Saudi Arabia has its own unique food heritage, says Culinary Art Commission CEO Mayada Badr

Culinary Arts Commission CEO Mayada Badr spoke at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh on May 24. (AN Photo)
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Updated 24 May 2022
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Saudi Arabia has its own unique food heritage, says Culinary Art Commission CEO Mayada Badr

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has its own unique food heritage and there is no necessity to copy from other regions, according to Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission. 

“We want to do a lot more in Saudi cuisine. We have our own heritage and we don’t want to copy it. We are using what we have,” she said. 

While speaking at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh on May 24, Badr revealed that several young Saudi nationals are entering the culinary art sector. 

According to Badr, international brands have made their presence felt in the Saudi market along with local brands, which is ultimately resulting in healthy competition in the food and beverage industry. 

Talking about the impact of Vision 2030 on the F&B sector, she added, “With Vision 2030, we Saudis decided to share more than ever. You go to those tiny towns and you feel welcomed. They share food and you get exposed to all sorts of traditional food.” 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,382 

Updated 27 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,382 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Tuesday, gaining 111.21 points, or 0.99 percent, to close at 11,381.83. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.37 billion ($1.70 billion), as 204 of the listed stocks advanced, while 56 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index also rose, adding 13.85 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 1,533.33. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 8.39 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 23,749.38. This came as 30 of the listed stocks advanced, while 45 retreated. 

The best-performing stock was East Pipes Integrated Co. for Industry, with its share price surging 9.94 percent to SR146. 

Other top performers included Tourism Enterprise Co., which saw its share price rise by 9.93 percent to SR14.17, and Thob Al Aseel Co., which saw a 7.84 percent increase to SR3.99. 

On the downside, Saudi Arabian Mining Co. was among the weaker performers, with its share price falling 2.64 percent to SR77.40. 

Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. saw its shares fall 2.54 percent to SR57.50, while Yamama Cement Co. declined 2.07 percent to SR27.40. 

On the announcements front, Future Vision for Health Training Co. signed a two-year cooperation agreement with King Saud University aimed at strengthening links between academia and professional readiness. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the partnership focuses on the joint development and execution of specialized training programs for university students, aiming to enhance their practical skills and employability. 

The initiative includes coordinated efforts in training design, academic supervision, and program evaluation, with the goal of better preparing graduates for the labor market. 

The agreement, which is renewable by mutual consent, is expected to start generating a positive financial impact in the second half of 2026. The company said no related parties are involved in the deal. 

The company’s share price closed at SR7.30 on Nomu, marking a 1.39 percent decrease.