King Salman's pivotal role in Saudi Arabia's past and present with author and columnist David Rundell; plus, archaeology in Al Ula, Wa'ed's new investment, and more...

The 966

Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman's incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. King Salman has played an enormously pivotal role for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the development of the modern Saudi state. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss an archaeology summit taking place in Al Ula this week, an interesting and exciting new investment made by Saudi Aramco's VC arm, Wa'ed, into a company that is building new homes using 3D printing, and much more as always in the program's Yallah! segment.

7:36 - Richard's One Big Thing is AlUla's invite-only AlUla World Archaeological Summit taking place this week. The three-day summit’s program of panels, discussions and excursions commenced yesterday at Maraya Concert Hall, the ancient region’s giant mirror-cladded multipurpose venue located amid a wealth of archaeological treasures stemming from the Neolithic era to the early 20th century.

16:26 - Lucien's One Big Thing is Aramco's VC arm Wa'ed and its investment into an exciting, California-based 3D homebuilding company called Mighty Buildings. The company claims its proprietary printed material, made of 60% recycled glass, is five times the strength of concrete, 70% the weight and produces fewer carbon emissions during manufacturing. It’s also rated for winds up to 150 miles per hour — hurricane-force, in other words — and compliant with the California Building Code, including Title 24 Energy requirements and other regulatory standards. Mighty Buildings employs ultraviolet light to cure its material off-site. This allows for “highly refined” and “unique” shapes with a range of customization options, the startup says, while reducing waste as only the material that’s required is cured.

28:36 - Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman's incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. Rundell spent 15 of his 30 total years in service as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, including as Chief of Mission. Lately, Mr. Rundell has been active in providing commentary and analysis in the media -- two items from David which we’ve referenced recently on The 966 include his recent piece for the online publication Unherd, entitled “How MBS wins friends and influences people,” and for Newsweek earlier this year, entitled Saudi Arabia's True Role in 9/11, in which he and fellow author Michael Gfoeller dispel some common myths on Saudi Arabia’s connection to those attacks.

56:44 - Yallah! Top storylines on Saudi Arabia this week ---

•Saudi Arabia is working on its own major commercial cruise line brand designed for those with “Arabian preferences.” AROYA Cruises sets sail next year with a single ship, formerly known as World Dream, the last remaining ship of the struggling Dream Cruises company.

•The United States and Saudi Arabia are in talks to secure metals in Africa needed to help them with their energy transitions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the talks.

•Noor Riyadh, the Largest Light Art Festival in the World, will return for its third edition in Riyadh, with the festival running from November 30 to December 16, 2023, and the exhibition from November 30, 2023 to March 2, 2024.

•Saudi Arabia's new Red Sea International airport (RSI) is on track to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will become the first airline to operate out of the airport.

•Saudi Arabia's new Red Sea International airport (RSI) is on track to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will become the first airline to operate out of the airport.

•The company formed to build the kilometre-high Jeddah Tower in the Saudi city of Jeddah has restarted work on the scheme and has drawn up a list of contractors who may complete the structure.