Could Riyadh be the Middle East’s next culinary capital?

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Riyadh’s Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah boasts a range of fine dining experiences. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 April 2023
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Could Riyadh be the Middle East’s next culinary capital?

  • Dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants have come to the Saudi capital over the past three years
  • Local and foreign diners can now enjoy an array of international and traditional Saudi foods in Riyadh

RIYADH: In a high-end restaurant, polished glasses sit atop a sleekly designed wooden table surrounded by lush green plants. On the table are spreads of artfully presented Greek specialties: tzatziki, Santorini salad, eggplant dip and beef gyros tacos. At first glance, a diner might think they were in the Greek isles, or at least an upscale Mediterranean restaurant in London or Dubai.

This eatery, however, is Meraki Riyadh, the popular upscale Greek restaurant chain which first opened in London in 2017 and launched in the Mandarin Oriental Riyadh in September 2021. While Meraki would hardly shock diners in any other global city, in Riyadh — a metropolis which once had a comparatively bland food scene — it might come as a welcome surprise. 




Meraki Riyadh, a popular upscale Greek restaurant chain, launched in the Mandarin Oriental Riyadh in September 2021. (Supplied)

Over the last three years, a multitude of fine dining restaurants have opened in the Saudi capital, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s grand social and economic transformation spearheaded by Vision 2030. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious reform plan aims to increase household spending on cultural and entertainment activities to 6 percent, up 2.9 percent from when the Vision was unveiled in 2016.

Sushi, caviar, tapas, babka bread, dim sum and fondue — dozens upon dozens of international dishes are now being served in the Saudi capital as some of the world’s best restaurants and chains open alongside the rise of homegrown Saudi outfits serving a mix of traditional and fusion fare.

“Riyadh has, without a doubt, a really exciting restaurant scene,” Ciara Philips, a British cultural strategist who moved to Riyadh at the end of 2020, told Arab News.

In a country where nearly 70 percent of the population is under the age of 40, bolstering the Kingdom’s entertainment and hospitality sectors is of prime importance — not just for the influx of foreigners, but also for locals who, until a few years ago, were unable to find such a vast selection of food.




Fine dining at the new popular upscale Saudi contemporary fusion restaurant MAIZ. (Supplied)

“I’ve lived in world cities from New York, to London, Paris and Dubai … it’s up there with the best, if not surpassing, in terms of local food entrepreneurship, trendy food concepts, incredible interiors, and exceptional service and hospitality,” said Philips. “Attention to detail, as well as the love and positive embrace of the new, and a burgeoning night-time economy all add to that vibrancy.”

“This is matched with the genuine warm welcome and generosity of Saudis — food is shared and gifted so often at work and when receiving guests in the home — and I’m carrying the extra pounds to prove it,” Phillips said.

In November 2022, Saudi lifestyle curator Cool Inc announced that it would bring around 20 restaurants that hold coveted Michelin stars in their home cities are bringing their culinary offerings to Riyadh and Jeddah this year. Such names will add to the growing list of top outlets in the capital and Jeddah, which already include the Cantonese cuisine of Hakkasan, Japanese restaurant Roka, the French delicacies of La Petite Maison, and Italian fine dining restaurants such as Scallini, Angelina, and Cipriani.




Hakkasan Riyadh offers the best of Chinese cuisine at Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah. (Supplied)

In January, Cool Inc selected a diverse portfolio of international restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants Spago and Cut, Scott’s seafood outlet, WAGYUMAFIA, and the Indian-themed Gymkhana to open in the Saudi capital. Additionally, Cool Inc announced its Destination Dining & Member’s Clubs initiative that aims to connect the Kingdom with global industry culinary experts and visionaries.

