EP26- Why Creators & Professionals Are Leaving Dubai for Riyadh (Real Talk)

Description

In this episode of Stump Station, I sit down in Riyadh for a relaxed coffee podcast with Arshiya, a GCC lifestyle, food, and travel content creator who has built a strong online presence by sharing real life in Saudi Arabia. Arshiya’s journey is one a lot of people can relate to — she started out as an IT engineer, moved to Saudi Arabia, and slowly transitioned from content creation as a hobby into becoming a recognised lifestyle influencer in the GCC. In this conversation, we go deeper than Instagram highlights and talk about what life is actually like behind the scenes. This episode covers everything from living in Saudi Arabia as an expat, the reality of being a female creator in the GCC, how social media growth really works, and why Saudi Arabia has become one of the most exciting places right now for creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals. 🎙️ What we talk about in this episode: Who Arshiya is and how she defines herself beyond social media What she wants people to feel when they visit her Instagram The truth about becoming an influencer without planning to Balancing a professional career in engineering with content creation When content creation stopped being “just a hobby” Why she moved to Saudi Arabia and her first impressions of the country Common misconceptions about Saudi Arabia vs the reality How Saudi has evolved over the last few years How helping expats navigate life in Saudi accelerated her social media growth The strategy behind lifestyle, food, and travel content What people misunderstand about the influencer lifestyle How creators can grow without chasing virality Saudi coffee culture and must-visit cafés in Riyadh Affordable food spots in Saudi Arabia people shouldn’t miss Being a female creator in the GCC and handling judgment online Advice for women who want to start creating content Quickfire questions and personal takeaways This conversation is perfect for: Anyone living in Saudi Arabia or planning to move Expats in the GCC looking to understand the lifestyle better Content creators w