Grit and resilience keynotes for Saudi Arabia’s transformation
Paris Norriss has lived and worked in the Gulf for 17 years, making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East. Vision 2030 asks people to build at a pace few have attempted. Paris Norriss helps Saudi teams build the grit to sustain it, with a keynote tested at sea, on the ice and on camera.
Transformation at this scale needs staying power
Saudi Arabia is in the middle of one of the largest transformations in the world: Vision 2030, giga-projects, new sectors and a fast-growing young workforce.
Big launches get the headlines, but delivery depends on people who keep going through setbacks, delays and long timelines. That is grit, the mix of passion and perseverance behind long-term goals.
The Grit Code turns grit into skills that teams can train, so ambition becomes delivery. And it comes from a speaker who knows the region: Paris has lived and worked in the Gulf for 17 years, making TV shows such as Guy in Dubai that uncover the culture of the Middle East. He has filmed his TV shows in AlUla, hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh.
Built for Saudi rooms that need to perform
Project & delivery teams
Resilience for teams delivering long, complex programmes under scrutiny.
Conferences & kick-offs
Annual conferences and leadership summits in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Ministries & authorities
Resilience for people serving national goals under pressure.
Universities & young talent
The Grit Generation for students and graduate programmes.
Talks for Saudi audiences
The Grit Code
Resilience, mental toughness and high performance, built for teams carrying long-horizon goals.
The age of AI needs more grit
As Saudi organisations adopt AI at speed, the human edge is the will to keep going when the plan breaks.
Grit Deconstruction workshop
A hands-on session for leadership teams and sales groups that maps where your team breaks under pressure and builds a plan to fix it.
Host / MC / panel
A TV presenter to keep summits, forums and award nights on time and on energy.
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
Shows in 123 countries
His adventure TV shows are distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
7 marathons, 7 continents
Ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Main stages
TEDx Amman to 4,000 people in a Roman theatre (October 2025), COP28 (December 2023) and Expo 2020 Dubai (2021).
Past audiences include the UN Tourism General Assembly, COP28 (December 2023), Expo 2020 Dubai (2021), TEDx Amman (October 2025), the US Army, DHL, Nokia and Durlston Partners.
Regional proof: COP28 at Expo City (December 2023), Expo 2020 Dubai (2021), TEDx Amman to 4,000 people (October 2025) and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
In Saudi Arabia
Paris has filmed his TV shows in AlUla, hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh.
Based in the Gulf, in person or virtual
Available for in-person events across Saudi Arabia, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers in Saudi Arabia typically book speakers one to two months ahead.
The 30–45 minute virtual keynote suits regional and hybrid teams, with expedition footage and live Q&A.
From the organisers
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Paris Norriss in action as a storyteller, motivator and a true catalyst for transformation. Through his powerful awe-inspiring adventures, he doesn’t just recount tales of endurance and grit, he lives them.
I had the pleasure of working with Paris during TEDxAmman, the largest TEDx event in the MENA region, where he joined us as one of our inspiring speakers. From the very start, he showed professionalism, positivity, and contagious enthusiasm that uplifted everyone around him.
Paris is both captivating and uplifting. We appreciated his open, honest, and heartfelt journey. His raw and genuine account of his pioneering adventure underlines his resilience and grit against any obstacle he faced. His story is highly impactful and we found it inspiring to deliver more passion, energy and a collaborative spirit.
Cities we cover in Saudi Arabia
Keynote speaker Riyadh · Keynote speaker Jeddah · Keynote speaker Dammam · Keynote speaker Jubail · Keynote speaker Al-Ahsa · Keynote speaker Taif · Keynote speaker Tabuk · Keynote speaker Abha · Keynote speaker Buraydah · Keynote speaker Yanbu · Keynote speaker AlUla · Keynote speaker King Abdullah Economic City
Past events in Saudi Arabia
- Opening the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh – November 2025 · Riyadh
Riyadh speaking, AlUla filming
In Saudi Arabia Paris has spoken only in Riyadh, at the UN Tourism meeting. He has filmed in AlUla. He has not spoken in Jeddah, Dammam or anywhere else in the Kingdom.
City pages for Jeddah, Dammam and other Saudi locations are for organisers who want to book him there. They are not a claim that he has already given a keynote in those cities. He has also hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, leadership offsites and government events in Riyadh, Jeddah and across the Kingdom, in person or virtually.
Does Paris understand the region?
Yes. Paris has lived and worked in the Gulf for 17 years, making TV shows such as Guy in Dubai that uncover the culture of the Middle East. He knows the culture and audiences of the Gulf first-hand. In Saudi Arabia, he has filmed his TV shows in AlUla, hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya and hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh.
Is the keynote relevant to Vision 2030 teams?
Yes. The Grit Code focuses on sustaining performance over long, demanding goals, and the briefing call ties it to your programme and people.
Does Paris present in Arabic?
Paris presents in English. Every talk is tailored in a briefing call so it works for multinational and local audiences alike.
How far ahead should we book?
Organisers in Saudi Arabia typically book speakers one to two months ahead. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.
How long is The Grit Code keynote?
The flagship keynote runs 45 to 60 minutes including Q&A. Paris also delivers 90-minute to half-day workshops and 30 to 45-minute virtual keynotes.
Where in Saudi Arabia has Paris spoken?
Only in Riyadh, at the UN Tourism meeting. He has filmed in AlUla. He has not spoken in Jeddah, Dammam or anywhere else in Saudi Arabia.
Bring grit to your next event in Saudi Arabia
Tell us the date, the city, the audience and what you want them to walk out with. You will get a straight answer on availability and fit. Prefer to talk first? Book a call.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · Contact