Saleh Fareed



JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia continues to be the single-largest market for food and beverages in the Gulf, accounting for 63% of all of the region’s imports and the value of the Saudi Halal food market alone is estimated at $6 billion annually, according to an organizer.



In a sign of confidence of the Saudi market, hundreds of companies from the food, hotel and hospitality industries are geared up to take part in next week’s Saudi Food, Hotel, Hospitality & Propac Arabia fair.



Over 400 companies from 22 countries will be participating at the annual show to be held in Jeddah from May 19-22, 2013, under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture.



Organized by Jeddah based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE), Saudi Arabia’s 18th international Event will showcase a wide range of food and beverage, hotel equipment and supplies, kitchen and catering equipment as well as food processing technologies and packaging products.



The event hosts 400 companies from 16 countries with an impressive list of national pavilions from China, Egypt, Indonesia, Taiwan, Turkey, US; individual companies from Turkey, Algeria, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, USA and Saudi companies representing international brands.

In addition, the four-day international exhibition incorporates Top Chef & Art de Table contests, jointly organized by ACE and Saudi Arabian Chef Association, which will feature culinary skills of chefs from the finest hotels and restaurants and adjudicated by a panel of international experts.

Zahoor Siddique, Vice President for Exhibitions, ACE said “ This is the leading event in the Kingdom’s food, hotel, and hospitality industries, with a successful track record of more than 17 years.,”



With a 23 million population, estimated to grow to SR50 million over the next decade, there are innumerable opportunities for a host of businesses in the food, catering, hotel and hospitality industry.



In addition, nearly 7 million foreign residents and more than 5 million visiting pilgrims annually are seeking diversified, and quality products. Consumers have become more selective in terms of nutritional value, quality, and price.



Zahoor added “This show is organized in light of the exciting developments in Saudi Arabia’s hotel industry and consistent with our continued efforts to make our events truly relevant to the needs of our clients.”



He pointed out that the Saudi food, hotel and hospitality Arabia Food & Hotel comes at a time when the Kingdom’s food and hospitality industries are experiencing rapid growth as more prestigious properties and new hotels are built for the rising number of tourists who are visiting Oman every year.



Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s tourism market exceeds $15 billion annually and expected to reach $60 billion by 2019. The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Saudi Arabia’s GDP is expected to reach $14.9 billion. Saudi Arabia’s hotel and hospitality industry is set to grow with inbound travel that continues to increase, thanks to pilgrims and business visitors. As such the Kingdom is already witnessing a boom in the hotel and hospitality sector. Plans are being executed for increasing hotel rooms, furnished apartments, leisure resorts, restaurants and food outlets.