In Saudi Arabia it’s never just coffee

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Clockwise form left: From asking patrons to dance for their coffee to surprising communities with clever stunts, these coffee shop marketing ideas are as creative as they are crazy. (Supplied/Instagram)
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Updated 15 September 2024
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In Saudi Arabia it’s never just coffee

  • We take a look at Saudi cafes keeping it fresh with creative marketing campaigns

RIYADH: In a market saturated with options, standing out is key, and some Saudi coffee shops have turned to quirky, attention-grabbing marketing strategies to attract customers.

From asking patrons to dance for their coffee to surprising communities with clever stunts, these marketing ideas are as creative as they are crazy. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing promotions that have stirred up a buzz in the Kingdom.

Dance for your coffee

At Daily Cup, a Riyadh coffee spot known for its lively atmosphere, customers are not just greeted with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee but with an unusual challenge: dance for your coffee. The concept is simple yet effective. Anyone willing to bust a move in the front of store can earn themselves a free cup of coffee.




Namq launched a special promotion offering free coffee to anyone born in the 1990s. (Instagram/namq_cafe)

This lighthearted promotion quickly became a hit with younger customers, who relished the chance to show off their moves in exchange for a free drink.

“Honestly, it’s a lot of fun,” Deemah Mohammed, a local customer, told Arab News. “At first it was a bit embarrassing, but once you see others doing it, you realize it’s all about having a good time. Plus, who doesn’t love free coffee?”

Neighbor with a twist

When Nas in Dammam prepared to open a new branch in a quiet residential neighborhood, they decided to introduce themselves in an unexpected way. Residents found a polite note in their mailboxes that appeared to be from a new family moving into the area.




Half Million customers who bought a coffee could return later the same day with their invoice and receive a free refill. (Instagram/halfmillion_sa)

The message, written with warmth and sincerity, apologized for any noise or disruption caused by the “housewarming party” preparations and assured neighbors that they were doing their best to minimize any disturbance.

What made this marketing strategy even more effective was its effect on social media. A post featuring the message quickly went viral on X, gaining nearly 17,000 likes.

At first glance, the note seemed to be from a friendly new family. But as residents soon discovered, this was in fact a marketing tactic by Nas, cleverly designed to create a sense of community and goodwill before the coffee shop officially opened its doors.




Half Million customers who bought a coffee could return later the same day with their invoice and receive a free refill. (Instagram/halfmillion_sa)

This inventive approach not only generated buzz but also endeared Nas to the neighborhood, setting the stage for a welcome launch.

With this campaign, Nas demonstrated how a personal touch and a bit of creativity can go a long way in building customer loyalty, even before the first cup is served.

Free cuppa for ’90s kids

Namq, a modern coffee concept with a knack for connecting with the youth, launched a special promotion offering free coffee to anyone born in the 1990s. The targeted campaign sparked excitement, with millennials flocking to Namq outlets throughout the Kingdom for their free drink.

The promotion became a trending topic on social media, but it also left younger customers asking: “What about us?”

The wave of demand from Gen Z was so strong that another coffee shop in Riyadh, Bros, decided to follow suit with a similar offer, this time for customers born in the 2000s. The friendly competition between the two shops added a layer of excitement as coffee lovers compared which generation had the better deal.

 

Bring a lemon, get a cake

Saadeddin, a well-known patisserie in the region, took an unconventional route with one of its promotions. Customers were asked to bring a lemon to the store in exchange for a free cake. While it may sound odd, the idea quickly caught on.

Invoice for a refill

Half Million, another popular coffee chain in the Kingdom, introduced a clever promotion that encouraged repeat visits. Customers who bought a coffee could return later the same day with their invoice and receive a free refill. This strategy not only incentivized customers to come back, but also subtly boosted the shop’s sales and customer loyalty.

“It’s a smart way to keep customers engaged,” said customer Nada Al-Harbi, who frequents Half Million. “You’re more likely to return if you know you can get another cup for free. Plus, it gives you an excuse to take a break in the middle of a busy day.”

Drive-thru surprises

When Cosmo opened a new branch in Dammam, they decided to treat their customers with unexpected gifts when they ring up the bill at their drive-through. Anyone who drove by could receive a free gift. The promotion created a sense of excitement and anticipation, with customers eagerly queuing up to see what surprise awaited them.

“A clever and attractive marketing idea because it feels more like a social experiment than a marketing campaign. Cosmo is known for its reputation and products, but this wasn’t about the product itself, it was a new experience with items you didn’t even know about,” said Wedad Bugrarah, the lucky recipient of a large box of desserts.

