Wake up and smell the coffee: Saudi cafes embrace a new era

Arabic coffee has been officially changed to Saudi coffee in the Kingdom’s restaurants, cafes, stores and roasteries early this year. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 September 2022
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Wake up and smell the coffee: Saudi cafes embrace a new era

  • Creativity is key as a young generation of baristas transforms the industry

RIYADH: Arabic coffee has been officially changed to Saudi coffee in the Kingdom’s restaurants, cafes, stores and roasteries early this year.

The statement by ministry spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Hussein was made in conjunction with a Culture Ministry initiative naming 2022 as the Year of Saudi Coffee, part of moves to strengthen the Kingdom’s identity and culture.

Since the move, the number of young baristas in the Kingdom has increased, with many focusing on creative adaptations and ways of serving the traditional beverage.

Ridhwan Al-Momen wanted to work while studying, so joined the international cafe franchise the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.




Ridhwan Al-Momen has a passion for specialty coffee. (Supplied)

“I had humble beginnings, but when I learned about specialty coffee, I took a deep dive into this world and I can’t get out of it,” he told Arab News.

“This is how many baristas of my generation feel.”

A UNESCO article stated that “serving Arabic coffee is an important aspect of hospitality in Arab societies and considered a ceremonial act of generosity,”.

This is especially true in Saudi Arabia, where coffee plays a central role in an age-old tradition of hospitality. As the Kingdom attracts more tourists, Saudi coffee has become one of its most intriguing attractions.

“Saudi coffee is an important part of our lives. We grew up around it and we still serve it to guests,” said Al-Momen. 

“I think it’s a nice thing that there is a growing interest in Saudi coffee.”

The Kingdom’s large youth population means that in the year of Saudi coffee, tradition is meeting innovation. 

“They (the younger generation) took things from the older generation and gave it a modern touch with new additions,” said Abdullah Al-Shareef, who works at the Wide Awake cafe in Jeddah.

Al-Momen now works as a barista at local cafe Azha. Located in Jeddah’s House Hotel, the cafe serves a variety of teas, coffees and iced beverages, as well as croissants and desserts. Its Saudi coffee is served in a dallah, a traditional Arabic coffee pot, with dates.

“The Saudi coffee we offer is a specialty coffee that comes from expensively harvested beans, and we present it in a unique way,” he said.

Whole-roasted beans are ground and the entire recipe created from scratch, he added.

Typically, cardamom is the star of Saudi coffee, but recipes vary, with some adding cloves and saffron. Spices, beans and roasting method can vary, which means each outlet has its own coffee flavor. 




Ridhwan Al-Momen works as a barista at local cafe Azha. Located in Jeddah’s House Hotel, the cafe serves Saudi coffee in a dallah with dates. (Supplied)

At the Dubai Expo 2020, Sard Cafe offered guests a novel insight into the various types of Saudi coffee. Coffee blends from across 13 regions in the Kingdom were presented along with information cards explaining the characteristics of each.

“Coffee has become a culture,” Al-Shareef said, which means work as a barista can be highly lucrative for men and women in the Kingdom. 

As the coffee industry grows in the Kingdom, government and private organizations are investing in a range of initiatives to support and expand the sector.

In July, the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission signed a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Coffee Co. on several initiatives to preserve the heritage of Saudi coffee.

Initiatives include a program to develop a media library and local culinary arts stories, as well as the designing and marketing of tourism routes to promote coffee plantations. 

The partnership will support Saudi coffee events and festivals, issue licenses to coffee experts, encourage local production, promote the company’s products in digital shops specializing in Saudi culinary arts, and set standards for processing of coffee beans.

Through partnerships with authorities associated with Saudi coffee, the endeavor aims to develop the sector, improve the quality of coffee products, empower those working and investing in coffee, and share the Kingdom’s coffee heritage with the world.

