Physician, non-fiction author, and broadcast media commentator and writer Dr. Qanta Ahmed joins The 966 from New York to discuss the “colossal” changes in Saudi Arabia since Vision 2030 was launched and her view that Saudi Arabia has emerged as an increasingly important and influential global power. Dr. Qanta is an Academic Pulmonologist and Sleep Disorder Specialist at NYU Langone and has lived in and visited Saudi Arabia now over a period spanning 3 decades. She first visited Saudi Arabia as a single female doctor in 1999, and wrote a book, called ‘In the Land of Invisible Women,’ (a title she reveals to The 966 she did not write) detailing her experiences in the Kingdom. Before that conversation, The 966 hosts discuss Riyadh’s pitch to host Expo 2030, the progress for Saudi women since 2016 and the impressive gains for Saudi women in the workforce (as well as highlighting the strong line up of Saudi women guests The 966 has hosted since our launch over 94 episodes), and much more in the program’s finishing segment.
Listen now:
Watch the conversation with Dr. Qanta on YouTube:
3:35 – Richard’s One Big Thing hosts discuss Riyadh’s pitch to host Expo 2030. Rome, the Saudi capital Riyadh, and South Korea’s second-biggest city Busan presented their bids recently. Saudi Arabia has allocated $7.8 billion worth of investments for Expo 2030. The 966 hosts discuss more details about the bid and what winning might mean for Saudi Arabia.
13:39 – Lucien’s One Big Thing is the progress for Saudi women since 2016 and the impressive gains for Saudi women in the workforce. The 966 has hosted a number of impressive and accomplished Saudi female leaders in its 94 episodes so far. Lucien takes stock of the various policy and social changes that have made it increasingly possible for Saudi women to not only find jobs, but grow within them and ascend higher up the corporate ladder. By the first quarter of 2022, 39% of Saudi women in the private sector held senior and middle management positions. As of March, about 27.7% of women were working in the education sector and 17.7% in the retail and wholesale sectors.
The hosts discuss the future for Saudi women in the years to come as Vision 2030 matures.
27:14 – Dr. Qanta Ahmed joins The 966 from New York to discuss the “colossal” changes in Saudi Arabia since Vision 2030 was launched and her view that Saudi Arabia has emerged as an increasingly important and influential global power. Dr. Qanta is an Academic Pulmonologist and Sleep Disorder Specialist at NYU Langone and has lived in and visited Saudi Arabia now over a period spanning 3 decades.
1:19:25 – Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed headed into the weekend.
•Senior Biden adviser in Israel to discuss Saudi normalization efforts
•Saudi Arabia recently participated in the virtual ministerial meeting announcing the launch of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats
•PGA Tour Says Saudi Wealth Fund Could Put at Least $1 Billion Into Golf Deal
•Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has begun installing 1,350 km of water pipes across the capital city as part of the ‘Green Riyadh‘ programme, reported SPA
•PIF Reports $11 Billion in Investment Losses in 2022
•Saudi Arabia: NEOM begins construction of hydrogen megaproject