Whether through humor, surprise, or a sense of community, these campaigns do more than simply promote a product — they create memorable experiences that keep customers coming back.

Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of humor — or a lemon — to leave a lasting impression.

 


Advanced tech enhances Hajj crowd management

Updated 58 min 30 sec ago
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Advanced tech enhances Hajj crowd management

  • Tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency

ARAFAT: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, is using high-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial artificial intelligence and real-time data during the Hajj season.

These tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency, with the analysis covering entry points to Makkah to observe vehicle flow and peak times.

They also track crowd density around the Grand Mosque and analyze pilgrimage routes to predict mobility patterns and congestion, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The technology supports immediate decision-making by providing accurate data and improving crowd distribution. It also ensures safe mobility and enhances coordination among operational teams on the ground.

The collaboration presents an advanced model for using geospatial technologies, helping improve safety and increase field operation efficiency during Hajj.


How Ihram clothing is tailored and designed for Hajj

Updated 05 June 2025
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How Ihram clothing is tailored and designed for Hajj

  • Ihram represents spiritual purity and equality of pilgrimage
  • New technologies introduce Ihram with anti-bacterial properties  

RIYADH: During Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, Muslim men wear Ihram — simple attire representing purity and equality.

Ihram is made of two white unstitched pieces of fabric. One, the Izar, is wrapped around the waist while the other, the Rida’, covers the shoulders.

“Ihram is worn by men during Hajj and Umrah, and it is always unstitched and white,” Abdullah Al-Ahmad, who owns a menswear store in Riyadh, said.

“(It) usually consists of two pieces, a lower piece and an upper piece, and the most popular types of Ihram in the market are those made of elastic, and those tied around the belt. People usually prefer cotton, especially Egyptian cotton, for its high quality; also because cotton is softer on the skin and does not absorb heat.”

Hamad Al-Yami, a Saudi inventor in nanotechnology and member of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, talked to Arab News about his nano-silver technology Ihram.

“The idea originated while I was working at the Saudi Ministry of Health, where I noticed the need for antibacterial medical clothing,” he explained.

“The concept later evolved to include Ihram clothing after studying the challenges pilgrims face, such as the spread of infection in crowded conditions, wearing Ihram for a long period of time, sometimes for days at a time, and the limited effectiveness of traditional fabrics.”

He added he was inspired by the historical use of silver for sterilization and developed a technique using silver nanoparticles, each about one-millionth of a millimeter, to sterilize cotton fabric. The primary purpose of his invention was to reduce infection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along with his antibacterial clothing, he has future plans to work on recycled Ihrams and turn them into eco-friendly products like bags or pillows that could be used in mosques.

While men wear Ihram, women have more flexibility when it comes to clothing choices during Hajj, although modesty is still a requirement when choosing fabric and colors.

Due to the hot weather in the Makkah region, most women prefer lightweight, breathable materials such as cotton and linen.

“There are no specific clothes for women. Any texture, any color, as long as it is not decorated and is socially appropriate for Hajj. It should be modest and mostly white or beige,” said pilgrim Afnan Al-Harbi.

“I used to wear white because it was hot and sunny in Makkah and the color is cooler a little bit. We also don’t wear perfumes, we don’t cover our faces, and we don’t wear gloves. Still, a lot of pilgrims at the time were wearing black abayas.”

Wearing the Ihram is not a fashion choice. It indicates a state of spiritual readiness to submit to God and clear the mind and body of all negativity, so that Hajj can be begun with a positive mindset.


Saudi crown prince, Iranian President hold Eid Al-Adha call

Updated 05 June 2025
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Saudi crown prince, Iranian President hold Eid Al-Adha call

  • President Pezeshkian thanked the Kingdom for its efforts and distinguished services provided to pilgrims

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, President Pezeshkian thanked the Kingdom for its efforts and distinguished services provided to pilgrims.

He also extended Eid greetings to the Crown Prince, who in turn offered his congratulations on the blessed occasion.


Saudi authorities pump nearly 1 million cubic meters of water to serve Hajj pilgrims

Updated 05 June 2025
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Saudi authorities pump nearly 1 million cubic meters of water to serve Hajj pilgrims

  • Saudi Water Authority said that providing water to pilgrims was one of its continuous tasks during the Hajj season
  • National Water Company pumped more than 980,633 cubic meters of water to key holy sites in Makkah and Madinah

MAKKAH: Saudi water authorities have provided nearly a million cubic meters of water to serve the 1.4 million Muslim pilgrims participating in the Hajj since Wednesday.

