The rise of social media in the Kingdom has created a whole new category of A-listers with a fan base distinguished by likes, retweets and youtube views.
Destination wanted to know the people behind the names you’ve come to love and follow. To satisfy your curiosity, we dug deep and collaborated with Luxury Agency to get an all-exclusive access to some of the best social media trend makers in the Kingdom.
Fadi Al Shehri
Stand Up Comedian
Twitter: @fadialshehri
Instagram: @fadi_alshehri
A Saudi stand-up comedian who got fed up by stereotypes during his school life; but instead of letting it affect him in a negative way, he turned them into great material for his stand-up comedy acts. He performed across GCC in the biggest GCC Comedy Tour “Saudi Sandstorm” along four other comedians and went out of the region to do his act in the US.
What was your reason for creating your account?
In addition to my friends, I created an account because I noticed how the world has changed from social to social networking.
How do you think Social Media is changing or contributing to the Saudi Community?
It changed the Saudi community entirely. A few years ago our fathers had simple Nokia phones but nowadays fathers have all sort of phones, ipads and what not and other than that people can finally speak their minds through new media and the truth can be shown without any manipulation.
What are your favorite places in Riyadh?
Restaurants, coffee shops and houses.
How do you keep up with all the replies and mentions? Do you still get to read them all?
I sometimes pick randomly because there is no way I can keep up with thousands of replies and mentions daily.
What was the weirdest or most memorable comment, online reply, tweet, or request you remember receiving?
When all the great-ones in Saudi tweeted about how great they think I am.
Fun Facts:
What takes up most of your time right now?
PlayStation, meditating and traveling to every major city in the world.
Guilty pleasure:
Bullying
Favorite Trending topic on Twitter:
#الراتب_ما_يكفي_الحاجة (#SalaryIsNotEnough)
Funniest social media post you’ve encountered or wrote:
I’m genuinely funny, follow me to find out.
Who’s your favorite social media personality? Who do you follow?
@Fahad, he is even funnier in real life.
If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?
Started from the bottom – Drake.
Complete this sentence: You Know You’ve Lived in Saudi Arabia When…Sample: You know someone is referring to Pepsi when they say “BEBSI.”
You know you’re in Saudi when you’re bored.
Mohab
The Human Beatbox
Twitter: @MohabHesham1
Must watch video: Wa7ashteny (Cover by Alaa Wardi & Mohab)
Mohab Hisham is a young and half-Saudi, half-Egyptian beat boxer who’s gaining quite the attention for creating solid beats and sound effects with his mouth. He has performed in many events, including “Luxury’s 3rd Anniversary” and “The Blacklight Show” and is making waves after being featured across many channels, Radio and TV stations.
What was your reason for creating your account?
Mainly to communicate with friends abroad and people around me.
Where do you get inspiration for your tweets?
From everything around me, whether it’s family, friends or myself.
What are your favorite places in Riyadh?
Riyadh is a nice city but I love Jeddah when it comes to small vacations.
You get a lot of questions on ask.fm and now you’re getting followers on twitter, how do you manage the replies and mentions? Do you still get to read them all?
I reply to each and everyone because basically the people made me what I am today and I do reply to them as soon as I can, and yes every single one!
Fun Facts:
What takes up most of your time right now?
Family, university (I’m a student at KSU), friends and soccer.
Guilty pleasure:
My guilty pleasure would be trying to imitate famous beat-boxers abroad!
Favorite Trending topic on Twitter:
#PharrelIs40
Funniest social media post you’ve encountered:
Definitely funny vine videos!
Who’s your favorite social media personality? Who do you follow?
My favorite personality is on instagram. “The Rock” the wrestler he’s very influential and dedicated.
If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?
Coldplay – Fix You. It’s one of my favorites.
Can you share with us something about you that your followers don’t know yet?
Ehemm, from around 9th grade till beginning of 11th grade, I was overweight but thank God I worked hard and I’m also thankful for the support I got from my family especially my mom for what I am today.
Complete this sentence: You Know You’ve Lived in Saudi Arabia When…Sample: You know someone is referring to Pepsi when they say “BEBSI.”
When you never close your AC whether it’s winter or summer.
SAM AL AMIR
THE “FINTASTIC” COMEDIAN
Twitter: @samaamiri
Instagram: @SamAAmiri
Sam Al Amiri is a stand-up comedian with a flair for sarcastic humor. He has performed in many corporate events in Jeddah, Riyadh, Khobar and Jubail like “Amanat Al Riyadh,” “Mobily Comedy Club,” “Jeddah Comedy Club,” and he was also a presenter in “Line Sport.” When he isn’t generating laughs on stage, Sam is a finance professional, which his twitter account says, makes him “fintastic.”
What was your reason for creating your account?
I created my account in order to communicate directly with people and to receive feedback on my performances.
Who is behind the account and where are you located?
I am behind my account and I’m located in Riyadh.
Where do you get inspiration for your tweets?
From our daily life situations or random thoughts that run through my head.
How do you think Social Media is changing or contributing to the Saudi community?
