How Hongkongers find their feet in shifting sands of desert kingdom Saudi Arabia
Middle Eastern country is looking to lure global talent as it diversifies its economy and Hongkongers are among those eyeing opportunities
King Leung King-chung was just like many other Hongkongers used to a comfortable life with plenty of entertainment options and different cuisines close at hand – moving to the Arabian Desert to set up a business was the furthest thing from his mind.
“I am a person hoping to challenge myself, and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” the 26-year-old said.
Leung bought a one-way ticket to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh two years ago, having also considered a move to mainland China and Africa, convinced that he could forge a career in a country seen as having the most potential among fast-growing economies.
His journey, however, was anything but smooth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest country economically and by area in the Middle East, with a population of about 32 million and gross domestic product of US$1.084 trillion in 2024. It was a baptism of fire that came at a steep financial cost.