Fahad Albutairi aka the 'Saudi Seinfeld' on breaking comedic ground in the Middle East

He went from geophysics student at the University of Texas, to comedic trailblazer. 

Fahad Albutairi is one of the first professional stand-up comics to hit the stage in Saudi Arabia.

Albutairi collaborates with other Saudi comics and pokes fun at problems in the conservative society — like women not being allowed to drive — so you can imagine the challenges he's faced in finding the funny without alienating his audience.

"We talk about issues that might challenge the conservative culture, but not completely shoot arrows at it or try to polarize it," Albutairi tells Shad. "We also don't want to drive away anyone."   

One of the main tools Albutairi uses in his act is what he refers to as "playing it clean." While Albutairi may be joking about controversial or adult topics, he doesn't swear, which helps when it comes to keeping his performance in line with his artistic vision without risking censorship.

WEB EXTRA | Watch Albutairi's TED talk on being one of the pioneers of stand-up comedy in Saudi Arabia and his routine at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.