Resilience keynotes for King Abdullah Economic City
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is a planned city on the Red Sea, still being developed. Paris brings The Grit Code to teams working there and nearby.
A long-term city project
KAEC was announced in 2005 as a planned city about 100 km north of Jeddah in Rabigh Governorate, covering 173 square kilometres.
Growth has been far slower than first planned: by 2018 the city had about 7,000 residents. It has King Abdullah Port, a Haramain high-speed rail station and residential areas such as Bay La Sun.
For teams on projects that take longer than planned, Paris’s stories of a 39-day ocean row and 7 marathons on 7 continents speak to staying the course. Paris has spent 17 years in the Gulf making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East.
Who Paris speaks to in King Abdullah Economic City
Port and logistics
Resilience for operations and shipping teams.
Developers and contractors
Keynotes for long-horizon project teams.
KAUST, 20 km south in Thuwal
Talks for researchers and students.
Industrial tenants
Sessions for manufacturing teams.
Where King Abdullah Economic City meets
Smaller meetings are held in KAEC itself; bigger conferences often use venues in Jeddah.
- Resort and hotel venues – along KAEC’s Red Sea coast
- Jeddah’s conference venues – about 100 km to the south
Keynote, workshop or virtual
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
See Paris’s pages for Jeddah and Riyadh, where he hosted the UN Tourism meeting. Keynote speaker Jeddah · Keynote speaker Riyadh · The Grit Code keynote
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in King Abdullah Economic City, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers in the Middle East typically book speakers one to two months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
Paris presents in English. Arabic interpretation or translated slides can be arranged by the organiser.
See also keynote speaker in Saudi Arabia, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
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 King Abdullah Economic City 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 King Abdullah Economic City
Organisers in King Abdullah Economic City usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in King Abdullah Economic City?
Yes. Paris takes King Abdullah Economic City bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak at KAUST or for research audiences?
Yes. Talks for researchers focus on persistence through long, uncertain work.
Can a KAEC event be held as a virtual session?
Yes. Paris can deliver a live virtual keynote in your local time zone.
Is there a workshop option for teams in King Abdullah Economic City?
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 King Abdullah Economic City?
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.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Your King Abdullah Economic City audience, fired up
Ask about availability, or book a call.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact