Inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Today we are traveling into the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This nation is one of the richest in the world due to its wealth and oil deposits which bring in trillions of dollars per year. It has also been one of the more mysterious countries with it only allowing tourists to enter in meaningful numbers just a few years ago. I have always been intrigued by this shadowy country with its mega wealthy royal family, severe laws, and dark secrets. But I have also been curious about what life is like for the normal local people of Saudi Arabia. So in this video, I am taking you along with me to see it for ourselves. A quick disclaimer, this video is not sponsored by the Saudi government or any Saudi entity. I paid for all my travels and expenses here myself. I have been contacted many times by various Saudi entities offering me big paychecks to go to Saudi Arabia and create sponsored content. But I have declined all of them because I wanted to come here to speak freely and on my own terms. This was my experience. Welcome to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. So we are only here for two days, one night since we're on a layover where Saudi Airlines actually gives you a free night at a four-star hotel if you want to have a layover here. So as someone who does want to see every country in the world that I possibly can, I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to come get a free night stay here in South. And also see how much this place is. We got Chris ordered the car, 20 bucks to our hotel. My apartment at JFK was like 105 bucks, so not bad so far. So I booked a flight from NYC to Dubai with a free layover in Saudi and was actually surprised with how nice their complimentary hotel was. This place is honestly like a five. This is a really nice hotel. You get your own room too. Yeah, it's perfect. Like honestly, they give you like six or eight hotels to choose from and I kind of looked up each one and when I saw this one I was like, yeah, this is it. Then next up, we headed into town for a coffee. So as we were out front of the cafe, a local saw us filming and just started talking to us. And also I feel like it's so safer. You could leave your camera somewhere, your wallet, or even your car like and nothing would happen. Is that right? Yes, of course. Yeah, so I always forget my phone or my wallet. I never worry about not finding them. I always come back and find them at the same location or I'll ask the council and they'll have it. So it's not safe here. Yeah, well when you come visit in New York City, make sure you don't forget your wallet and phone anywhere. It will not be there when you get back, trust me. I've been through that before, so I know that. And to my surprise, he was super friendly and cool and even bought us our coffees. And now we are here at Arabica, which is my personal favorite coffee chain around the world. Definitely some of the best, but I think what's really cool about this one is that it basically feels like you're in an apple store of coffee shops. Pretty dope interior. So we got our coffee and now we are about to go get some food. But I do need to say that I've never traveled somewhere that has this much construction going on. We have been just driving around in so many different circles because all there is is just dirt everywhere. So we've been driving for what, about 20 minutes? Yeah. And we are back where we started. This is absurd. I feel so bad for our driver. This ride is about four US dollars and it's going to be about a 30-minute ride, if not longer. We're literally off-roading right now. Thank you, my friend. That was a crazy adventure. Oh my gosh. Well, after that 45-minute adventure, we made it to Al Baik. Al Baik is good? Yeah. What did you get? Spicy chicken. Alright, I guess we're getting the spicy chicken. You want your photo? Got you. I'll send you those photos. Okay. What did I send to you on Instagram? Okay, perfect. Everyone's so friendly here. So this place called Al Baik is a huge fast food chain here in Saudi Arabia and it's supposedly a must-try. Also, it is super affordable. I got a 10-piece spicy chicken nugget meal for five bucks. Ayaan, we should be taking this people with us. Are we going with you guys? Alright, let's go. Alright, they offered to give us a ride. Our new friends. Alright, here we go. No, we just arrived today. This morning. First morning. Yeah. You will be impressive, you know? It's nice. The most important, not important, the most impressive area. Okay. Yes. Because it's like the old village. Yes. Yes. Wait. They just left us. What is going on right now? They just randomly stopped at this store. I think they're going to get drinks. I guess so, but they just left us. With the car running. With the car running. This is amazing. Yeah, if you want an adventure, just come to Saudi and say hello to everyone. You never know what you'll sign up. Yeah, you may end up in someone's car without them at a gas station. Oh, thank you. Oh, here we've got this Red Bull. You normally just pick up random people at Al Baik? No. No. Usually, no honestly, but normal, even Saudi normal. Yeah. Oh, you'll meet us there. Yeah, inshallah. Okay, well, we safely made it to Daria, and I must say, for only being here in this country for like two hours, we've already had a local buy us a free coffee, and then a local give us a free ride. And they did give us Red Bulls too. And free Red Bulls. Yeah. Man, I was not expecting this, but the people here, I have to say, have been over the top, so kind. So this is what you get for five bucks here in Saudi Arabia for lunch from Al Baik. You get this and a ride and a new friend. Wow. 10 piece nuggets and some fries. And you get a little bread bun. You get a bun and also a bottle of water. And a sauce. Dude, not a bad deal. They're like little chicken nugget cubes, but look pretty good. Please tell me if you want 10. Out of 10. Give it like a, oh, spicy too. It's good. The spicy does. The most famous restaurant in Saudi, Al Baik. Al Baik. For the price, the taste, the texture, I'd give this like a 9.3. Tell me why 9.3. What about 7? 7 points. He wants a 10 from you. He wants a 10 from you. What would you give it? For me, 10. 