Reem Al Bliwi is one of Saudi Arabia’s youngest and most recognizable TV presenters today. Bursting onto the scene through “Studio SBC”, she quickly earned her spot in the national spotlight with her poise and presence. With a background in modeling and a mixed cultural identity shaped by her Mexican mother and Saudi father, Reem brings a unique blend of confidence, curiosity, and cross-cultural understanding to her work.

Hussein Fakhri is the Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Producer at Katara Studios, the Doha-based production powerhouse behind regionally iconic projects like The Lost Chapter of Kelileh & Demneh and the ceremonies for the FIFA Arab Cup. But before that, Hussein started out in Dublin, pioneering digital advertising in a market far from his cultural roots. Today, he’s leading Katara’s mission to produce bold, meaningful, and globally resonant stories — all from an unapologetically Arab perspective

DJ Viva is a trailblazing performer and cultural catalyst redefining the creative scene in Saudi Arabia and beyond. She has lit up major stages across the Kingdom and internationally, opening for global icons such as David Guetta. With Saudi and Canadian roots, her genre-fluid sets blend global energy and leave lasting impact. As one of the few women leading the region’s artistic evolution, DJ Viva is more than a performer—she’s a visionary shaping the future of culture in the Middle East. Tune in The Mayman Show for more on this special season.

Bill Connor is a seasoned media trainer and former White House correspondent with over 20 years of experience coaching senior executives, public officials, and leaders on how to communicate effectively in high-stakes environments. As the founder and CEO of Three Media Consultancy, he’s trained individuals across the globe—from the U.S. to the Middle East—helping them master the art of presentations, speeches, and media interviews. Tune in The Mayman Show for more on this special season.

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI tool. Episode V: 2016–2025 King Salman reigns, Vision 2030 unveiled, Abraham Accords signed, Saudi-Iran ties restored Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI tool. Episode IV: 2005–2015 Rafik Hariri assassinated, Arab Spring uprisings erupt, Saudi women win driving rights Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI tool. Episode III: 1995–2004 Taliban take Kabul, Khobar Towers bombed, Second Intifada erupts, 9/11 hits, US occupies Iraq Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI tool. Episode II: 1985-1994 Saudi prince in space, First Intifada starts, Lebanon war ends, Kuwait invaded, Oslo Accords signed Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI tool. Episode I: 1975–1984 Lebanon civil war begins, Iranian revolution erupts, GCC formed, Sabra and Shatila massacre. Read more here: https://www.arabnews.com/arabnews50

John Bin London, a British influencer and content creator with a deep passion for Saudi Arabia and its rich cultural heritage. Raised in the UAE, John’s love for the Arab world shines through his viral TikTok videos where he immerses himself in Saudi traditions, from coffee rituals to exploring historic landmarks like Diriyah. Tune in The Mayman Show for more on this special season.

As Gaza plunges deeper into catastrophe, Israel’s blockade has stopped aid for over a month, 60,000 children face malnutrition, hospitals lie in ruins, and the United Nations has called it a “killing field.” On this episode, we’re joined by Palestinian Authority State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Varsen Aghabekian. We ask why the peace talks collapsed. Will Israel be held accountable for strikes on hospitals and the deaths of aid workers? And is the Palestinian Authority truly prepared to govern both Gaza and the West Bank after such devastation?

Several months after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, Syria remains battered by more than a decade of war and is now facing the uphill task of rebuilding from within and claiming legitimacy on the global stage. On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from London-based Syrian analyst Ghassan Ibrahim. Is the worst truly behind Syria, or could renewed sectarian violence and growing tensions with Israel and Turkey cause further chaos? Will the new government win over Arab and Western leaders and finally see crippling sanctions lifted? And ultimately, can President Al-Sharaa deliver the peace and unity Syrians so desperately need?

On this episode, we speak with Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi. Can the new president deliver on his promises of reform and economic revival? Or will the persistent influence of Hezbollah, permanently hinder his chances of success? Plus, we examine America’s evolving role in the country and explore whether normalization with Israel could be on the cards.

As tensions simmer over, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Riyadh has become a pivotal stage this week, with separate high-stakes meetings by Ukraine and Russia underscoring its growing importance in global diplomacy. Today, we speak with one of Russia’s top diplomats, the first deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dmitry Polanski. Can a Black Sea ceasefire tied to sanctions relief truly de-escalate the conflict, even as both sides ramp up attacks on the ground? Are either parties willing to make the hard concessions needed to end the three-year war? Plus, how is Riyadh shaping the long-awaited shift towards peace?

Two months after returning to the White House, President Trump has shocked the world with a series of major announcements, from aggressive DOGE initiatives to high tariffs, plans to relocate thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, and secret talks with Hamas. Today we hear from Norman T. Roule, the former senior US intelligence official and Middle East expert, to ask what President Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they will impact the changes underway in the Middle East, can Washington be convinced to back the Arab world’s plan to rebuild Gaza, and is a Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia on the horizon?

On this episode we speak with Faisal Sultan, the Vice President and Managing Director of Lucid Middle East. We talk to him about EV adoption in the Kingdom, Lucid’s new challenges following its CEO’s sudden exit, all as rival Tesla reportedly prepares to launch operations in Saudi Arabia. And as Lucid ramps up production in the Kingdom, will Saudi be the decisive force that propels Lucid back to profitability?

The Arab League has unveiled an ambitious plan to rebuild Gaza following an extraordinary summit last week. On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from renowned Saudi columnist and political analyst Abdulrahman Al Rashed to ask if the Cairo plan can ever materialize in reality. Can the secret talks between Hamas and the White House be successful? Plus, his views on the reforms happen in Saudi Arabia and its transition to becoming a global power broker.

Just days before the extraordinary and highly anticipated Arab League Summit, we sit down with His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Faisal, former Saudi Ambassador and Intelligence Chief, to explore how Saudi Arabia views Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, what saudi and regional leaders are discussing behind closed doors and whether the international community is truly committed to achieving peace in Palestine.

Saudi Arabia has taken centre stage in global diplomacy this week, brokering high-level talks between Russia and the US - an unprecedented move that has left the world watching closely.   Today we speak with Dr Abdulaziz Sager, the Chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, to examine the significance of these pivotal talks, Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on the global stage and whether the Arab League’s next move could change the future of Gaza forever.

On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s Permanent Observer to the UN, to discuss whether Palestinian statehood is slipping further away, how the leadership is responding to mounting pressure from key Arab states and whether Palestinians themselves still see a future in Gaza.