The Rhythm of Saudi and Pace of Ramadan | Simone De Comptior | The Saudi Chapter Ep2

What is it actually like to pack up your life in Paris and move to Riyadh?In this episode of The Saudi Chapter, host Aziz sits down with Simone De Comptior, a French executive coach who made a bold, leap-of-faith move to Saudi Arabia with her entrepreneur husband. From her initial impressions landing in the July heat to navigating day-to-day life outside of an expat compound, Simone opens up about the reality of living in a country undergoing a massive societal and cultural shift.We dive deep into:The Power of Unplugging: Experiencing her very first Ramadan in a Muslim country and discovering the unexpected peace that comes with shifting from a fast-paced Western hustle to a intentional societal "reset."Identity vs. Environment: How expats handle the mental load of losing their familiar routines (like running along the Seine) and how a local French bakery provides a sweet sense of comfort. The Human Cost of Speed: The internal pressures Saudi men and women face as they rapidly adapt to the bold goals of Vision 2030 and modern technology. The Power of Tawakkul: How moving to Riyadh completely changed Simone’s perspective on stress, success, and learning to leave the results in the hands of God. Whether you’re curious about life in the Kingdom, dealing with your own identity shift, or wondering what the Western media gets wrong about Saudi culture, Simone’s perspective as an observer and coach is a must-watch. Chapters:00:00:00 – Preview: Culturally adapting to the Kingdom 00:03:25 – Leaving Paris: The bold decision to move 00:09:20 – First Impressions: Heat, construction, and landing in Riyadh 00:21:04 – Decompressing: A transformative first Ramadan 00:26:04 – Vision 2030: Modernization vs. Westernization & the mental cost of speed 00:44:22 – Expats & Identity: Dealing with the shift when your environment changes00:55:10 – Adopting Tawakkul: Finding a sense of peace & final messageFollow Simone on Instagram @simone_de_comptoir​