RIYADH: The Kingdom has become more than just a place for work, with expats increasingly finding it a home away from home with its ongoing transformation under Saudi Vision 2030.
Arab News has spoken to several Americans living in the Kingdom who feel that they are living in a “second home.” They appreciate the country’s warm hospitality, strong sense of safety, economic opportunities, and high quality of life.
John Pagano, the CEO of Red Sea Global, who was recently granted Saudi citizenship, felt the move was not just a personal recognition, but also a symbolic milestone in the Kingdom’s journey of transformation under Vision 2030.
“I was honored to have been granted Saudi citizenship, and I am grateful to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for bestowing this honor upon me,” said Pagano while appearing on the Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking.”
He added: “I have lived in Saudi Arabia now for almost eight years. I have grown to love the country, the people, and to be part of the transformation of this Kingdom as a Saudi citizen is an immensely proud moment for me.
“The Saudi people are incredibly hospitable and they have always been warm and welcoming. I was overwhelmed by the number of congratulatory messages that I received upon the formal announcement of my Saudi citizenship.
“They have embraced me. They make me feel at home. I feel now a part of society here and I am absolutely thrilled with it.”
Sharing her experience of living in Riyadh, Maria Cometti, the cofounder of DQ Living Magazine, previously told Arab News: “There’s a spirit of positivity and a unified drive toward progress, led by the crown prince and Vision 2030.
“It’s inspiring and quite a privilege to be part of a society that is actively shaping its future.”
As an American married to a Saudi, Cometti said she was particularly grateful for the bilateral ties and the sense of safety the Kingdom provides her family.
As Saudi Arabia rapidly advances its goal to become a global hub for air connectivity and logistics under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has surpassed its initial tourism milestone under the plan and has now raised its target to 150 million visits by 2030.
America’s Delta Air Lines recently announced a new direct route from Atlanta to Riyadh as part of its entry into the Saudi market.
The airline aims to integrate the Kingdom into one of the world’s most extensive networks.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian, who championed the new route, when asked at the Fortune Global Forum 2025, held recently in Riyadh, if Americans were ready to visit Saudi Arabia, replied: “They will be.”
He added: “Imagine when you go back as you happened to be here before, (and) you tell them why and where you went, and you actually find areas of interest.
“What you see when you come to Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia, is an amazing display of development, of tourism, of opportunity. But beyond all of that, it’s the people, the culture, the warmth, the authentic hospitality.”
