Adventure in Beautiful Saudi Arabia

At the beginning of September, we had the opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia with the goal of establishing new contacts and gaining a deeper understanding of the country’s market and culture.

We were truly impressed by the country’s modern infrastructure, the strong sense of safety, the delicious fresh food, and—most of all—the warm hospitality of everyone we met.

Although the journey was long—over 20 hours of travel—it was absolutely worth it.

As members of QWEB (Quebec Wood Export Bureau), we were proud to be present at the Saudi Wood Expo, where QWEB had a dedicated kiosk. Thanks to the generosity and professionalism of their representative, Sven Gustvasson, we were able to meet many valuable contacts. We sincerely thank Sven for his support and for organizing such a well-coordinated trip.

During our stay, we visited several industries around Riyadh. These visits allowed us to connect with local businesses, gain insights into the market, and better understand the cultural landscape. It was a fantastic experience. Our days were filled with meetings and site visits, and our evenings with the Expo and delicious dinners—where we even had the chance to try specialties like camel meat!

We were fortunate to have the on-the-ground support of Sajid, from the Canadian Embassy in Saudi, who meticulously organized our meetings with local industry leaders and introduced us to many people at the show. A heartfelt thank you to you, my friend.

We also benefited from the experience and guidance of two seasoned participants, Benoit and Fred. Thank you both—we hope to see you again soon.

Finally, we want to extend our deepest thanks to all the contacts we made in Saudi Arabia. Across our many travels, we can confidently say that our Saudi hosts were among the most polite and welcoming we’ve ever encountered. We will be back soon..

One last note: If you ever visit Saudi Arabia, don’t miss out on the Saudi coffee and dates—they’re a must!