It has a great impact where ones thoughts can make a difference within society.
How do you keep up with all the replies and mentions? Do you still get to read them all?
I read each one of them. I always do as long as it’s doable.
Fun Facts:
What takes up most of your time right now? My full time job along with the shows, photo-shoots, writing and all that comes along with stand-up comedy.
Who’s your favorite social media personality? Who do you follow?
Salman Al Ouda and Fahad Albutairi. I also follow informative tweets, intelligent tweets, thinkers, poetry and loyal fans.
If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it? – Frank Sinatra- My way – Everyday I’m Hustlin :p
Can you share with us something about you that your followers don’t know yet?
I have a secret twitter account *evil laugh.*
Complete this sentence: You Know You’ve Lived in Saudi Arabia When…
When an Abaya takes your breath away.
WADDAH SWAR
KITKAT’S FUNNIEST ARAB
Twitter: @waddahswar
Instagram: @waddahswar
Waddah Swar joined and won the Kitkat’s comedy challenge, the Comedy Break on youtube this year and has since then performed alongside Eddie Griffin, Omid Djalili, Gabriel Iglasias, and Moz Jobrani. Currently dubbed as the funniest guy in the Arab world, he is a local favorite with a solid audience following due to his bilingual stand-up performances. Off stage, a lot of folks are surprised to know that Waddah is an established businessman and restaurateur.
What was your reason for creating your account? I created my account so that I can have a platform to openly and freely address the public whether fans, fellow citizens, fellow comedians and other artists.
Where do you get inspiration for your tweets? My inspiration for tweets mirrors my inspiration for all my performances. I get it from everyday life and situations that either I’m in or I notice other people in. I don’t put too much thought into my tweet, as I say literally what is on my mind, and I think people respond to that…. When you have a specific character and you don’t deviate.
How do you think Social Media is changing or contributing to the Saudi community? Social media is changing the entire universe, not only the Saudi community. It’s opening up a network to discuss, hear other people’s thoughts, share conceptions, argue misconceptions- it’s just endless. Social media can help economies support each other by finding out about events or people who need support. Many charities for example have taken to twitter as a main medium to reach out to people. Also, what I personally love about social media is the fact that gives the opportunity for talented people to show what they can do without needing the money or the flashy upscale producers or events to reach the public. They are right there at the touch of your finger, and if your good enough, you just might make it.
What was the weirdest or most memorable comment, online reply, tweet, or request you remember receiving?
Someone once compared me to my idol the Legend Martin Lawrence and I can’t forget that since he is the reason I got into this business.
Fun Facts:
Who’s your favorite social media personality? Kevin Hart is my favorite because he shares stories about his wife and kids and isn’t afraid to get personal when he talks about getting a divorce and how his wife had reacted to something. It just draws you in.
If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it?
Michael Buble – Feeling Good
Can you share with us something about you that your followers don’t know yet?
I love to sing in the shower, I love singing the songs of Adele!! In fact I should do a comedy show with me just attempting to sing Adele!
Complete this sentence: You Know You’ve Lived in Saudi Arabia When…
You know you’ve lived in Saudi Arabia when you’ve found yourself in a physical battle with someone over the bill.
GUILTY PLEASUR E: I don’t eat much, but if I get my hand on a bag of chips (or several) … it’s going to get wild!
MOAYED AL THAQAFI
YOUTUBE ACTOR AND PURE-BLOODED JEDDAWI
Twitter: @mht
Website: www.youtube.com/TakkiSeries
A passionate young Saudi actor with a social message and a goal to “make a change.” For Moayed, acting has been his calling since his early years. Moayed’s first appearance was in the hit youtube show 3al 6ayer before launching his own youtube show La Tsadded. Recently, he starred in the first Saudi drama series on youtube, Takki, which earned him popularity amongst a youthful audience. He’s garnered a growing number of fans both on a local and regional level due to his charming looks and charismatic personality.
What was your reason for creating your account?
My friend Ahmed Fathaldeen, writer and actor of the youtube program, 3al 6ayer was the one who encouraged me to get on twitter. Good call.
Who is behind the account and where are you located?
I’m the only one running my account but I do let my agent post some promotional activities as well.
How do you think social media is changing or contributing to the Saudi community?
From my point of view, it helped a lot in knowing the mentality of the Saudi community and the way they, or rather we, think. This would help the government know the needs of the people and what they want and work on the development of the country.
How do you keep up with all the replies and mentions? Do you still get to read them all?
I read them all but it’s hard to reply to all of them, so I apologize my dear followers if I don’t get to respond to all your tweets on a daily basis. Please know I do appreciate each and every one of them.
Fun Facts:
What takes up most of your time right now? Work, work, and more work.
If you had a soundtrack to your life what song/songs would have to be on it? I like the “Hadrami Tarab” because it tells a story.
Can you share with us something about you that your followers don’t know yet?
They don’t know about this conversation I’m having with you, at least not yet!
Complete this sentence: You Know you’re in Saudi Arabia When… When someone starts a conversation by asking, “tell us, when is the wedding?”
