The celebrated restaurants will be unveiled later this year.
The world-renowned MICHELIN Guide currently covers more than 40 destinations, spanning cities, regions, and countries that are regularly visited by its inspectors, who evaluate restaurants to build their yearly selection. And today, a new destination has been added to the mix: Saudi Arabia.
The city has become a gastronomic hotspot, renowned for its rich and diverse culinary offerings, which range from local Saudi eateries to luxury dining establishments. MICHELIN announced that it will launch its first-ever Saudi Arabia edition in 2026, with restaurant selections to be revealed across three stages — on 15 October, 15 November, and 15 December 2025. The spotlight will initially shine on Riyadh and Jeddah, with other regions, such as Al Khobar and AlUla, also receiving recognition.
The selection will be made according to the tried-and-tested methodology applied all over the world by the inspectors of the MICHELIN Guide, based on its universally applied set of five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef through the cuisine, and the consistency both over time and across the entire menu. These are applied to all the selected restaurants in order to help bona fide foodies make an informed choice among high-quality options. The MICHELIN Guide conveys its restaurant reviews through an extensive system of distinctions, the most revered of which are its globally renowned MICHELIN stars.
One MICHELIN star is awarded to restaurants for “high-quality cooking that is worth a stop”, two MICHELIN stars for “excellent cooking that is worth a detour”, and three MICHELIN stars for “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey”. Besides the coveted star ratings, the selection will also include the popular Bib Gourmand category, a distinction awarded to establishments that provide value-for-money meals. The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Riyadh 2025 will be available free of charge on both the MICHELIN Guide website, where users can research restaurants by location, cuisine type, or additional features to find the perfect match.
“These past few years, our MICHELIN inspectors have been keeping a watchful eye on The Kingdom’s culinary progression and continue to relish the wonderful spectrum that this fast-developing country has to offer,” explained Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide.
The announcement of The MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia continues the brand’s expansion in the Middle East region, following the unveiling of the MICHELIN Guide in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.
Stay tuned for more details about The MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia.
GO: Visit https://guide.michelin.com for more information.