Food & FMCG

The Saudi Food Show 2025, the Kingdom’s flagship food and beverage (F&B) industry event, officially opened its doors today at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.

Organized by KAOUN International and dmg events in strategic partnership with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), the three-day event has drawn more than 1,300 exhibitors from around the globe, aimed at accelerating growth and innovation in Saudi Arabia’s F&B sector.

The opening ceremony included a high-level tour of the exhibition by Dr. Al-Rabeeah, accompanied by Eng. Majed bin Rafid Al-Argoubi, CEO of MODON, along with various dignitaries and international representatives.

Day one of the event witnessed the signing of food industry and logistics contracts valued at over SAR 600 million. Notable deals involved major players such as Kudu and the Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Group, underscoring the sector’s critical role in the Kingdom’s economic diversification and development strategy.

Speaking at the Saudi Food Summit, Eng. Al-Argoubi highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to localizing the food manufacturing industry and enhancing food security. He noted that MODON’s industrial cities are now home to over 1,400 food manufacturing facilities spanning 12 million square meters and generating over 90,000 jobs.

A ministerial panel featuring H.E. Eng. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Salem, President of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, H.E. Dr. Al-Rabeeah, and H.E. Dr. Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), discussed the Kingdom’s transformation into a food production hub. They emphasized the role of advanced technologies in modern food manufacturing and the Kingdom’s success in attracting domestic and international investment.

The opening day also saw participation from ambassadors of countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, and Italy, reflecting global interest in Saudi Arabia’s growing F&B market.

Charles Kingston, New Zealand’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, stated, “New Zealand produces safe, high-quality, and sustainable food. The Saudi Food Show gives us a platform to showcase our products and explore opportunities to support Saudi Arabia’s food security goals.”

Carlo Baldocci, Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom, emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation, stating, “The food sector is a vital avenue for strengthening ties between Italy and Saudi Arabia, and this event marks a promising beginning.”

The event spans six exhibition halls featuring hundreds of thousands of products from global brands. Attendees engaged with companies unveiling new products, culinary demonstrations, and business development opportunities.

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