Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Culinary Arts Commission, under the Ministry of Culture, has published six reports offering the most detailed picture to date of Saudi Arabia’s culinary landscape.
Covering everything from cultural diplomacy to artificial intelligence in kitchens and new career pathways, the studies show how food in the Kingdom is becoming both a cultural export and a rapidly expanding economic sector.
The research highlights the transformative impact of digital tools and artificial intelligence on how food is cooked, marketed, and experienced, while also noting that heritage dishes are crossing borders and attracting growing global interest.
At the same time, the reports identify food waste as one of the Kingdom’s most pressing climate and economic challenges, with solutions already underway.
Saudi Arabia’s culinary sector is also presented as a driver of tourism and investment, with direct links to the Vision 2030 transformation agenda.
The six reports chart the sector’s diverse dimensions.
One explores cuisine as an instrument of cultural diplomacy through chef exchange programs and international festivals, while another sets out a framework for sustainability, balancing growth with environmental responsibility.
The studies also address the future of the profession, spotlighting the ambitions of young Saudi chefs and the need for education and training programs to unlock the sector’s full potential.
Other research focuses on the disruptive role of technology, mapping how AI, automation, and digital platforms are reshaping consumer experiences and food production.
The final report frames the culinary sector as a strategic industry with the power to boost tourism, attract investment, and create jobs in line with national development priorities.
The six reports span more than 500 pages of analysis and data distilled into accessible findings.
The research offers ready narratives for business, cultural, lifestyle, and technology coverage from the rise of a young generation of Saudi chefs to the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the global future of food.
