Travelogue 17 — Riyadh, Revisited: A City That Refuses to Stand Still

This week took me back to Riyadh — a short trip, yet one that felt like a natural continuation of what I had written earlier in my previous travelogue on this fascinating city. If Travelogue 12 (Riyadh) was about discovering a nation in transition, Travelogue 17 is about witnessing the momentum of that transition.

I was in Riyadh for a very important meeting with a client at the highest level, and as I prepared for the trip, I went deeper into Saudi Vision 2030 — especially how it is reshaping the financial and technology landscape. My intention was simple: observe, first-hand, how much of that vision is now visible on the ground.

Two simple but powerful proof points

Sometimes the clearest evidence doesn’t come from reports or presentations, but from everyday moments.

1. A Danish family in the elevator
I met a Danish family of four in the hotel lift — tourists spending five full days in Riyadh, simply to experience Arabian culture. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable. That’s the power of a nation opening itself to the world.

2. Hotel prices that tell a story
The average room night in a 5-star hotel was hovering around USD 1,500+, and the hotel was packed. You don’t need an economic model to understand what that means — Riyadh is rocking.

The scale of ambition keeps growing
Saudi Arabia’s list of global events has expanded dramatically, and it signals intent.

🌍 Major Global Events in Saudi Arabia
Year 2029 : Asian Winter Games @Trojena (NEOM) :First-ever winter games in the Arabian Peninsula with artificial snow environment
Year 2030 : World Expo @ Riyadh :One of the biggest global stages for innovation and culture
Year 2034 : FIFA World Cup across Saudi Arabia :Massive infrastructure + new stadiums planned
Ongoing LIV Golf global tournaments at Multiple cities : Transforming the global golf landscape

A nation transforming at an exponential pace
As I wrote in my earlier Riyadh travelogue, Saudi Arabia is not just changing — it is changing at a velocity few countries have ever attempted. This visit only strengthened that feeling.

For professionals seeking adventure, accelerated growth, and yes, tax-free salaries, Riyadh is becoming a compelling option. But more than that, it’s a place where you can feel a country rewriting its future .

This trip was short, but the reflections were deep. And as Saudi continues its extraordinary journey toward Vision 2030, I have no doubt that every visit will offer a new chapter.

“Some cities evolve slowly. Riyadh is rewriting its story in real time — and inviting the world to witness it.”