Riyadh: Vision 2030 Extension Pack

We landed in Riyadh around 5pm after a short flight from Jeddah. To get to the AirBnB, we took the Metro - our first public transportation of the trip. Finished just last year, it was a train from the future. We learned that it is in fact the world’s longest fully-automated (driverless) metro network, spanning around 176 km. Below are a few of the metro stations we saw. 

Our AirBnB was near the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD for short), so naturally we started referring to it as the King Arthur Flour District. After struggling to find our way out of this matrix, we were shepherded around the metro station by a young woman who is an engineer on an AR/VR skydiving project for Vision 2030. Nice. We made our way to the AirBnB, wandered to get some food, and then settled for the night. 

The next day, we started our ChatGPT itinerary with a trip to the National Museum of Saudi Arabia and the Murabba Palace. The palace was closed. Here is what it looked like from the outside. I don’t think we missed out on much. 

We found food at a local shopping mall full of Asian restaurants. CJ then set off on a journey to find a new backpack (his is very small) and I metro’d back to the airbnb.

CJ's note: On the way to find a new backpack I decided to take a detour to Jeera Square, better known as "Chop Chop Square." 

Why? Because that's where people used to be publicly beheaded. Luckily the Saudi government stopped that practice in 2022. Vision 2030 can't be having that. Presumably it's now done in private? While the square itself was quite mundane, I couldn't help but cynically notice the conveniently placed popcorn stall. I hope that it was just a coincidence.

Upon closer inspection I learned that Chop Chop Square is right in front of the headquarters for Saudi's Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Or more commonly known as their religious police. 

As you can guess, this committee has a laundry list of controversies including blocking schoolgirls from leaving a burning building due to improper dress (15 died), public beatings, and deaths during arrests. But not to fear, Vision 2030 got to them too, and in 2016 the Crown Prince severely curtailed their power.

Back to Jake: That evening, my Mom’s cousin Edmond, who is from Lebanon but works in Riyadh, picked us up and brought us to the Diriyah. One of the most visually appealing places we have been, the Diriyah consisted of old clay buildings with a modern spin.

To no surprise, the surrounding area was filled with construction equipment developing everything from commercial hubs to hotels to anything else the Crown Prince believe may bring in tourists. Take a look at these cranes fading away into the horizon. 

After that, we spent the evening walking around KAFD, gawking at the massive buildings, the perplexing layout, and the general cleanliness.

Even the mosques were modern. 

Edmond took us to Urth Cafe, where we feasted on pasta, pizza, French fries, wagyu grilled cheeses, and cheesecake. A nice taste of the local cuisine. They tasted amazing and were great for our stomachs!

The next day, CJ started off by continuing his quest for a new backpack. He began his quest by hailing one of Saudi's on demand vans (not autonomous) for around 75 cents.

Then he found his backpack upgrade!

In the early afternoon, we set out on a Tripadvisor tour to see the “edge of the world.” Sounds a bit dramatic, we thought. Two hours later and we were staring at this. Not bad Saudi Arabia. 

The lack of fences, while picturesque, did leave us questioning the safety of this whole operation. Fortunately our tour guide assured us that no one has died since the entire car of tourists went off the cliff last year. And now they have to park farther away from the edge. Vision 2030?

The tour even had a few hidden easter eggs - like a pit stop to take photos with a camel. 

After exploring the different cliffs, our guides set up a picnic for us to watch the sunset while indulging in variety of dates, coffee, and tea. During this chill session, CJ and I struck up a conversation with an ordinary man sitting next to us who sounded like he was from America - a very rare occurrence these days. Turns out neither of these were true - he was from Canada and he was no ordinary man. For the next 30 minutes, we sat in awe listening to a 40 year old tell us about his career as a banker, a lawyer, a film producer and director, and a founder of both a tele-heath company recently acquired (insert finance joke) and a non-profit for teaching kids film creation in Uganda and Kenya. 

When we got back, we ate at Five Guys and then went to Boulevard City per the recommendation of Edmond. We had no idea what to expect and were surprised when we walked into a miniature version of Times Square filled with shops, arcades, escape rooms, restaurants, and other random stuff.

Like this club/concert space (although Saudi has no alcohol)

And this culturally relevant mural of Einstein, Elvis, and Frida Kahlo.

And this statue thing. Oops how did I get in there?!

It was also home to the theatre hosting the highly controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival. No problems here. Vision 2030 you have done it again. It was beautiful. 

Our stay in Riyadh ended the next morning with one last trip on the metro, and a quick stop at Shawarma World so that CJ could get his fill before our travel day. This place was an operation. 

Saudi, I can’t wait to see what you cook up by 2030. Till next time.