Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman’s incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. King Salman has played an enormously pivotal role for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the development of the modern Saudi state. Before the conversation, the hosts discuss an archaeology summit taking place in Al Ula this week, an interesting and exciting new investment made by Saudi Aramco’s VC arm, Wa’ed, into a company that is building new homes using 3D printing, and much more as always in the program’s Yallah! segment.
7:36 – Richard’s One Big Thing is AlUla’s invite-only AlUla World Archaeological Summit taking place this week. The three-day summit’s program of panels, discussions and excursions commenced yesterday at Maraya Concert Hall, the ancient region’s giant mirror-cladded multipurpose venue located amid a wealth of archaeological treasures stemming from the Neolithic era to the early 20th century.
16:26 – Lucien’s One Big Thing is Aramco’s VC arm Wa’ed and its investment into an exciting, California-based 3D homebuilding company called Mighty Buildings. The company claims its proprietary printed material, made of 60% recycled glass, is five times the strength of concrete, 70% the weight and produces fewer carbon emissions during manufacturing. It’s also rated for winds up to 150 miles per hour — hurricane-force, in other words — and compliant with the California Building Code, including Title 24 Energy requirements and other regulatory standards. Mighty Buildings employs ultraviolet light to cure its material off-site. This allows for “highly refined” and “unique” shapes with a range of customization options, the startup says, while reducing waste as only the material that’s required is cured.
28:36 – Author David Rundell joins to discuss King Salman’s incredible impact on Saudi Arabia. Rundell spent 15 of his 30 total years in service as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, including as Chief of Mission. Lately, Mr. Rundell has been active in providing commentary and analysis in the media — two items from David which we’ve referenced recently on The 966 include his recent piece for the online publication Unherd, entitled “How MBS wins friends and influences people,” and for Newsweek earlier this year, entitled Saudi Arabia’s True Role in 9/11, in which he and fellow author Michael Gfoeller dispel some common myths on Saudi Arabia’s connection to those attacks.56:44 – Yallah! Top storylines on Saudi Arabia this week —
