Proud Saudi: Proud to Be

For years, I’ve believed that the most powerful story a nation can tell is through its people — the makers, the doers, the dreamers who turn vision into reality.
That belief is what led me to build Proud Saudi — a storytelling platform dedicated to showing the world who we are becoming through the stories of those shaping today’s Saudi Arabia.

It began with one question that wouldn’t leave my mind: Who is telling the story of Saudi Arabia from the inside out?

Everywhere I looked — from Riyadh’s creative districts to NEOM’s construction sites, from boutique studios in Jeddah to research labs in Dhahran — I found people doing remarkable things. Yet, most of their stories were never told. Not because they weren’t significant, but because we were too busy building the future to stop and narrate it.

Proud Saudi was created to change that.

The Vision Behind It

Saudi Arabia is living through one of the fastest transformations in modern history. The world sees the projects, mega developments, new industries, and global events, but what moves this nation forward isn’t just scale; it’s soul.

Behind every launch, there’s a team. Behind every milestone is a person who believed in something new.

Think of the young architect who returns from abroad to design a mosque in a new way that honours heritage yet embraces modern design.
Or the Saudi designer presenting her first international collection in Paris, blending our fabrics, stories, and symbols into couture.
Or the engineer who joins a renewable energy project in AlUla because he wants his work to outlast him.

These are not stories of fame. They’re stories of contribution.
And Proud Saudi exists to make sure they are seen, celebrated, and shared.

“When you tell someone’s story, you remind them — and the world — why their work matters.”

The Meaning of “Proud to Be”

“Proud to Be” is more than a tagline — it’s a declaration of belonging and belief.
It’s about recognizing that progress isn’t something happening to us; it’s something we’re actively shaping.

Proud to be creating.
Proud to be building.
Proud to be part of a generation that doesn’t wait for opportunity — it builds it.

Each story we tell under the Proud to Be banner connects us back to a collective truth: the future of Saudi Arabia is being written by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

How We Tell the Story

In Proud Saudi, storytelling is our medium of connection. Every feature is deeply researched, emotionally grounded, and contextually rich.
We combine narrative journalism with design, photography, and short films — not to glorify achievement, but to humanize it.

Our editorial pillars include:

• Creators of Change – spotlighting individuals across art, fashion, and innovation.
• Builders of the Future – focusing on entrepreneurs, engineers, and leaders shaping industries.
• Guardians of Culture – documenting traditions, crafts, and values being reimagined for a modern era.
• Voices of Tomorrow – sharing insights from the youth redefining what it means to represent Saudi Arabia globally.

One of our early stories follows a coffee farmer in Jazan who rebuilt his family’s legacy through sustainable farming — now exporting beans under a local label recognized in Japan. Another explores how female founders in Riyadh are leading startups in health, design, and education.

Each feature connects micro effort to macro transformation — linking individual purpose to national progress.

“When we say Saudi Arabia is changing, we mean Saudis are changing — in how we think, build, and express.”

Top 10 Lists: Celebrating Leaders Across Sectors

Alongside storytelling, Proud Saudi will introduce a series of curated Top 10 Lists — recognizing the individuals, companies, and initiatives setting new benchmarks in their fields.

From Top 10 Innovators in Sustainability to Top 10 Creative Entrepreneurs, Top 10 Designers, Top 10 Tourism Experiences, and more — these lists will become an annual tradition of celebration and discovery.

Each list will be developed with transparency, research, and collaboration with industry experts to ensure credibility and recognition that truly reflects excellence.

These recognitions are not competitions, but celebrations — a way to shine a light on those who elevate Saudi Arabia’s reputation through action, innovation, and integrity.

“We don’t rank success, we reveal the stories behind it.”

Trust Through Authenticity

Proud Saudi is not about headlines or viral moments; it’s about documentation. We interview, visit, and experience. We gather voices from across the country to reflect the richness of this moment in history — accurately, respectfully, and with depth.

Our storytelling approach follows three guiding values:

1. Truth over trend – We prioritize authenticity over publicity.
2. Meaning over marketing – Every story must answer why it matters.
3. People over products – We focus on the human behind the success, not just the success itself.

This approach has already begun connecting us with ministries, creative houses, and local entrepreneurs who believe in the same mission — to represent Saudi Arabia through substance, not style alone.

What Comes Next

This is only the first chapter.
In the coming months, Proud Saudi will launch collaborations with national initiatives, host storytelling workshops, and release short documentary series featuring some of the country’s most inspiring voices.

We’ll also introduce a contributor network — inviting writers, photographers, and filmmakers from across the Kingdom to help us capture Saudi Arabia’s transformation from their own perspective.

Because when we tell our stories together, we build understanding. And when we build understanding, we build legacy.

“The story of Saudi Arabia isn’t one narrative — it’s millions, unfolding every day.”

A Personal Note

When I started Arbaaa Marketing, I realized that communication has the power to shape perception.
But through Proud Saudi, I want to do something even deeper — to shape connection.

Every Saudi, whether leading a company or designing a dress, deserves to feel seen. Our collective voice — built from these stories — will be what defines us globally.

This is why I’m building Proud Saudi: to create a home for stories that remind us of what we’re capable of, and to share that with the world.

Because we are all part of one message — one shared truth — that says with confidence and conviction:

We are Proud to Be.

— Ameer Albahouth
Founder of Proud Saudi
CEO, Arbaaa Marketing

🌐 www.proudsaudi.com
📍 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia