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Arab News
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
How the Michelin Guide will boost the culinary scene in Saudi Arabia
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 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.'
Barnama
25-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
MICHELIN Guide Expands To Saudi Arabia, Eyes Riyadh And Jeddah In 2026 Debut
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- The MICHELIN Guide has announced its first-ever entry into Saudi Arabia, with a new restaurant selection set to spotlight the culinary scenes of Riyadh and Jeddah while also extending its reach to emerging gastronomic hubs such as AlUla, Khobar, and other regions of the Kingdom. According to a statement, the guide's anonymous inspectors have been operating in the country for the past year, evaluating restaurants based on MICHELIN's globally recognised criteria. The inaugural Saudi Arabia edition will debut in three phases, with selections to be revealed on the 15th of each month from October to December 2025 via "These past few years, our MICHELIN inspectors have been keeping a watchful eye on the Kingdom's culinary progression and continue to relish the wonderful spectrum that this fast-developing country has to offer,' said MICHELIN Guide International Director, Gwendal Poullennec. The expansion is seen as a milestone for the Kingdom's growing hospitality and tourism sectors, aligning with broader national efforts to showcase Saudi Arabia's cultural assets to a global audience. The move is being carried out in collaboration with the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission. Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Chief Executive Officer, Mayada Badr said: 'Our collaboration with the MICHELIN Guide marks an important milestone in celebrating the unique and diverse culinary scene of Saudi Arabia. 'It shines a light on the creativity and excellence of our chefs and restaurants and invites the world to discover the distinct flavours and experiences the Kingdom has to offer.' Saudi Arabia offers a distinctive blend of traditional flavours and modern culinary innovation, with influences spanning regional specialities to international cuisine, including Japanese, Chinese, Greek, and Thai. The MICHELIN Guide's entry is expected to attract both domestic and international food enthusiasts eager to explore this evolving gastronomic landscape. The Saudi Arabia 2026 selection marks the latest step in the MICHELIN Guide's expansion into the Middle East, following earlier launches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
The National
24-06-2025
- Business
- The National
After UAE and Qatar, Saudi Arabia to get its own Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is coming to Saudi Arabia. The inaugural list of restaurants recommended by the prestigious food guide will focus on the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, but may include eateries in other regions in the kingdom, such as Khobar and Alula. The Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia stands out, in that the list of award-winning restaurants will be revealed for the first time in three stages: October 15, November 15 and December 15. 'These past few years, our Michelin inspectors have been keeping a watchful eye on the kingdom's culinary progression and continue to relish the wonderful spectrum that this fast-developing country has to offer,' said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide. The guide has also revealed that its independent, anonymous inspectors have thoroughly explored areas in the kingdom to identify the most outstanding dining establishments, taking note of its 'diverse and dynamic food culture'. 'Our collaboration with the Michelin Guide marks an important milestone in celebrating the unique and diverse culinary scene of Saudi Arabia,' says Mayada Badr, chief executive of Saudi Culinary Arts Commission. 'It shines a light on the creativity and excellence of our chefs and restaurants, and invites the world to discover the distinct flavours and experiences the kingdom has to offer.' Launched in 1900 by the eponymous French tyremaker, the original Michelin Guide was meant to give practical advice to people driving the first motor vehicles around France. By 1920, it was charging for guidebooks filled with lists of hotels in Paris and restaurants broken down by category. How are Michelin stars awarded to restaurants? Selections are based solely on the quality of the food, using the Michelin Guide 's long-standing approach. Anonymous inspectors will assess restaurants using five criteria. Quality of the ingredients Mastery of cooking techniques Harmony of flavours Personality of the chef reflected through the cuisine Consistency both over time and through the menu as a whole One Michelin star is awarded to restaurants for 'high-quality cooking that is worth a stop'; two Michelin stars stand for 'excellent cooking that is worth a detour'; and three Michelin stars are given out for 'exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey'. Saudi Arabia is the region's latest inclusion to the Michelin Guide, which arrived in Dubai in June 2022, followed by Abu Dhabi a few months later in November. The inaugural Michelin Guide Doha was published in December 2024.
Leaders
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Kleija Festival 2025 to Kick Off in Buraidah
Buraidah City, the capital of Al Qassim Region, will host the 16th edition of Kleija Festival, from January 31 to February 9, 2025, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The annual event will take place under the patronage of the Qassim Region's Governor, Prince Faisal bin Mishal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, with the participation of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission as a strategic partner. The Kleija Festival aims to offer an enriching cultural experience for Al Qassim's residents and tourists from across the world, by presenting the traditional Saudi culinary arts and celebrating Kleija as the official traditional dish of Al Qassim Region. #SaudiCulinaryArtsCommission participates as a strategic partner in the 16th edition of the Klija Festival, aiming to highlight the region's cultural heritage and showcase Klija as a signature dish of Al-Qassim. — هيئة فنون الطهي (@MOCCulinary) January 30, 2025 This year's edition of Kleija Festival will kick off in Buraidah, one of the UNESCO's Creative Cities. The festival will showcase Saudi Arabia's unique culinary arts, particularly Kleija. It also aims to support productive families by highlighting their products at live cooking shows; hospitality lounges; bakery, factory, and company exhibitions; and food trucks. The Kleija Festival will also involve other activities that include a variety of live cultural and entertainment performances aimed at creating a rich and engaging experience. Kleija is the signature dessert of Al Qassim, blending Saudi traditional flavors. It has chewy soft dough stuffed with ingredients such as dates, cardamom, and black lemon, with a crispy outer layer. The participation of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission in the Kleija Festival 2025 is part of its effective strategy to support culinary events and festivals across the Kingdom. The Culinary Arts Commission efforts include the Community Engagement and Local Food Festival Program, which contributes to supporting food festivals across Saudi Arabia's various regions to deliver a local food experience with an international style, celebrating Saudi traditional dishes as an essential heritage element. Short link : Post Views: 17
