How the Michelin Guide will boost the culinary scene in Saudi Arabia

Arab News

03-07-2025

RIYADH: The Michelin Guide — the restaurant industry's most-respected guidebook — has finally come to Saudi Arabia. In a significant milestone for the Kingdom's culinary scene, the guide — organized in partnership with the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission — will be released in three stages: on the 15th of each month from October to December this year, it was announced at the launch event last month.
The guide 'will focus on the bustling cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, while also beginning to explore the diverse regions of the Kingdom, including Khobar, AlUla, and many more,' Michelin said in a statement, adding that its inspectors — who visit venues anonymously — are 'already in the field.'
As it does throughout the world, Michelin will award one star to restaurants providing 'high-quality cooking that is worth a stop,' two stars for 'excellent cooking that is worth a detour,' and three stars for 'exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey.'
Alongside the much-coveted star ratings, the selection also includes the popular Bib Gourmand category, a distinction awarded to restaurants that provide good quality food at a moderate price.
The well-known Jeddah-based chef and restauranteur Nihal Felemban says the arrival of the Michelin Guide will raise the bar for chefs and restaurants in Saudi Arabia.
'It's a dream for most chefs to obtain that star. That will create a very healthy sense of competition,' she tells Arab News.
And Felemban believes the Kingdom's local and homegrown concepts are more than capable of holding their own against the big-name brands that have been imported in recent years.
'These concepts deserve to be known. They deserve to be recognized outside the Saudi market,' she says.
'This will give a chance to these homegrown concepts to be on the international culinary map, similarly to what happened in Dubai,' she adds, referring to the 2022 launch of the guide in the UAE. 'There were a lot of restaurants we didn't know about (then). The Michelin Guide gave them a voice, gave them a name abroad; it's a beautiful thing.'
UAE-based Samantha Wood, founder of the impartial restaurant review website FooDiva.net, says the Michelin Guide has had a hugely positive impact on Dubai's culinary scene.
'Since the launch, the number of independent homegrown concepts has grown every year, with the most recent 2025 guide featuring 29 independent homegrown concepts taking the lion's share in the top cut of Michelin stars and Bib Gourmand.'
For the Saudi guide, Wood says, 'I hope Michelin will prioritise dishing out stars and bibs for the homegrown concepts — like it has done in Dubai. This gives restaurateurs the incentive to develop their own (ideas), rather than rely on importing concepts and franchise agreements.'
Felemban is the founder of one of those homegrown concepts that will be hoping for recognition later this year. Her Jeddah restaurant, The Lucky Lllama, offers Nikkei cuisine, blending Peruvian and Japanese culinary traditions. 'I would love to see The Lucky Llama (in the guide), because I believe it can compete on international levels,' she says.
Felemban predicts that the French Riviera-inspired Le Petite Maison — more commonly known as LPM — and top burger spot Marble will earn some recognition, as well as Jeddah's Korean BBQ joint HWA-RO.
The guide isn't just a boon to the restaurant industry either. Michelin-starred restaurants can offer a significant boost to tourism.
'Foodie travellers use these guides to plan holidays, often booking high ranking restaurants first before planning holidays around these reservations,' says Wood.
Lifestyle and food blogger Sarah Taha, who showcases the luxury food industry in Saudi on her page Swirl The Fork, also believes the guide could be a game-changer for tourism in the Saudi capital.
'The arrival of the Michelin Guide has the potential to spotlight both ends of Riyadh's culinary spectrum — from its most luxurious dining rooms to its beloved casual gems — making it one of the most exciting food cities in the region,' she tells Arab News.
'Michelin's presence won't just put a global spotlight on our chefs and restaurants; it will also raise the bar for quality, creativity, and service across the board. It's a powerful statement that Saudi is ready to be recognized as a serious player in the world of fine dining,' she continues.
Riyadh is home to several standout restaurants that Taha believes are strong contenders for Michelin stars. Her predictions include Japanese restaurants Zuma, Myazu, and Nozomi (the latter 'remains a benchmark for upscale dining,' she says), and Italian restaurant Mamo Michelangelo.
When it comes to the Bib Gourmand category, which celebrates more affordable yet high-quality dining, Taha highlights Saudi staples like Mama Noura — concepts that 'fuse authenticity with consistency and have built loyal followings. They may not be fine dining, but they're rooted in culinary excellence and local relevance,' she says.
Like Felemban, Taha is confident the arrival of the Michelin Guide can only be a good thing for the Saudi food scene.
'From what I've seen running Swirl the Fork, there's so much passion and creativity here. This kind of spotlight will not only validate that, but also inspire a new generation to invest — and believe — in local culinary ventures. It's about putting Saudi flavors and stories on the world stage.'