What Did I Miss?

Aziz Alserhan
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We know the start, and we see the win. But What Did We Miss about what happened in the middle?" Welcome to What Did I Miss, a podcast sharing the raw, deeply human stories of extraordinary people who faced impossible odds and found a way to win.

Episodes

  1. Sep 14

    The Urban Master Plan: Preparing Riyadh for Expo 2030 & FIFA ⚡

    Can Riyadh ever become a city where you don't need a car? 🚗Riyadh has passed 7.5 million people and is rapidly heading toward 10 million. But as the capital expands horizontally, the daily reality of gridlock traffic, lack of walkability, and housing supply concerns have become central to everyday life. How does a desert metropolis built around automobile culture humanize its streets, flatten rush hour, and prepare for mega-events like Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup? In this episode of What Did I Miss?, host Aziz Alserhan sits down with distinguished urban planner, architect, and former government leader Dr. Ghazi Alabasi. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Dundee and a Master’s from IIT Chicago, Dr. Ghazi has spent over three decades shaping Saudi Arabia’s spatial and urban identity—previously serving as Deputy Minister of Health for Logistics, leading the Saudi Council of Engineers, and chairing the Saudi Umran Society. Dr. Ghazi breaks down the mechanics of modern urban design: why traffic isn’t eliminated but minimized, how flexible work schedules can flatten highway congestion overnight without corporate cost, and why the "Saudi Dream Home" is transitioning from 900m² villas to vertical urban living. We also unpack the 10% White Lands Tax, the truth about autonomous vehicles, the importance of 3-meter shaded sidewalks, and why Expo 2030 is Riyadh's ultimate infrastructure stress test. ⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS00:00 – The Riyadh Paradox: Why Everyone Loves a Desert City 02:24 – How Do We Actually Solve Riyadh’s Traffic Problem? 04:21 – Saudi Car Culture vs. Public Transit: A Behavioral Dilemma 07:41 – The Flexible Work Solution: How Staggered Hours Flatten Rush Hour 15:57 – Can Autonomous & Self-Driving Vehicles Work in Riyadh? 18:34 – Why We Lost the Joy of Driving: Luxury vs. Necessity 24:14 – Urban Sprawl & The History of Horizontal City Planning 27:15 – The End of the Mega-Villa: Shifting Toward Vertical Living 30:07 – The Parking Dilemma: Metro Stations & Neighborhood Congestion 35:00 – What is Urban Humanization? Why Sidewalks Matter More Than Roads 42:00 – Quality of Life Program: Culture, Sports & Human Development 45:08 – Tearing Down the Walls: Why 3-Meter Fences Isolate Us 52:36 – The Hong Kong Test: Why Summer Heat Isn’t Why We Don’t Walk 57:00 – Soft Programs vs. Concrete: How to Get People Walking 01:00:23 – Housing Affordability: Why Young Saudis Need Starter Apartments 01:04:08 – The 10% White Lands Tax: Forcing Landlords to Build 01:06:20 – 10 Million People Incoming: Can Riyadh Infrastructure Handle It? 01:07:18 – Expo 2030 vs. FIFA World Cup: The Real 6-Month Test 01:16:00 – Cleaning Up the Construction Sector: Removing Unverified Engineers 01:21:40 – Why Saudi Construction Moves at Record Speed 01:25:40 – Vision 2030 & A Vibrant Society: Mindset Over Blueprints 01:32:50 – Redesigning Riyadh: Topography, Wadi Hanifa & A Livable City

    The Urban Master Plan: Preparing Riyadh for Expo 2030 & FIFA ⚡

  2. Aug 10

    Why the West is Completely Wrong About Saudi's $100B Bet | Dr. Waleed Al-Hemaidi | Ep3

    While Western headlines doubted Saudi Arabia’s ambitious $100B tourism vision, the Kingdom quietly shattered its targets—reaching 135 Million Tourists. How did Saudi Arabia achieve what international publications called "impossible"?In this episode of What Did I Miss?, Aziz sits down with urban planning authority Dr. Waleed Al-Hemaidi—former Mayor of the Asir Region, Ardara (PIF) board member, RCRC urban advisor, and Ph.D. graduate from UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture.Dr. Waleed breaks down the mega-project blueprints transforming Saudi Arabia into a global powerhouse: from building the world's largest airport (King Salman Airport) and largest entertainment city (Qiddiya) to engineering a 20-year survival strategy beyond oil dependency.📌 KEY TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:-The $100B Stat the West Ignored: How Saudi Arabia surpassed its 100M tourist goal years ahead of Vision 2030 targets.-Qiddiya & World Records: Inside Six Flags and the development of the world's largest entertainment city.-Urban Density & Riyadh Traffic: How Riyadh Metro expansion and smart density zoning around stations are solving commute friction.-King Salman Airport Spec Sheet: 160 gates, 6 runways, and tripling aviation capacity to anchor global logistics.-The 20-Year Economic Pivot: Why natural resources have strict ceilings and how solar energy exports, silica refining, and minerals are replacing oil reliance.Taxation & Public Policy: Directly addressing economic rumors regarding income tax on Saudi citizens.-Cultural Tourism vs. Generic Luxury: Rebuilding Abha with Ardara, preserving historic Diriyah, and creating world-class mountain resorts.⏳ CHAPTERS (TIMESTAMPS):00:00 - Intro01:44 - Surpassing the Goal: 135 Million Tourists Achieved03:07 - How Tourism & Hospitality Empower Young Saudis06:00 - Qiddiya & Six Flags: World’s Largest Entertainment City08:51 - Urban Master Plans: Preparing for Expo 2030 & FIFA World Cup12:09 - Solving Riyadh’s Traffic: Metro Line 7 & Density Zoning18:54 - King Salman Airport: 160 Gates & 6 Runways21:42 - The 20-Year Survival Clock: Transitioning Beyond Oil23:54 - Saudi’s Solar Edge & Silica Export Strategy27:00 - Domestic Tourism: Keeping Capital Inside the Kingdom30:38 - Unique Architecture: Rock Hotels & Red Sea Overwater Shells32:19 - Architectural Competitions: How Mega-Projects Get Greenlit35:46 - Heritage Preservation: Why Diriyah Matters to Saudi Identity42:43 - Rebuilding Abha: Ardara & Asir’s Year-Round Cool Climate50:00 - Human Capital: Why Local Talent Outweighs Billion-Dollar Buildings53:54 - Income Tax Rumors: Will Saudi Citizens Face Personal Taxes?55:40 - Riyadh vs. Regional Competitors: What Makes Saudi Unique01:00:00 - Alcohol-Free Tourism & Family Safety at Mega Events01:04:00 - Humanizing Cities: Sports Boulevard, Green Riyadh & Walkability01:08:45 - The Social ROI: Local Pride, Job Creation & Sovereign Future🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:Dr. Waleed Alhumaidi is a prominent Saudi Arabian urban planner and executive leader. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Development & Planning from the Bartlett School of Architecture, London University. His career spans over two decades in high-level public administration, including roles as Mayor of the Asir Region, Urban Planning Advisor to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), Board Member of the Asir Development Authority, and Board Member of Public Investment Fund (PIF) founding councils.🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW:YouTube: https://youtu.be/qZ2oE3gjwi4Follow on Instagram / TikTok: @aziz.alserhan

