During the period from November 27 to December 6, 2025, the Culinary Arts Authority will organize the fifth edition of the Saudi Food Festival at King Saud University in the capital, Riyadh, to celebrate the rich heritage of Saudi cuisine, and to revive the historical and cultural value of local foods through interactive experiences that combine authenticity and innovation.
The festival aims to enhance national identity by highlighting the diversity of cuisine in various regions of the Kingdom, and presenting the latest innovations in Saudi culinary arts, so that the festival will be the largest of its kind in the Middle East, and a global milestone that celebrates the heritage of Saudi taste.
Saudi cuisine (Google).
The festival extends for ten days, during which visitors enjoy a unique experience that includes seven main areas; It includes the Gastronomy Heritage Area, which celebrates the culinary heritage of each Saudi region through 13 sections representing the Kingdom’s diverse dishes, in addition to heritage markets that display authentic products such as spices, olive oil products, agricultural crops, and Taif roses, in addition to the Craft Arts, which presents live performances by craftsmen who make sadu, pottery, and weaving in front of visitors.
The Al-Walima Theater hosts musical and folkloric performances representing all regions of the Kingdom, including the Najdi and Samari Ardha, Oud evenings, Gulf art, and many enjoyable performance paintings in a scene that combines art and identity, while the children’s area and the farm are dedicated to educational and interactive experiences in the culinary arts and agricultural crafts, in addition to offering special workshops on Saudi cuisine, which contributes to consolidating the concepts of food heritage among emerging generations.
The festival also includes the “Honey Museum,” which introduces visitors to the history of honey production in the Kingdom and its various stages from the hive to packaging, and displays a group of distinctive Saudi honey products that represent the diversity of environments and apiaries in various regions.
Saudi cuisine (Google).
The festival also includes a dining area that brings together more than 100 restaurants serving Saudi and international cuisine, in a fun atmosphere suitable for families and all members of society, and a retail area that allows visitors to purchase products inspired by the festival, including tableware, accessories, and traditional clothing.
This year, the festival enjoys the participation of the Kingdom of Thailand as a participating country, through a designated area that reflects the authentic Thai identity through an atmosphere inspired by its heritage and popular culture. The area offers displays of the most famous Thai dishes and traditional products, in addition to interactive experiences that allow visitors to learn closely about the features of the diverse Thai cuisine and its vibrant culture, which contributes to enhancing cultural exchange and experiencing the diversity of international flavors within the festival.
In a parallel context, the festival witnesses the organization of the International Gourmand Awards, which brings together food cultures from five regions in the Middle East, with the participation of more than 80 countries, to honor the best books and programs related to the culinary arts around the world.
The organization of the “Al-Walima” festival is an extension of the efforts of the Culinary Arts Authority to support cultural industries and enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global center for the culinary arts, which reflects the depth of Saudi identity and its cultural richness, and contributes to consolidating the Kingdom’s presence on the map of international festivals specialized in food heritage.