At the end of 2022, the long-awaited Bujairi Terrace opened in the historic Diriyah district overlooking Turaif, once the original seat of the first Saudi state. Boasting a multitude of high-end Saudi and international dining experiences in an area of 15,000 square meters, its opening marked the first phase of the $50-billion project of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

“As a cradle of Arabian civilization for centuries, Saudi Arabia has welcomed and hosted people from across the region and the world since its inception,” Kiran Haslam, Chief Marketing Officer at Diriyah Company, told Arab News. “From the earliest traders and merchants to pilgrims journeying across the continent; scholars, architects and visionaries, Diriyah has been the epicenter of the Arabian Peninsula for hundreds of years.”




Riyadh’s Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah boasts a range of fine dining experiences. (Supplied)

“Bujairi Terrace is effectively bringing the world together through food,” Haslam said. “It offers a peerless experience in gastronomical discovery and is a perfect catalyst, much like the wider Diriyah project, for the immense progress all around us in establishing the Kingdom as a truly great global gathering place.”

Riyadh’s up-and-coming culinary status is not just due to its plethora of famous international names, however, a slew of homegrown restaurants offering Saudi cuisine with a contemporary twist are popping up all over the capital. 

Under the Ministry of Culture, the Culinary Arts Commission is working to showcase and develop unique Saudi culinary traditions and position the Kingdom as a global destination for the culinary arts. The first European Food Festival under the commission was held in March this year, with the Saudi Arabian Chef’s Association hosting a contest for Saudi and international cuisine.

Inside the Takya restaurant at Burjairi Terrace, local and international diners enjoy beautifully prepared Saudi traditional dishes with a modern flair.




Takya restaurant, at Burjairi Terrace offers a contemporary fusion of traditional Saudi dishes from the country’s various regions. (Supplied)

“The idea was to create a place where people can dine in comfort and peace,” Hessah Al-Mutawa, co-owner of Takya, told Arab News. The restaurant offers a contemporary fusion of traditional Saudi dishes from the country’s various regions. The design of the restaurant, done by Hessah’s sister and restaurant co-owner Hadeel, is inspired by various Saudi architectural and cultural elements. “We want to involve the interior of the restaurant to tell a story.”

Expats living in Riyadh say the new Saudi-led restaurants are enticing and unique. However, Moe Inani, a Saudi chef based in Riyadh, believes what is still lacking in Riyadh’s growing culinary scene is a strong contingent of homegrown restaurants.

Inani, who originally hails from Jeddah, became a sous-chef at Saison, a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco, where he learned to prepare sushi. He now uses his experience to create novel twists on more traditional local cuisine such as Red Sea fish.




Moe Inani, a Saudi executive chef and co-owner of Chifty restaurant, learned his craft in
San Francisco. (Supplied)

“I think the scene has definitely improved over the past couple of years, but I think most of the brands and restaurants that we have are international brands being brought from outside the Kingdom, mostly from Europe and the US by food and beverage businessmen,” Inani told Arab News. “Most of the local fine dining brands are fast food restaurants serving burgers and shawarmas.”

Inani stressed that it would take time and experience to be able to open “successful local brands.”

“For locally grown concepts, what is needed is knowledge first and foremost,” he said. “I think the country is definitely moving in the right direction to begin with by sending students or people that are interested in the culinary field to go study at different culinary schools around the world.”

Simply pursuing studies in the culinary arts, emphasizes Inani, is not enough. Experience with different foods and time are also key. “Once Saudis gain experience working with chefs abroad, they can then come back to the Kingdom and use it to help improve Saudi Arabia’s local culinary offerings,” he said.




The Japanese restaurant ROKA was an immediate hit with local food lovers when it opened in Riyadh. (Supplied)

Riyadh, Inani believes, has the potential to become a global culinary capital. But to do that, it is crucial it develops its own identity and its own chefs through locally grown concepts and experience.

Change, however, is already underway. At the new popular upscale Saudi contemporary fusion restaurant MAIZ, local and international diners eagerly drink homemade mocktails and dine on dishes such as caviar on masabeeb pancakes, featuring caviar from locally farmed sturgeon and whipped cream made with local dried limes.

