Resilience keynotes for Abha and the Asir highlands
Abha, capital of Asir Province, sits 2,270 metres up in the mountains of south-west Saudi Arabia. Paris brings The Grit Code to its events.
High in the Asir Mountains
Abha stands at 2,270 metres near Asir National Park, and its mild climate makes it a favourite with Saudi holidaymakers.
Jabal Sawda nearby is officially the highest point in Saudi Arabia, and the Asiri wall-painting art of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
King Khalid University is headquartered in Abha. Paris has hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya, filmed TV shows in AlUla and hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh. Paris has spent 17 years in the Gulf making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East.
Who Paris speaks to in Abha
King Khalid University
Talks for students and staff.
Mountain tourism
Keynotes for tourism and hospitality teams.
Government entities
Sessions for public-sector leaders.
Healthcare
Talks for clinical teams.
Event venues
Abha Palace Hotel and the university host the region’s conferences and forums.
- Abha Palace Hotel – with the Assir Hall and Crystal ballrooms
- King Khalid University – halls and auditoriums
Ways to book Paris in Abha
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. Compare formats →
Endurance you can measure
A marathon on every continent
7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Miami via Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza.
4,800 km of open ocean
The 2023 Pacific row, which raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
See how The Grit Code is built, or read about Paris in Riyadh. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Riyadh
Booking for Abha
Available for in-person events in Abha, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers in the Middle East typically book speakers one to two months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
The keynote is delivered in English, and Arabic interpretation or translated slides are available on request through the organiser.
See also keynote speaker in Saudi Arabia, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Abha’s economy and who the talk is for
Abha has a population of about 236,157 (2010 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Abha’s universities, including King Khalid University, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Abha organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Abha
These are typical Abha events for The Grit Code:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Questions from Abha organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Abha?
Yes. Organisers in Abha can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can the keynote suit a tourism or heritage forum?
Yes. Paris hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh and can focus the talk on tourism audiences.
Does Paris speak at universities in Abha?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as King Khalid University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Abha?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Abha?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.