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The taste and traditions of Saudi coffee

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EU delegation reviews Saudi efforts to combat extremism

Updated 10 sec ago
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EU delegation reviews Saudi efforts to combat extremism

  • Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology’s secretary-general, Mansour Al-Shammari, received the delegation and addressed several topics of mutual interest in combating extremism
  • EU members were briefed on the center’s strategy and its efforts to combat extremist ideology as well as mitigate its impact and messages

RIYADH: Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee, including its chair, Delphine Pronk, paid an official visit to the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh.

The center’s secretary-general, Mansour Al-Shammari, received the delegation and addressed several topics of mutual interest in combating extremism.

The EU members were briefed on the center’s strategy and its efforts to combat extremist ideology as well as mitigate its impact and messages, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

They also learned about the community initiatives and international partnerships that promote the principles of tolerance and a culture of moderation.

The meeting was attended by EU Special Representative for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio, European External Action Service Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa Helene Le Gal, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Christophe Farnaud and Saudi Ambassador to the EU Haifa Al-Jedea.

Earlier, the EU delegation visited the Gulf Cooperation Council’s headquarters in Riyadh and met Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi to discuss mutual interests and joint efforts to address global challenges.

Topics included regional issues such as Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Gulf security, Iran, maritime security in the Red Sea, Iraq, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The delegation also met Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir to discuss climate change, environmental cooperation and strengthening joint efforts in these areas. They also reviewed recent foreign policy developments in Europe and the Middle East.


Riyadh exhibition explores palm’s role in ancient cultures

Updated 26 November 2024
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Riyadh exhibition explores palm’s role in ancient cultures

  • Experts discuss challenges and innovations in date farming

RIYADH: The “Palm Tree in Civilizations” pavilion at the International Dates Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh, running until Nov. 28, highlights the historical significance of the palm tree across ancient cultures.

The pavilion explores how date palms supported food and economic sustainability, offering a historical journey through the ages.

It also showcases the palm’s importance in ancient Egypt through carvings and murals depicting its role in daily life and religious rituals, as well as in agriculture, construction, and fertility practices.

Organized by the National Center for Palm and Dates under the theme “World of Dates,” the exhibit also highlights the palm’s significance in Mesopotamia and the Levant, featuring ancient texts like the Code of Hammurabi, which protected palm cultivation, along with carvings illustrating their role in trade and society.

The 'Palm Tree in the Civilization of the Nile Valley' section garnered the attention of many visitors. (Supplied)

Artifacts from the Dilmun civilization highlighted the reliance of ancient Arab societies on palms for agriculture and trade.

The pavilion also showcases the palm’s symbolic role in the Levant, particularly among the Canaanites and Arameans, with depictions from historical sites like Palmyra emphasizing its importance in religious and artistic traditions.

Saad Alnajim, vice president of the Antiquities and Heritage Association in the Eastern Province, said: “Beyond providing food, medicine, and shade, the palm symbolizes belonging and pride, reflected in its place on Saudi Arabia’s national emblem.”

Saad Alnajim, vice president of the Antiquities and Heritage Association in the Eastern Province.

Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, chairman of the National Committee for Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that dates are central to the Saudi economy, with Vision 2030 aiming to make the Kingdom the world’s largest date exporter.

He added: “Today, the Kingdom is the largest producer and exporter of dates, thanks to the clear vision of the crown prince, whose efforts we are now benefiting from.”

According to the UN Comtrade database, Saudi Arabia exported dates worth over SR1.4 billion ($373 million) to 119 countries by the end of 2023.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported production exceeding 1.9 million tonnes, reflecting a 152.5 percent increase in export value since 2016, solidifying the Kingdom’s position as the world’s largest date exporter.

Meanwhile, a panel of global climate and agriculture experts discussed the impact of climate change on date palm cultivation.

The session focused on challenges such as delayed fruit maturation, reduced yields, pests, and pollution, and explored innovative solutions to address these issues. The panel emphasized the need for international cooperation and sustainable farming practices.

Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, chairman of the National Committee for Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

The discussion highlighted global best practices, including improved irrigation and smart agricultural techniques, as well as the importance of farmer education and technical support.

Recommendations included enhancing international collaboration, supporting research on climate-resistant varieties, and promoting awareness for sustainable date palm cultivation.

