As Saudi Vision 2030 drives a period of exciting change in KSA, how is the ambitious agenda for change reflected in culture and behaviour amongst local audiences? How are attitudes to the future shaping retail? And what does a glocal dining scene mean for the future of leisure?
- Sector
- Location Saudi Arabia
Founder of Niche Arabia, a luxury consultancy based out of Saudi Arabia; Marriam has worked with Art Basel, Art Dubai, Edge of Arabia and Saudi Design Week throughout her 17-year career as a consultant and feature journalist. She has spoken about Art and Creativity in the Kingdom at MIT University in Boston and was labeled a “Cultural Agent of Change” by Culturalrunners.
An acclaimed expert on the socioeconomic development and societal transformation of Saudi Arabia, Mark C. Thompson is the author of the books Saudi Arabia and the Path to Political Change: National Dialogue and Civil Society (IB Tauris, 2014) and Being Young Male and Saudi: Identity and Politics in a Globalized Kingdom (Cambridge University Press, 2019). He was also the co-editor (with Dr. Neil Quilliam) of Policy-Making in the GCC: State, Citizens and Institutions (Bloomsbury IB Tauris 2017), Governance and Domestic Policy Making in Saudi Arabia: Transforming Society, Economics, Politics, and Culture (Bloomsbury IB Tauris 2022), and the forthcoming Saudi Youth: Policies and Processes (Springer).
Currently, Mark is writing his second book Cambridge University Press, Youth Issues and Everyday Life in Saudi Arabia.
Ghassan Assi, a renowned entrepreneur and COO, excels in international corporate leadership, growth, and scale-ups, using his strong background in infrastructure. Recently, he has seamlessly transferred his skills to the leisure and entertainment industries, and is now focusing on innovation and growth.
Notably, Ghassan has introduced highly successful active play concepts to the GCC, such as Trampo Extreme, setting a new standard for family entertainment in the Saudi region. He oversees all project phases and is considered a visionary in the GCC's entertainment industry. His accomplishments have earned him prestigious awards, including being named one of Gulf News's Fifty MENA Business Leaders in 2023, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field.
Megan Carnegie is a journalist and editor. She has written for Courier, Time Out, Guardian Weekend, Creative Review, The Telegraph, Evening Standard, and more. Outside of work, she can be found reading, running, and killing off her houseplants.
