Saudi Life: Unpacked

Thinking about moving to Saudi Arabia... but worried you'll feel lonely? One of the biggest questions we hear is: "How do you actually make friends in Saudi Arabia?" In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie is joined by Sarah, Victoria and Jules, three women at very different stages of their Saudi journey, to talk honestly about building a life in the Kingdom. From arriving with no support...

Thinking about having a baby in Saudi Arabia? Wondering what breastfeeding support is really like? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie sits down with Dr. Eman, a pharmacist, certified lactation consultant, VBAC educator, and pediatric nutritionist, to answer the questions every new and expectant mum has. Together, they discuss what breastfeeding looks like in Saudi hospitals, whether...

Moving to Saudi Arabia changed Mila's life in ways she never expected.  In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie sits down with the Brazilian fitness coach to explore her journey from teaching CrossFit to becoming a leading voice in women's fitness and wellness in the Kingdom. We explore the realities of relocating to Saudi, building a new life from scratch, finding community, adaptin...

What if the best family memories you’ll make in Saudi are the ones just a road trip away? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down for a catch-up episode reflecting on a whirlwind few weeks of recording, exploring, and experiencing more of Saudi Arabia than ever before. From AlUla and The Red Sea to authentic Saudi homes, desert discoveries, local restaurants, family trav...

You can visit Saudi’s Red Sea - and still have no idea how big it really is. In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Olly from The Red Sea to unpack what’s really happening behind one of the world’s most ambitious tourism projects. From Desert Rock and Six Senses to SLS, St. Regis and the upcoming wellness destination Amala, this conversation goes far beyond beautif...

You can live in Saudi for years -  and still never experience this. What if the most authentic way to understand Saudi Arabia isn’t through what you see, but through who you sit with? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily step inside a Saudi family home joined by their host Fatima through the Hi Home experience and it completely shifts their perspective on what Saudi hospi...

What is Saudi cuisine really like - and what should you expect when dining in Saudi Arabia?   In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily head to Maiz restaurant in Bujairi Terrace for a special on-location episode, sitting down with Chef Elia Kaady to explore the richness of Saudi food, culture, and tradition.   From iconic dishes like jareesh, salig, and kubeba to the rol...

What is it really like to move to Saudi Arabia with children and can you actually travel to places like AlUla as a family?  In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily are joined by two expat mums at different stages of their journey - Cami recently moved from Sydney with her family and is navigating the early stages of settling in, while Emma, originally from the UK, has been i...

What if the most interesting place to travel right now… isn’t somewhere you fly to - but somewhere you live?  Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about destinations in the world, yet for many, what travel here actually looks like still feels unknown. In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Izy - a sports media presenter whose journey in Saud...

What does life in Saudi Arabia actually feel like right now? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down for a raw, unfiltered catch-up after a month of unexpected change, uncertainty, and emotional highs and lows. From leaving the Kingdom temporarily, navigating homeschooling and disrupted travel plans, to returning and adjusting to a new “in-between” reality - this is an h...

What is it really like to live in Saudi Arabia as an expat mum? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie sits down with Dani (Dani in KSA), a luxury media founder, content creator, and mum of four, to unpack her journey from the West to building a life in Riyadh. From navigating cultural differences and early challenges to raising teenagers between identities, Dani shares a deeply honest l...

What if the world’s next luxury travel destination wasn’t in Europe or the Maldives - but in Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world, but most people still have no idea what travel here actually looks like. In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Thomas Staunton, a luxury tourism expert working at the foref...

Moving countries with teenagers is one of the hardest transitions a family can face - but no one really talks about it. In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Saudi content creator Ruba Tursun and her mother Dr. Rihab, a marriage and family therapy consultant based in Riyadh. Together they explore the emotional realities of moving countries, raising teenagers betwe...

What is the Red Sea Project really like - and is it worth visiting right now? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily record live from SLS Red Sea, one of Saudi Arabia’s newest luxury resorts. We share our first impressions, what surprised us the most, and answer the questions we constantly get from expats: How do you get there? Can you bring kids? Is it worth the price? From the...

What’s really hidden inside Old Riyadh? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Fatimah Abusrair, a licensed tour guide, communication consultant and cultural storyteller who is helping people experience a different side of the city. Fatimah runs the first tip-based walking tour in Saudi Arabia, guiding guests through the historic Qasr Al-Hukm district - home to Mas...

What would you do if your life changed overnight? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with artist Aida Murad, whose life changed overnight when she became partially paralysed with rheumatoid arthritis in her early twenties. Instead of focusing on what she had lost, she chose to focus on the 1% she could still use - and that decision led her to a completely new purpos...

What is the Red Sea really like - and is it worth the trip for expat families in Saudi? In this special catch-up episode, Frankie and Lily record live from the SLS Red Sea, sharing their first impressions of one of the Kingdom’s newest destinations. From the striking contrast of desert, mountains and turquoise water to how established the resorts already feel, they talk through what surprised them...

What does it really look like to build a company, raise a family, and make Saudi home - all at the same time? In this episode, Frankie and Lily were joined by Kris Stephan - a business owner, mum of two, and CEO in the fast-growing esports industry. Kris shares her journey from growing up in Saudi as an expat child to returning years later as a founder and working mum. We talk about what it’s real...

Ramadan Kareem! If this is your first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, or you’re simply wondering what to expect, this episode is your practical, expat-friendly guide. Frankie and Lily share what really changes during Ramadan, from working hours and supermarket schedules to iftar etiquette, traffic patterns, and the cultural rhythm of daily life. They also talk about the spirit behind the holy month and h...

What happens when you say yes to moving somewhere most people don’t understand? In this episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Frankie and Lily sit down with Sharn, an Australian social media manager who recently moved to Riyadh and has already made waves online sharing her experience of life in the Kingdom. From going viral with a falcon video to navigating culture shock, homesickness, and Riyadh traff...

What is it really like living and working in Saudi Arabia as an expat woman in leadership? In this episode of Saudi Life Unpacked, Frankie Lily sit down with Noirin Hegarty, Editor-in-Chief of List Magazine Saudi, who shares her honest journey from once believing the media stereotypes about Saudi Arabia… to now calling it one of the most exciting places she’s ever lived and worked. We talk about w...

Welcome back, it’s our first catch up of 2026 and we’re kicking off the year with a proper life update! Frankie and Lily kick off the new year with big updates - including Saudi Life: Unpacked officially launching on YouTube and a brand new recording space in the works before diving into a real, honest catch-up on winter break travels (UK + Ireland), expat family life, and the reality of getting b...

What does it really take to walk across Saudi Arabia on foot - as a woman? In this extraordinary episode of Saudi Life: Unpacked, Lily sit down with Alice Morrison, a British explorer, journalist, and adventurer who has just completed a world-first journey: walking 2,195km across Saudi Arabia over 112 days, from the Jordan border all the way down through the Kingdom. Recorded only moments after sh...

What is life in Jeddah really like - beyond the stereotypes? In this episode of Saudi Life Unpacked, Frankie Lily sit down with Rawan Al-Turki, a Saudi photographer born and raised in Jeddah, to explore the city through truly local eyes. From the historic streets of Al-Balad to fish markets, fashion shoots, and everyday moments most visitors never see, Rawan shares how photography has become a way...

What happens when life forces you to stop - and start again? In this episode of Saudi Life Unpacked, Frankie Lily sit down with Umniah Alzahery, a Saudi entrepreneur based in Jeddah, to talk about career ambition, burnout, illness, and building a business that brought joy back into her life. Umniah shares her journey from a high-pressure corporate HR career to surviving cancer during the pandemic...