    Why the West is Completely Wrong About Saudi's $100B Bet | Dr. Waleed Al-Hemaidi | Ep3

  3. Jul 13

    The Saudi Fitness Revolution | Mark Mattiazzo | What Did I Miss? Ep2

    In this episode of What Did I Miss?, we dive deep into the massive health and wellness transformation taking place across Saudi Arabia. Joining the show is Mark Mattiazzo, an Australian personal fitness trainer and certified nutritionist with 18 years of industry experience. Having spent the last six years living and coaching in the Kingdom, Mark offers a unique firsthand perspective on how local health culture is rapidly evolving.From coaching everyday fitness enthusiasts to training members of the Saudi royal family, Mark has witnessed a profound shift in the Saudi mentality toward physical health, diet, and lifestyle. We discuss the rise of a new morning culture in Riyadh, the double-edged sword of fitness social media, the realities of steroid use in the region, and what it takes to build sustainable wellness habits today.Key Topics Discussed- The Saudi Health Transformation: How public perception of fitness and nutrition has dramatically evolved over the last six years.- A Shift in Mentality: Moving from a sedentary lifestyle to a proactive, health conscious mindset across generations.- The Rise of Morning Culture: How early morning workouts, running groups, and outdoor activities are changing the daily routine in Saudi Arabia.- The Impact of Social Media: Navigating the positive inspiration and the toxic misinformation spreading across fitness channels.- Steroid Use and Realities: An honest conversation about performance-enhancing drugs, body image pressures, and gym culture.Connect with Mark MattiazzoMark is currently taking on new clients for personalized fitness coaching and nutritional guidance.Instagram: @markmattiazzofitness

    The Saudi Fitness Revolution | Mark Mattiazzo | What Did I Miss? Ep2

  4. Jun 15

    The Rise of the Saudi Entrepreneur | Dr. Yahya Alserhan | What Did I Miss? Ep1

    In the premiere episode of What Did I Miss?, I sit down with a very special guest—my father, Dr. Yahya Alserhan, a seasoned business management educator.After being away from Saudi Arabia for nearly two decades, I returned to find a completely transformed business landscape. In this episode, we bridge the gap between the past and the present, exploring how Saudi Arabia evolved from the early days of the oil boom into a global powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship.We break down the historical impact of the oil boom on local innovation, the powerful legacy of Saudi scholarship programs, and how a generation of educated citizens returned home ready to build. Today, backed by unprecedented financial support, unmatched digitization, and a massive shift in economic policy, Saudi Arabia ranks #2 globally on the Ease of Doing Business Index.Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, an investor, or simply curious about the massive economic shift happening in the Kingdom, this conversation offers a masterclass in the past, present, and future of Saudi business.📌 What We Discuss:Introduction & Dr. Yahya Alserhan’s BackgroundDid the Oil Boom Delay Local Innovation? The Scholarship Effect: Cultivating a Generation of EntrepreneursCapital & Support: Entering the Saudi Market Today Becoming #2 Globally: The Digitization of Business SetupFrom Bankruptcy to Profitability: How the Kingdom Saves Struggling BusinessesWhat It Actually Takes to Be an Entrepreneur Today🌐 Connect With Me:Instagram: @azizalserhan_podsTikTok: @azizalserhan_podsX (Twitter): @azizalserhan_pods🔔 Subscribe to the channel to keep up with the journey of What Did I Miss? as we explore the incredible changes shaping the region today.Like, comment, and let me know your thoughts on the Saudi entrepreneurial shift below!

    The Rise of the Saudi Entrepreneur | Dr. Yahya Alserhan | What Did I Miss? Ep1

  5. Apr 22

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About

We know the start, and we see the win. But What Did We Miss about what happened in the middle?" Welcome to What Did I Miss, a podcast sharing the raw, deeply human stories of extraordinary people who faced impossible odds and found a way to win.

Information

  • Creator
    Aziz Alserhan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aziz Alserhan
  • Show Website
    What Did I Miss?