With a sizzling market worth billions and a remarkable pace of growth that sees thousands of new outlets opening their doors, Saudi Arabia's restaurant industry is cooking up an economic and cultural transformation that mirrors the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030.
Key Takeaways
- The Saudi Arabia restaurant industry was valued at SAR 42.5 billion in 2022, reflecting a CAGR of 8.7% from 2018 to 2022 driven by urbanization and tourism growth
- Total number of restaurants in Saudi Arabia reached 45,000 outlets in 2023, up 15% from 2020 due to Vision 2030 initiatives
- Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) accounted for 38% of the total restaurant market share in Saudi Arabia in 2022
- Saudi Arabia restaurant industry revenue
- Average annual revenue per restaurant outlet in Saudi Arabia was SAR 945,000 in 2023
- Profit margins for QSRs in Saudi Arabia averaged 15.2% in 2022, higher than full-service at 9.8%
- 65% of Saudi consumers dine out at least once a week in 2023, preferring casual dining
- 72% of millennials in Saudi Arabia prefer QSRs for convenience in 2023 surveys
- Healthy eating options demand rose 35% in Saudi restaurants from 2021-2023
- Restaurant employment in Saudi Arabia totaled 450,000 jobs in 2023, with 25% Saudization rate
- Average salary for restaurant managers in Saudi was SAR 18,500 monthly in 2023
- Kitchen staff turnover rate in Saudi restaurants averaged 32% annually in 2022
- The Saudi restaurant market is projected to reach SAR 75 billion by 2028, CAGR 12.1%
- FDI in Saudi foodservice expected to hit SAR 10 billion by 2025
- Cloud kitchens projected to grow to 10,000 outlets by 2027 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's rapidly expanding restaurant industry thrives on tourism and consumer demand.
Consumer Trends
- 65% of Saudi consumers dine out at least once a week in 2023, preferring casual dining
- 72% of millennials in Saudi Arabia prefer QSRs for convenience in 2023 surveys
- Healthy eating options demand rose 35% in Saudi restaurants from 2021-2023
- 58% of diners in Saudi Arabia use mobile apps for ordering in 2023
- Average spend per meal in Saudi full-service restaurants was SAR 85 in 2023
- 41% of Saudi women increased restaurant visits post-2020 due to social reforms
- Vegetarian menu options available in 45% of Riyadh restaurants in 2023, up from 22% in 2019
- Peak dining hours in Saudi Arabia are 8-10 PM on weekdays, with 60% table turnover
- 76% of Saudi consumers prioritize halal certification in restaurant choices in 2023
- Family dining accounts for 55% of restaurant visits in Saudi Arabia in 2022
- 78% of Gen Z Saudis prefer international cuisine in 2023 polls
- Delivery orders peaked at 40% of sales during Ramadan 2023
- 63% of consumers seek sustainable packaging in restaurants
- Average dining party size is 4.2 persons in family-oriented Saudi culture
- 51% increase in vegan options demand in major cities 2022-2023
- Late-night dining (after 11 PM) accounts for 18% of sales
- 69% of diners use loyalty apps in Saudi QSRs in 2023
- Coffee consumption drives 45% of cafe revenues, averaging 3 cups/day per visitor
- Female diners rose to 48% of total visits in 2023
Consumer Trends Interpretation
Despite a booming appetite for convenience and global flavors, the Saudi dining scene reveals a society in deliberate transition, where the traditional family meal is now just as likely to be ordered via app by a health-conscious, halal-certificate-prioritizing group of friends, increasingly including women, who might be splitting a vegan platter after 8 PM before grabbing a late-night coffee.
Employment and Operations
- Restaurant employment in Saudi Arabia totaled 450,000 jobs in 2023, with 25% Saudization rate
- Average salary for restaurant managers in Saudi was SAR 18,500 monthly in 2023
- Kitchen staff turnover rate in Saudi restaurants averaged 32% annually in 2022
- 68% of restaurant operations in Saudi Arabia use POS systems as of 2023
- Average table turnover time in busy Saudi QSRs is 22 minutes during peak hours
- Saudization quotas require 30% Saudi nationals in restaurant frontline roles by 2024
- Delivery riders employed by Saudi restaurants numbered 25,000 in 2023
- Energy costs for restaurant kitchens averaged SAR 45,000 yearly per outlet in 2023
- 52% of Saudi restaurants implemented contactless payments in 2023
- Total restaurant workforce hit 480,000 including part-time in 2023
- Chef salaries averaged SAR 12,000/month in fine dining 2023
- 75% of restaurants adopted digital inventory systems by 2023
- Saudization in managerial roles reached 22% in 2023
- Average shift length for waitstaff is 8.5 hours in peak season
- Waste reduction tech implemented in 35% of large chains, saving 15% costs
- Training hours per employee averaged 40 annually in top chains
- Kitchen automation like robo-fryers in 12% of QSRs 2023
- Health & safety compliance at 92% across inspected outlets
Employment and Operations Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's dining scene is a high-stakes recipe of ambitious Saudization quotas, expensive human resources, and stubbornly high turnover, all being whisked together by a dash of technology that hasn't yet solved the fundamental equation of keeping both kitchens staffed and customers fed.
