Konstantin Gridin

CEO&Founder at Vision Business Development
Expand your business in and out of the Arab Gulf

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/PCeUT5IWAf

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/3X7pvX39KT

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

How easy it is to be vegan in Saudi Arabia?

I went vegan in 2015 and by that time I was spending a few months a year in Saudi Arabia.
In 2010s veganism in Saudi was like a UFO: most people heard of it, but nobody thought that was something human.Plant-based options in the restaurants were quite rare, except a few traditional Lebanese dishes like hummus and mutabbal. So I ate them 3-4 times a day.

In 2020s, the veganism perception in Saudi changed for the better. The foreigners flocking into Riyadh have changed the offerings of local restaurants as well. Many vegan options are now available at local restaurants, both of local and international cuisines.

Some local celebrities like Sukkari Life and royal family members like Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed Bin Talal, are publicly promoting vegan lifestyle and life-saving technologies.

#CameraConfidence #PersonalBranding #ContentCreation #BusinessGrowth

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

Happy 2025 New Year 🎆 🎉

My January 1 has been my normal day - with work and exercises - for many years now. I realized that the best celebration I can have is not a New Year or a Birthday, but a New version of myself.

#NewYear #Happy2025

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/FYW8pTLY7v

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/aAFJvpJyos

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

Happy to announce the launch of my new company - Vision Business Development - created to help B2Bs from around the world expand to the UAE and Saudi markets 🇦🇪 🇸🇦

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

A special message for those trying to sell to Saudi clients from Dubai: In 2025, Saudis will not take you seriously, if you don't have a local representative in Saudi Arabia.

#SaudiBusiness #SaudiOpportunity #Vision2030

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

While my startup didn't ultimately secure major deals, I learned an invaluable lesson:

The right local partners in Saudi can achieve far more than direct approaches.

#SaudiBusiness #SaudiOpportunity #HowToStartBusinessInSaudi

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

The right local partners in Saudi can achieve far more than direct approaches.

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

I quickly secured management meetings and received multiple proposal requests, as these companies knew the internal pathways to decision-makers and could obtain unofficial feedback rapidly.

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/UJbTJoC6LN

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

Agree? 👇🏻

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/OHSmGLFyZE

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐀𝐄 🇦🇪 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐚 🇸🇦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞

The UAE and SaudiArabia are sprinting neck-and-neck in the global #AI race. Both nations have declared their ambitions to become global, not just regional, leaders, and are investing heavily in that direction. However, their strategies differ in intriguing ways.

The UAE, an early adopter, launched its AI strategy in 2017 with a focused approach. It aims to be a global leader by 2031, concentrating on sectors like transportation, healthcare, and renewable energy. Its flagship project, the @mbzuai (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence), attracts top global talent and fosters cutting-edge research. Dubai showcases the UAE's AI prowess with autonomous vehicles, smart police patrols, and AI-driven healthcare.

Saudi Arabia, with its vast resources, entered the race in 2020 with its National Strategy for Data and AI. It aims to lead by 2030, taking a broader approach encompassing public services, energy, and national security. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority orchestrates this ambitious plan, focusing on developing local talent through scholarships and training programs. The Kingdom leverages AI to enhance government efficiency, optimize energy consumption, and bolster national security.

While the UAE attracts global expertise, Saudi Arabia prioritizes cultivating homegrown talent. The UAE acts with agility, allowing individual emirates to pursue AI initiatives independently. Saudi Arabia, in contrast, follows a centralized approach with @SDAIA_SA steering national efforts. These differing strategies reflect each nation's unique characteristics and ambitions.

Ultimately, this competition benefits the entire region, accelerating innovation and propelling the Middle East to the forefront of the global AI landscape. But, if you are an AI company, and wish to work with one of these two governments, you are unlikely to partner with both. So, choose your priority country carefully and focus your efforts on making that partnership happen.

#AI #SaudiArabiaAI #UAEAI #MiddleEastArtificialTechnology #Technology #PowerOfAI

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

https://t.co/CJQzhCdUF4

[Konstantin Gridin @KGridin]

No local partner in the UAE, or Saudi or anywhere else will be more motivated to bring you clients than yourself.

#MotivationMonday #SaudiArabia #SaudiBusiness