog: The Quiet Reordering of Saudi Society

Saudi Arabia’s biggest changes are not only in its skyline but in its labour market and social fabric. Economist Steffen Hertog explains how Saudis are adapting to private sector realities, new reforms, and shifting ideas of what a good life means.

Aug 31, 2025

Shubhda Chaudhary seated at Suwaidi Park during Riyadh Season, wearing a mustard yellow blouse and olive green pants, smiling at the camera in front of a branded backdrop featuring the park and event logos.

Reframing Saudi Arabia: An Indian Perspective by Shubhda Chaudhary

Indian scholar Shubhda Chaudhary arrived in Riyadh expecting complexity — and found far more. Her journey revealed a vibrant, welcoming Saudi society that defies outside narratives.

Aug 5, 2025

Saudi actor Aziz Gharbawi, dressed in a black suit, standing on a grand staircase in a historic building—part of a new generation of performers shaping Saudi Arabia’s emerging film industry.

Aziz Gharbawi: Not Just Acting

Aziz Gharbawi isn’t chasing fame. He’s chasing a better version of himself. From engineering school in Canada to complex screen roles in Rashash and Last Light, the Jeddah-born actor is part of a new generation shaping Saudi cinema—without losing sight of identity, integrity, or emotional depth. In this exclusive Saudi Times interview, Gharbawi opens up about growth, duality, and the stories he’s ready to tell.

Jun 29, 2025

Prince Turki AlFaisal speaking at a public event, wearing traditional Saudi attire and addressing regional political developments.

Prince Turki and the Saudi View on War and Stability

What does the war look like from inside Saudi Arabia? In this rare interview, Prince Turki AlFaisal shares a voice that reflects a broader societal mindset.

Jun 28, 2025