JEDDAH/RIYADH: Across the Kingdom, chefs are reimagining traditional Christmas dishes by infusing them with local flavors, ingredients and narratives, offering festive menus that blend global culinary traditions with Saudi Arabia identity.
From hotel lobbies in Jeddah and Riyadh to refined Arabic flavors and dessert plates inspired by the Kingdom’s southern regions, the trend reflects a growing confidence among Saudi chefs to reinterpret international occasions through a local lens.
Saudi pastry chef and chocolatier Rida Al-Amri is among those leading the movement. This season, he is overseeing the Christmas lobby display at Assilah Hotel in Jeddah, while also preparing festive brunch and New Year offerings for guests.
Al-Amri said the concept emerged from a desire to create a festive experience that feels both familiar and rooted in place.
“The idea came from our desire to offer a unique experience that combines the global festive spirit of Christmas with the rich Saudi identity,” he told Arab News. “We wanted guests to feel they are celebrating an international occasion, but in the spirit of the place they are in.”