Future Projections and Investments
- The Saudi restaurant market is projected to reach SAR 75 billion by 2028, CAGR 12.1%
- FDI in Saudi foodservice expected to hit SAR 10 billion by 2025
- Cloud kitchens projected to grow to 10,000 outlets by 2027 in Saudi Arabia
- Healthy fast-food segment to expand at 18% CAGR to 2030
- Tourism-driven restaurant growth forecasted at 15% YoY through 2030
- Online delivery market share in restaurants to reach 25% by 2026
- New restaurant openings projected at 5,000 annually from 2024-2028
- Sustainability investments in Saudi restaurants to total SAR 2.5 billion by 2027
- Revenue from fine dining expected to double to SAR 8 billion by 2030
- Restaurant market to grow to SAR 85 billion by 2030 at 11.5% CAGR
- International brands plan 2,000 new outlets by 2027
- Ghost kitchens investment to reach SAR 5 billion by 2026
- Premium coffee market CAGR 14% to SAR 4.2 billion by 2028
- NEOM city to host 500+ restaurants by 2030 phase
- Digital transformation spend projected SAR 3 billion in foodservice by 2025
- Halal tourism to boost restaurant revenues by 20% annually to 2030
- QSR digital sales to hit 40% of total by 2027
- Sustainable sourcing investments SAR 1.8 billion forecasted by 2028
Future Projections and Investments Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's dining scene is cooking up a voracious, tech-savvy, and increasingly sophisticated feast, where every statistic from ghost kitchens to fine dining suggests a future where the kingdom won't just feed its ambition but serve it on a silver platter.
Market Overview
- The Saudi Arabia restaurant industry was valued at SAR 42.5 billion in 2022, reflecting a CAGR of 8.7% from 2018 to 2022 driven by urbanization and tourism growth
- Total number of restaurants in Saudi Arabia reached 45,000 outlets in 2023, up 15% from 2020 due to Vision 2030 initiatives
- Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) accounted for 38% of the total restaurant market share in Saudi Arabia in 2022
- Full-service restaurants grew by 11.2% YoY in 2023, contributing SAR 18.9 billion to the industry
- Cafes and coffee shops segment expanded to 12,500 locations in Saudi Arabia by end-2023, a 22% increase since 2021
- The overall foodservice market in Saudi Arabia, including restaurants, hit SAR 120 billion in 2023
- Street food vendors numbered over 8,000 in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah in 2022
- Fine dining establishments in Saudi Arabia increased by 25% from 2019 to 2023, reaching 1,200 outlets
- Cloud kitchen operations surged to 3,500 in Saudi Arabia in 2023, representing 8% of total outlets
- The restaurant industry contributed 2.1% to Saudi Arabia's GDP in 2022
- The Saudi Arabia restaurant industry was valued at SAR 42.5 billion in 2022 with a projected CAGR of 10.2% to 2027
- Number of fast-food outlets exceeded 15,000 in Saudi Arabia by 2023
- Casual dining segment held 28% market share in 2022
- Coffee shop chains like Starbucks operated over 1,200 stores in 2023
- Total F&B outlets including restaurants reached 55,000 nationwide in 2023
- Hotel restaurants contributed SAR 9.2 billion in 2022
- Independent restaurants make up 62% of total outlets in 2023
- Riyadh metro area hosts 40% of all Saudi restaurants
- Jeddah's restaurant density is 12 outlets per 10,000 residents in 2023
- Dammam's restaurant growth rate was 18% YoY in 2022-2023
Market Overview Interpretation
The Saudi restaurant scene is brewing up a storm, where coffee shop expansions and fine dining flourishes are being swiftly outnumbered by the relentless march of the cloud kitchen and the humble shawarma stand, proving that whether it's a quick bite or a lavish feast, the nation's appetite is fueling a remarkable economic transformation.
Revenue and Financials
- Saudi Arabia restaurant industry revenue
- Average annual revenue per restaurant outlet in Saudi Arabia was SAR 945,000 in 2023
- Profit margins for QSRs in Saudi Arabia averaged 15.2% in 2022, higher than full-service at 9.8%
- Total sales from international fast-food chains in Saudi Arabia reached SAR 12.3 billion in 2023
- Online food delivery contributed SAR 8.7 billion to restaurant revenues in 2023, a 28% YoY growth
- Riyadh's restaurant sector generated SAR 15.4 billion in 2022, 36% of national total
- Cost of goods sold (COGS) for Saudi restaurants averaged 32% of revenue in 2023
- Labor costs represented 28.5% of total operating expenses in Saudi full-service restaurants in 2022
- Rent expenses for prime location restaurants in Jeddah averaged SAR 250,000 annually in 2023
- EBITDA margins for top Saudi restaurant chains were 18-22% in 2023
- Restaurant revenues grew 14.3% YoY in H1 2023 to SAR 22.1 billion
- KFC Saudi franchises reported SAR 2.8 billion revenue in 2022
- Average profit per QSR outlet was SAR 142,000 in 2023
- Food delivery platforms captured 22% of total restaurant sales in 2023
- Full-service restaurants' average check size rose to SAR 120 in 2023
- Marketing expenses averaged 4.5% of revenue for Saudi chains in 2022
- Utility costs surged 12% for restaurants in 2023 due to inflation
- Top 10 chains generated 35% of industry revenue in 2022
- Break-even occupancy for full-service is 55% in Saudi market
Revenue and Financials Interpretation
Despite a landscape where food delivery apps are eating everyone's lunch and prime rents in Jeddah cost a king's ransom, Saudi Arabia's restaurant industry proves it can still turn a tidy profit, especially if you stick to frying chicken or letting someone else handle the dine-in china.
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