10 of 10. Sure. Please, if you can finish your food, because we will go to Motal. All right. I have only two, uh, two hour break. All right. Let's eat. Also, I will show you Riyadh. Okay. Do you just wait here? Yes. It's only for five minutes. This is incredible. We've been here for literally two and a half hours now, and this is one of my favorite trips I've been on in so long. It's such an adventure. Also, these nuggets are actually really good. Spicy nugs, really good. Since I was in Saudi Arabia for only 36 hours, while I was editing, it became very apparent that I still needed a lot of footage. But luckily, I have a Storyblocks subscription. Storyblocks offers unlimited downloads of diverse and high quality media for one predictable cost. They literally have over a million files. So when I do travel to a place to then get back home to editing and realize that I still need a lot more establishing shots, which does happen just about every time, I know that Storyblocks has my back. And everything on Storyblocks is royalty free. So I can use it to enhance all of my social media content, knowing that I can still monetize. And Storyblocks was kind enough to do a special offer just for you guys. So for a limited time only, you guys are going to get three additional free months with signing up for an annual individual license plan. That's the plan that I get. And all you guys have to do is go to storyblocks.com slash Brett Conte to take advantage of this exclusive offer. And this is only available until the end of June 2024. Also, Storyblocks did want me to mention how the offer will not appear at checkout, but rest assured, it will automatically be added to your account shortly after you do sign up. Okay, now back to Saudi Arabia. So our new friend said that he was going to tell his boss that he has to show his new American friends around. So he took off his uniform, and now showing us around Darya. This is one of the old UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Is that correct, Chris? I got to check the math. I think we're on the new side, and the old side's on the other side. Both at the same time. Yeah, we figured it out. Over here is the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is super old. But if you come over here, this is the newer modern version that they built probably just like a couple years ago. Just look cool, like you always do. He bought me this like $130 book, and we just met him like two hours ago. Nicest guy I've ever met in my life. Signature first. Yeah, but you can write a message. Write like, welcome to Saudi Arabia. Oh, in Arabic. Oh, that's cool. You write from right to left. That's how they read. They read and write, right to left. Is that your signature? Yes, this is my signature. So cool. He's gonna hold on to that forever. Forever. Never gonna forget you. Alright, our adventure with Michel continues. What's up, man? Can I hop in the front? I love that you just played hooky at your job, and now just hanging with us all day. A lot of my audience is from America, and I feel like some of them may not know this. How five years ago, women were not allowed to drive in the country, right? She cannot before. Now, alhamdulillah, can. For me, this is a good thing. You can buy for your sister, for wife, car, and she can go. Before, you know, I wake up six in the morning, drop my mother to school, and my sister to another school, and my two brother in his school, and for me to So it was difficult because you used to have to drive everyone, and now they can drive themselves? Yeah. Would you recommend if someone was an American tourist, and they're gay, to come to America? Do you think it would be safe for them? If someone's gay, and he's coming to Saudi, yeah. Safe if he will, and he will not mention that. Okay. He will be safe. Okay. Do not mention Now, next up on today's agenda, we are going to the top of this building right here. Still don't know what it's supposed to be. It kind of looks like some handle of an horseshoe iron. I don't know, but we're about to find out. So, unfortunately, they did take our drone away at the airport, but we are now at the tallest building in the entire city, and you can pretty much get a bird's eye view for yourself. Mitchell, can you see your house from here? You can. I do feel like you can see the entire city from up here, as far as the eye can see. We got really lucky because it's not too hazy out either. It would be really easy for like dust to kind of You can see a lot. Yeah, and it's just so flat too. It's like besides this one strip, everything else is just these tiny little houses. What? You just crashed into that car. It's just totally casual. Bro, someone in New York would out and put his two fists straight to your face. He'd go, buddy, what the f**k you doing? You know what he said? Wow. Wow, it's like bumper cars driving out here. This man is a loose cannon behind a driver's seat. So, now we are about to go get some local Arabian food. I have never had Saudi Arabian food before, so really looking forward to seeing what you guys got. It's good? It's good, sure. All right. Is this normal for a tourist to come to Saudi Arabia, meet someone on the street, and then become good friends? Yes, normally. It's normal? All people here are friendly. You can talk with anyone. You can ask anyone for help, also for money. Yeah. They will give. Ask them for money, I mean, I believe it. We haven't paid for anything this whole entire time that we've been here, whether it was the coffee when we first got here, and then you have not let us paid once for anything. Yes, you will not pay anything with the Shambri. Shambri? Yes, you will not. People here really have been too kind, including our new good friend Mitchell. Welcome to Riyadh. Long day. We have not slept in like 36 hours and have been going since 6 a.m. Luckily, this restaurant has a nice place to take a nap, get comfortable. How are you doing, Mitchell? I'm really good. What about you? Doing great, a little tired. Don't worry, you will sleep only one hour. That's all you need, right? Who used this? Maybe in America, here you are in Saudi. No plate. Here we go. Haven't done this since I was like five years old. I just accidentally insulted Mitchell over here. Yes. He told me that his mother is a great cook, and I said I would love to meet her one day, and he looked like he wanted to kill me. No, but this is wrong. You cannot tell anyone I want to meet your mom. This is not allowed here. We are very jealous people here in Saudi. So, you can't say you want to meet someone's mom or sister. So, if we were friends our entire life, I would not know what his mom, sister, their names, or what they look like. This is correct. Wow. Also, her name maybe. If you are close very well, maybe I will tell you only her name. Wow. That's crazy. Well, I'm sorry for saying I wanted to try your mom's cooking before. This is the first time you know. Now I know. You are new in Saudi. No problem with this. Wow. After traveling to 70 countries, now including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it's very apparent that there are kind people everywhere if you look for them. This trip was unlike anything I was expecting, and I was blown away by the hospitality of the locals. Saudi Arabia is not for everyone, but as a traveler who wants to visit every country, I am glad that I got to see this mysterious nation for myself. Thank you all for watching, and until next week, let's get out and get busy in the next one.