Cloud kitchen ‘Kitopi’ launches in Jeddah

The company works with more than 200 brands globally, operating over 60 kitchens and employing a staff of 1,200 ‘Kitopians.’
Short Url
Updated 11 February 2021
Follow

Cloud kitchen ‘Kitopi’ launches in Jeddah

Kitopi, a managed cloud kitchen platform headquartered in Dubai, is opening its doors to F&B outlets and restaurants in Jeddah, starting this week. The tech company, which currently operates in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah), Kuwait (Kuwait City), and Saudi Arabia, recently marked its three-year anniversary, and already has successful operations in Riyadh, working with more than 40 restaurant partners. 

The company partners with restaurants and cooks on their behalf, handling the end-to-end operations including sourcing of ingredients, customer experience and, working with third-party delivery apps to deliver the food fast and safely.

Now, Kitopi aims to make alliances with F&B partners and restaurants across the Red Sea hub, giving them the option to expand beyond borders in less than 14 days, with minimal capital expenditure and operational costs. 

Kitopi has seven kitchens in Riyadh and will look to open more than five kitchens in Jeddah before the end of Q3. 

“We are excited to expand our reach in Saudi Arabia, a key market for us. We look forward to partnering with restaurants in Jeddah, enabling them to scale beyond borders and giving customers a chance to experience exceptional food on their terms, quickly and safely,” said Mohamad Ballout, CEO and co-founder of Kitopi. 

The company works with more than 200 brands globally, operating over 60 kitchens and employing a staff of 1,200 “Kitopians.” Kitopi’s competitive advantage lies in its smart kitchen operating technology (SKOS), which powers all of its 60+ state-of-the-art kitchens regionally. SKOS is a cloud kitchen operating system that manages the end-to-end order experience with the aim of improving customer experience and operational efficiency. Thanks to SKOS, an order takes less than 35 minutes to be delivered, from the time an order is placed to when the customer receives it. Kitopi’s technology is supported by its tech hubs in Poland and the UAE, as well as a global customer support center, which operates in Dubai. 

Part of Kitopi’s expansion strategy in the Kingdom will be aimed at hiring more Saudis across its operations, with a focus on hiring more women. This investment in people will support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 while opening up new professions for Saudis to embark on.


Alfanar Projects wins MEED Award for ‘Industrial Project of the Year’

Updated 19 sec ago
Follow

Alfanar Projects wins MEED Award for ‘Industrial Project of the Year’

Alfanar Projects has been recognized as a “national winner” at the MEED Projects Awards 2025, for its role as the main contractor in the landmark Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant, which was awarded “Industrial Project of the Year.”
Developed through a strategic partnership between the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company, or Dussur, Saudi Aramco, and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, the Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant represents a cornerstone in the Kingdom’s drive to establish a world-class industrial base, localize advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen national supply chains.
Situated in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City, the plant spans over 400,000 square meters, encompassing 39 major buildings and an extensive network of infrastructure and external works. Alfanar Projects delivered the project on a lump-sum turnkey basis, executing more than 122,000 cubic meters of concrete, erecting 25,000 tons of structural steel, installing hundreds of kilometers of underground piping and cabling, and implementing advanced electrical and mechanical systems to global engineering standards.
With a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year, utilizing state-of-the-art sand casting and open-die forging technologies, the plant will play a pivotal role in serving critical sectors such as the oil and gas industry, maritime industries, and heavy equipment manufacturing, while advancing Saudi Arabia’s goals of industrial localization and self-sufficiency.
Jamal Wadi, president of Alfanar Projects, said: “The Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant embodies the pinnacle of what engineering can achieve when coupled with determination. The project brought together complex architectural and structural challenges with advanced engineering solutions, which we executed with precision and efficiency. This landmark facility stands as a testament to our deep expertise as an industrial contractor and to our ability to harness engineering excellence in building strategic projects that underpin the Kingdom’s economic future.”
The MEED Projects Awards, organized in partnership with Mashreq Bank, are among the most prestigious accolades in the region, celebrating excellence in project delivery across sectors. Alfanar Projects’ recognition underscores its role as a leading national contractor, committed to delivering world-class industrial infrastructure projects that support the Kingdom’s long-term vision for sustainable growth and industrial leadership.
The leading engineering and construction company is dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s infrastructure and industrial landscape in alignment with Vision 2030. Through its commitment to sustainable development, Alfanar Projects supports the growth of key sectors, including building construction, urban infrastructure, renewable energy, and grid modernization across Saudi Arabia and internationally. With an emphasis on localization, innovation, and sustainability, Alfanar Projects continues to deliver world-class solutions that contribute to the Kingdom’s ambitious economic and social transformation.