Saudi by Nicole: Not just a destination; a creative awakening

If there’s a story that speaks to how accessible, welcoming, and enchanting modern Saudi Arabia is to international visitors looking to make a home here, it’s Nicole Azmira’s tale. We speak to the Canadian content-creator to get the full details of how a spur-of-the-moment flight change led to a a major life change… 

Q: Hi Nicole, let’s skip straight to it – How did you end up here in Saudi?  

Call it luck, call it providence, call it fate, whatever it was, it wasn’t originally part of the plan! I’m from Canada originally and was still living there when I had a trip abroad fall through at the last moment. A fellow content creator suggested I visit Saudi instead and within 48 hours I’d made all the booking and visa changes I needed and was on my way. 

1. When was that? 

That was a year ago. I came here looking for something I can’t quite put a name to, but I found more than I expected: I’ve been back four times since, and I’m now planning on making a permanent home here! 

1. Wow! That’s quite a commitment! What led you to that decision?

It was everything I found on that first visit to Saudi – every experience was a positive part of my decision because coming from Canada, I thought I had life figured out, but here it’s different. There’s a feeling you get in Saudi – it’s not loud, not rushed. It’s the kind of feeling that ignites your soul. Fundamentally, I found a place to grow, to create, and to expand.  

1. That sounds like everything anyone could wish for! Can you give us some examples of those experiences?

It starts with the culture. It really is ever present, and you can see it, feel, hear it, and experience it living on even in the little things. One of my favorites is the scents of Oud and the late-night coffees being carried on the gentle summer breeze. But, while there’s tradition and history, there’s also innovation and this incredible pace of change. And even though the pace of life might seem slower than a big city in the Americas or Europe, you also can’t help but notice how fast things are changing around you too. 

The most important aspect though is the people. People in Saudi don’t just welcome you here, they invite you in. They want you to see what they see, feel what they feel, and they truly want to share their culture and heritage with you. 

1. And how does Saudi feel as a professional content creator?

It’s just as magical, just as enchanting, and just as rich in opportunity. There’s so much beauty here, all a combination of the light, the landscapes and the stories that unfold in the cities, the countryside, and from the people you talk to as they share their lives and experiences. It’s so diverse too, everyone knows the hot desert sun, of course (and, let me tell you, it is hot) but there’s also the green mountains and rose fields of Taif, the archaeology and seaside of Tabuk, and the dynamism of the cities. As a content creator, I say Saudi is raw, it’s real and its potential still feels so untouched. 

1. You’re making us see Saudi in a new light too! What would you say to anyone else thinking of visiting Saudi – or making a home here?

Saudi Arabia isn’t just a destination; it’s a creative awakening. For me, it’s not that I left Canada behind, it’s just I found something else, something fuller and something that fits the future I want to build for myself. It’s everything – it’s exciting and it’s calm, it’s modern and its historic, it’s familiar and it’s new… I could go on, but I want people to come and experience it for themselves. This is my Saudi chapter and it’s just the beginning; I would encourage anyone interested in living a truly transformative experience to try it for themselves.  

Join Nicole’s voyage of discovery and see Saudi Arabia through her eyes.  

Discover more authentic voices and untold journeys on Truly Saudi.