Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Why we eat the food that eat and

why we behave in this way?

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Introduction
• Saudi Arabia is the location of Islam's two
holiest cities, Makkah and Madinah
• Economically, Saudi Arabia is a giant in its
region and, with 25% of the world's proven
oil reserves, is likely to become even more
important in future

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population
• The official estimate in 1987 (1407/08 AH) was 13.6
million. Preliminary results of the 1992 (1412/13 AH)
census gave a figure for total population of 16.9 million,
of which 12.3 million were Saudi nationals. In 2000, the
Central Department of Statistics' Demographic Survey
put the population of the Kingdom at 20.8 million.

• Of the Saudi national population, 54.3% are male and

45.7% female. Currently, it is estimated that almost half
the Saudi population is under the age of 20.
– 0-14: 38.3%
– 15-64: 59.3%
– 63 and older: 2.3%

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Majority of Saudis
• Nomadic -Bedouin (Arab)
• Most of Saudi are Arabian and some of them are colony
came from Asia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesians.

Minorities in Saudi
• pilgrimage
• Around 100,000 westerns who generally live in private
companies campus.
• Labors (mostly from Asia and Africa)

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Main Factors influence the food habit
• Inherited cultural values from the nomadic Bedouin who
prized honor, valor, chivalry, and hospitality. 
• The ancient Arabian dominance of the spice routes: the
ancient Arab dominance of the spice trade which brought
a continuous stream of foreigners, pausing to rest in
their travels.
• The food restrictions given from Islam.
• Availability of ingredients (reflection of regional
environments) that limit and lead to specific choices
• Today the main affected factor is modernization and all
its related dynamics.

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Other possible factors
• Personal experience with other culture
(traveling or originality)
– Accept and may consume different cultural
food
• Personal education also ease the person
on accepting different flavors.

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Therapeutic use
why we belief in these certain way
• The majority of Saudi are social type,
living in groups.
• always trust and follow a leader
(grandparents, sheik, leader).
• Saudi in general trust science and fate in
the same time and when one part weight
more, the total habit is affected.

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Common disease and nutrition problem
(why these are more common)
• Overweight and • Low level of physical
obesity activity
• Diabetes • high consumption of
• Cardiovascular fat and calories
disease • Genetics
• Cancers • Pollutions- infected
environment

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Food items and dishes- why we eat
these specific food
• Saudi cuisine is rich in taste and appearance, Saudi
Arabia is a country of many cultures.

• - “kabli” rice from Kabul.

- “Bukhary” rice, and “mantu” from Turkistan.
- “biryani” and “sambousa” from India and Pakistan.
- “tabouleh”, “fatoush” and “kibbih” from Lebanon and
Syria.
- “muloukhiya”, “mah'shi”, and “kufta” from Egypt.
- “bureyk”, “shawerma”, and “shishberek” fromTurkey.
- “mutabbag” and “lahouh” from Yemen

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• Thousands of interaction years with many
culture have inevitably influence Saudi cuisine. It
create delightful marriage of flavor reminiscent
of many nations but with a distinct Saudi twist.

• The effect of pilgrims

• The history of Islam that start in Arabian
peninsula and form special relation with other
countries.
• Location of Saudi between different continents

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Meal pattern
• In traditional Saudi setting, several
plates are placed on “sufra”, a
circular mat used as a tablecloth
or a rectangular plastic cover
placed on the floor.
• Limit use of utensils
• Why?
– Originality habit
– Large number of family members
(men and women separated)
– eating are intensely social activities.

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Getting modernized
• International restaurants
– Accept other culture taste
• Limit the cultural food and limit home
prepared meals
– Long work hours
– ↑ Women work
• Late lunch- longer work hours

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Differences in each region within
Saudi Arabia
• The southern region special utensils are used (stoneware) to get slow
and even cooking, also good for keeping food hot on long trips.

• The Eastern Region well-known for it's very special seafood recipes
and their own spices. The Alahsaa area have their own recipes such as
Alahasaa wild rice, kubbat ruz (rice and potato kubba).

• Riyadh area boast margoug (pastry in vegetable and meat

sauce),mathloutha,and "mufattah"(whole lamb,roasted).

• The Western region of course is well -known for the biggest variety of
dishes in all the peninsula plus its uniqie flavoe and taste that people
generate throughout the years. Some of the Hijazi dishes are “Aish
Abo-laham”, “Minazala”, and “Saleeg”

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• A dining experience begin with traditional
coffee or/and fruit juice.
– Fresh juice such as mango, or orange
– Mix of apple juice and sparkling water garnish
with fresh mint and fruit pieces known as
Saudi Champagne is popular drink
• Rice is a dietary stable. A famous Kabsa
Rice with lamb whole or large chunk. Rice
is served plain, with vegetables, spice and
even with rose water.
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• Lamb, goat, camel are traditionally cooked either on rice or stuffed
with wheat, rice, herbs, nuts, and/or spices.
• “Kibba”, “sambousak”, stuffed grape leaves can be side dishes.
• In coastal area fresh seafood is a favorite. Fried whole fish,
“Sayadia” (rice cooked with fried rice and spices) served with
“tahina” (sesames seeds paste)
• “Gareesh” is a popular dish and it is nourishing blend of cracked
whole wheat.
• No matter whether a meal is meat, fish, vegetables, bread is always
an accompaniment.
• Meal traditionally end with a serving with fresh fruit. Delicious
“kenafa”, “beklawa”, “gatayif” are common pastry base flavored with
sugar, honey and nuts.

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Nutrients intake
• Saudi’s diet rich of grains which is a good
source of energy. With its essential
coating of bran, fibers, vitamins and
minerals, it is an excellent health-building
food.
• High consumption of meat (red meat) and
rice
• Consumption of fruit and vegetable are
vary depends on several factors

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What do you think the future
habit of Saudis???

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