“Fusion offerings at this scale weren’t available just a few years ago,” quips one diner.

As Philips puts it: “Move over, New York City: Riyadh is the city that never sleeps when it comes to incredible food on offer, from snacks to fast food to serious fine dining — you can eat what you want at all times of the day.”

 


Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

Updated 5 sec ago
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Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

  • Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing launched the Home Delivery Permit service for food and non-food delivery establishments via the Balady platform, Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.

This initiative supports ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life and elevate safety and compliance standards within the delivery sector across the Kingdom.

The delivery service aims to regulate delivery operations within cities by ensuring establishments comply with health and technical requirements, thereby contributing to a safe and efficient environment that enhances consumer confidence.

The requirements for the permit include obtaining a health certificate for all home delivery service workers, securing approval from the authority supervising the commercial activity, clearly displaying the establishment’s name or trademark on delivery vehicles, and ensuring these vehicles comply with the technical and health standards necessary for safe product transportation.

The ministry explained that mandatory enforcement of license issuance will begin on July 1, 2025.

Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators.

Business owners can apply for the home delivery permit through the Balady platform by visiting: https://balady.gov.sa/en/services/issue-home-delivery-permit.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to develop the regulatory framework for the services sector and to ensure the provision of safe delivery services, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Last month, the ministry announced the launch of the Balady Plus app — an intelligent platform aimed at enhancing quality of life in Saudi cities and facilitating daily mobility for residents and visitors.

According to the ministry, Balady Plus was developed by national talents to be more than just a navigation tool. It offers an interactive 3D map experience with precise local content that reflects the real landscape of Saudi cities and adapts to their changes in real time.

The application features smart mobility services, including live updates on roads, locations, and services. It also supports indoor navigation in commercial centers, alerts users about speed bumps, obstacles, and road closures, and integrates data from government entities and the local community.


20 years after embracing Islam, Uruguayan Muslim fulfills his Hajj dream in Makkah

Updated 46 min 18 sec ago
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20 years after embracing Islam, Uruguayan Muslim fulfills his Hajj dream in Makkah

MAKKAH: Luis Abi Rachid, a 70-year-old pilgrim from Uruguay and a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj and Umrah, shared the story of his first-ever flight, which he took this year to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

After being selected for the program, supervised and implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Rachid described the journey as one filled with peace and spiritual fulfillment, marking the realization of his lifelong wish to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.

“I arrived in the holy land with indescribable feelings,” he said. “I was on my way to perform Umrah and see the Holy Kaaba for the first time in my life, after only seeing it on television. My heart overflowed with longing for this sacred place.

“Hajj is a dream, especially for new Muslims,” Rachid continued.

“When I was selected for the program, I felt a joy beyond words. All praise is due to Allah Almighty, and then to the leadership of Saudi Arabia for turning my dream — and the dreams of many Muslims around the world — into reality.”

Rachid recounted that his journey to Islam began 20 years ago, when a Muslim friend introduced him to the faith over the course of three months.

During that time, he learned about the Holy Qur’an and the practice of prayer, eventually becoming convinced that Islam is the true religion. Since embracing Islam, he has deepened his faith and understanding and has long dreamed of performing Hajj and visiting the Holy Kaaba.

“I declared my Islam without ever expecting that I would embrace the faith, as I had never considered it,” Rachid said.

“But Allah Almighty guided me and brought me from darkness into spiritual clarity. I felt a peace and inner security I had never known. Islam is a religion of balance, moderation, and tranquility — free from excess, extremism, or rigidity. All praise be to Allah Almighty for guiding me and making me one of the Muslims.”

He expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts in serving Islam and Muslims and prayed for Saudi Arabia’s continued growth, progress, and prosperity.


