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

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 who want honest insight into growth and consistency
Women thinking about starting content creation
Anyone curious about Saudi culture, food, coffee, and daily life
If you’ve ever wondered what life in Saudi Arabia is really like, how creators build audiences in the GCC, or what it takes to balance a career with content creation — this episode is for you.
☕ Grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy the conversation.