The exhibition offers a variety of entertainment activities, including folklore shows, regional poetry, and cooking competitions.

It also features a museum that takes visitors on a journey through the history of palm trees and dates over the past 1,000 years.

Additionally, a live cooking area brings together local and international chefs to prepare a variety of date-based dishes.


Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject a ‘generational investment,’ minister says

Updated 26 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject a ‘generational investment,’ minister says

  • The world’s top oil exporter has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into development projects through the kingdom’s $925 billion sovereign fund

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject, a futuristic region being built in the desert, is a “generational investment” with a long timeline, the country’s investment minister told Reuters on Monday, adding that foreign investment will pick up pace.
“NEOM was not meant to be a two-year investable opportunity. If anybody expected NEOM to be foreign investment in two, three or five years, then they have gotten (it) wrong — it’s a generational investment,” Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on the sidelines of the World Investment Conference in Riyadh.
“The flywheel is starting and it will gain speed as we go forward, as some of the foundational assets come to the market,” he said.
The world’s top oil exporter has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into development projects through the kingdom’s $925 billion sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), as it undergoes an economic agenda dubbed Vision 2030 to cut dependence on fossil fuels.
NEOM, a Red Sea urban and industrial development nearly the size of Belgium that is meant to eventually house 9 million people, is central to Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has scaled back some lofty ambitions to prioritize completing elements essential to hosting global sporting events over the next decade as rising costs weigh, sources told Reuters earlier this month. NEOM announced this month its long-time chief executive, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, had stepped down, without giving further details.
Asked what effect the departure would have on investors, the minister said the executive had done “a respectable job” but that “there is a time for everybody to pass on the baton.”
Asked if PIF will continue to do much of the spending on NEOM until more foreign funds come in, Al-Falih said it was not binary.
“I think foreign investors are starting to come to NEOM, they’re starting to channel capital. Some of the projects that the PIF will be doing will be financed through global capital pools, through some alternative and private capital. That’s taking place as we speak,” he said.
“So I urge you not to look at NEOM as being 100 percent PIF and then suddenly there will be a cliff and it will go private.”
Saudi Arabia, which is racing to attract $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by the turn of the decade — reaching about a quarter of that in 2023 — has recently seen more co-investment deals between state entities and foreign investors.
“It’s always been the intent,” Al-Falih said of foreign inflows alongside state funds.
He noted that foreign investors were at times “still looking, still examining, still sometimes questioning,” but that now there was confidence in the profitability of investment opportunities and that “the risk-return trade-offs are very, very fair and positive to them.”


Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Kuwaiti counterpart on death of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah

Updated 26 November 2024
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Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Kuwaiti counterpart on death of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the passing of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Hamoud Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah.
In the cable, the crown prince extended his deepest sympathy to Sheikh Sabah and the family of the deceased.


Saudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation

Updated 25 November 2024
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Saudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation

  • Deemah Al-Yahya, head of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, commended Iraq’s investment in human capital as driver for growth and expansion of digital economy
  • Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy

RIYADH: Saudi senior tech diplomat Deemah AlYahya, the secretary-general of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, held talks on Monday with Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, about support for Baghdad’s plans to develop its digital business and artificial intelligence sectors.

They discussed Iraq’s strategy for digital transformation, and the need to create and develop a workforce with the tech skills required to help grow the Iraqi economy effectively, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Though Iraq is not a member of the DCO, an international body that focuses on the digital economy, Al-Sudani said his country is keen to work with the organization to meet the nation’s needs for a skilled workforce in the business sector.

AlYahya commended Iraq for the progress it has already made in terms of investment in the human capital needed to develop the digital skills that are essential to drive growth in a digitized economy.

Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy. Authorities this month organized the first Digital Space Iraq Forum, which focused on the use of advanced technologies, including AI, to help build a comprehensive digital economy.

The DCO says that since it was founded in November 2020, it has been at the forefront of efforts to curate policies and initiatives to support the digital economy in several countries. Currently, 16 nations are members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer partner organizations.

DCO member states have a collective gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion and serve a combined market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70 percent of whom are under the age of 35.