New environmental monitoring technologies used for this year’s Hajj

Updated 03 June 2025
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New environmental monitoring technologies used for this year’s Hajj

  • High-tech monitoring systems analyze air, water and soil quality
  • Satellites allow center to dispatch emergency teams rapidly

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Environmental Compliance has begun using new satellite monitoring technologies to protect the environment for this year’s Hajj.

The NCEC uses satellite data to monitor and analyze environmental media, including air, water and soil quality. 

The center relies on satellites to monitor environmental challenges across wide geographic areas at high speed, enabling emergency teams to quickly reach affected sites.

Hani Al-Subhi, director-general of the Makkah Region branch, spoke to Arab News about the center’s use of satellite technology.

“These technologies help pinpoint the precise locations of environmental challenges, facilitating a rapid response and enhancing the provision of a healthy, pollutant-free environment for pilgrims,” he said

Meanwhile, Abu Talib Zaki, a technical expert in monitoring, spoke about how the center cooperates with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to collect two types of satellite imagery.

The first is passive remote sensing, which measures reflections of light emitted from other objects.

The second is active remote sensing, which uses light from the satellite itself to create images.

The spatial resolution of the images used reaches 30 cm, meaning that each pixel of the image covers 30x30 cm, allowing for high-precision monitoring of environmental phenomena.

The National Center for Environmental Compliance earlier this week completed 90 percent of the preemptive inspections to ensure the safety of water, air, and soil for Hajj.

Monitoring efforts will continue until pilgrims complete their rituals in a healthy, pollutant-free environment.

The center also uses nine air quality monitoring stations — six located in Makkah and the holy sites and three in Madinah.

These stations operate around the clock to measure air quality, and if any pollutant is detected, field teams are dispatched immediately to the site to identify the source and coordinate with the authorities to eliminate the cause of pollution.


Saudi leaders congratulate Karol Nawrocki on winning Poland’s presidential elections

Updated 03 June 2025
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Saudi leaders congratulate Karol Nawrocki on winning Poland’s presidential elections

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman each sent a cable of congratulations to Karol Nawrocki after winning Poland’s presidential elections on Monday.

The King and Crown Prince wished the president success in his duties and the Polish people further progress and prosperity, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Nawrocki won 50.89% of votes in a very tight race against Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%.


Drones delivering Hajj medicine years in the making, health minister tells Arab News

Updated 03 June 2025
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Drones delivering Hajj medicine years in the making, health minister tells Arab News

  • Delivery cut from 90 to 6 minutes, says Fahad AlJalajel
  • Drones will operate in Mina, Muzdalifah, Mount Arafat

MAKKAH: A new service transporting medicine with drones during Hajj is a result of two years of intensive studies and experiments, Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahad AlJalajel told Arab News on Monday.

“This modern technology aims to deliver medicines on a large scale during the Hajj season while reducing the time required to deliver medical supplies to just six minutes, compared to 90 minutes using ground transportation,” AlJalajel said.

The service will bypass congestion at the holy sites, where nearly 1.25 million pilgrims will gather during the Hajj, a key pillar of Islam, which runs from June 4 to 9.

AlJalajel said trials over the past two years tested for safe takeoff and landing, as well as high temperatures. The drones are equipped with cooling systems, he said.

The drone initiative is a part of the comprehensive healthcare transformation taking place in the Kingdom, under the Saudi Vision 2030 program.

“One of the most notable achievements of this transformation is the establishment of the Seha Virtual Hospital, the largest in the world according to the Guinness World Records,” said AlJalajel.

The virtual hospital, which is linked to the Kingdom’s Sehaty health app, serves more than 200 hospitals, and is accessible to all individuals in Saudi Arabia.

“The Kingdom is applying advanced technologies in the fields of robotic surgery, stroke management, and the use of artificial intelligence in health services, reflecting the serious trend towards digitizing the health sector,” AlJalajel said.

These experiences, the minister said, have become a source of inspiration and learning for many countries around the world.

The Health Ministry would continue to anticipate global challenges and provide pioneering and appropriate solutions, AlJalajel said.