The National Water Company said that it pumped more than 980,633 cubic meters of water to key holy sites visited by pilgrims, including Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Mount Arafat and Muzdalifah.

The Saudi Water Authority, a government body overseeing water operations in the Kingdom, said that providing water to pilgrims was one of its 24-hour continuous tasks during the Hajj season.

On Thursday, it presented its comprehensive water supply chain plan, which begins with seawater desalination, undergoes transportation and treatment, and ends with distribution, reuse and irrigation.

An interactive presentation, “The Story of Water in Hajj,” was shown in numerous languages at the Hajj Media Hub, an integrated media center supporting journalists covering Hajj, in the Makkah Chamber Exhibition and Events Center.

It showcased advanced technologies for water desalination, storage, transportation and treatment, along with smart operations and sustainability solutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Saudi Arabia is getting creative and everyone has a chance to shine, says DJ Viva

Updated 05 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia is getting creative and everyone has a chance to shine, says DJ Viva

  • The Saudi Canadian artist tells The Mayman Show how she left a career in academia to pursue a more creative path — after a challenge from a friend
  • She talks about her nerve-racking first international show, differences between performing in the Kingdom and overseas, and what motivates her various projects

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is experiencing a boom in all the various forms of creative expression and this is creating a wealth of opportunities, according to Saudi Canadian musician DJ Viva.

Appearing on the third episode of the seventh season of The Mayman Show, the artist — who has performed across the Kingdom and around the world, opening for global stars including David Guetta — recalled her first international performance, describing it as a nerve-racking experience.

 

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“I was in Cannes at the Cannes electronic music festival, (which) happens every August over there,” she said. “It was very nerve-racking, but I loved it.

“It was good to see the difference between what’s happening here, locally (in Saudi Arabia), and how things are conducted internationally.”

Despite the nerves, she said was proud that she had been able to step out of her comfort zone and noted: “The audience there is very different. I feel like it is a bit more difficult to read them; maybe because I’m used to here (in the Kingdom).”

 

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DJ Viva told how she left behind a career in academia to pursue a creative career and her adventure began as a result of a bold challenge from a friend.

“I used to teach at the business university in Jeddah,” she said. “One day, my friend, he was a DJ, came up to me. It was the first big event that happened here — at King Abdullah Economic City, when Tiesto was there — and he (my friend) was DJing on one of the yachts for the VIP guests.”

 

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The friend asked her why she has not tried her hand at creating music. Given that she was an educator, she explained, the question initially seemed strange, but her friend wanted her to see how much time and effort it takes to be a music creator and his question was actually more of a challenge.

Beyond the musical realm, DJ Viva is also a certified aerial artist, the founder of an art gallery, and a brand collaborator who combines music, fashion and storytelling in her projects. She is also clear about what motivates her.

“For me, it’s the part that I get to create an impact on people’s lives and create a feeling,” she said.

“I mean, I always say that in a lot of my interviews; whether it’s visual arts, which I also do, or aerial arts or music, it’s all creativity. You must go inside yourself and take something out to give to people.”

It is all about giving something back and making an impact on the people around you, she added.

 

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“With visual arts, it’s about people seeing your paintings,” she explained. “With music, it’s about what they’re hearing and how they react to it.”

DJ Viva appears very content with where she is at this stage of her career and has no regrets about her decision to shift from the halls academics to the creative world.

“I like the space that I’m in right now,” she said. “I love the creative realm. I find it much more fulfilling.”

Her upcoming plans include further work on a long-running project related to cosmetics.

 

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“That’s something I’m going to be revisiting later this year,” she said. “I started during COVID-19 and it did take off very nicely. But unfortunately my partner in that (project), she passed away. So I kind of froze it for a while.”

In 2023, DJ Viva founded the Sensation Art Gallery in Jeddah, described as a modern, luxury, holistic art experience. Her concept for it is that it represents an expression of all the various types of creative work in which she is involved.

“If you attend the gallery, you’ll see that there’s the visual arts and then we have the DJs and the musicians outside,” she explained.

“We also have mixology and all the different types of food art happening there, as well as the aerial arts.”

 

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As for the evolution of the creative scene in Saudi Arabia, DJ Viva said the country is “hungry for entertainment. That’s really such a good thing. It’s nice to see the excitement and to see how they appreciate music here — and creativity as a whole.”

As the wider development and transformation of the Kingdom continues, she said that the progress in all the creative industries is happening quickly and on an even bigger scale.

“I think, in the coming years we are going to be continuing that trajectory and there’s going to be a lot of growth,” she predicted.