Saudi Arabia’s F&B shifts towards health-led and drive-thru concepts

The shift reflects changing preferences amongst younger and wellness-conscious consumers.

Saudi Arabia’s food and beverage (F&B) landscape is evolving as health-led dining concepts and drive-thru formats gain traction across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, according to Knight Frank’s report.

The shift reflects changing consumer preferences, particularly amongst younger, urban, and wellness-conscious customers seeking lighter meals, convenience, and lifestyle-oriented dining experiences.

Concepts such as Humbly and Off The Earth highlight the growing interest in health-focused F&B offerings, providing retail destinations with opportunities to diversify tenant mixes beyond traditional cafés and fast-casual operators.

These concepts can encourage repeat visits, increase customer dwell time, and support the positioning of retail environments as lifestyle destinations.

At the same time, drive-thru restaurants and cafés are expanding as consumers prioritise speed and accessibility.

High car dependency and demand for quick dining options are encouraging both international and local operators to develop compact, road-facing formats across major cities.

For retail destinations and standalone developments, drive-thru concepts can activate underused frontage, improve visibility, and attract additional footfall, particularly in high-traffic corridors, residential areas, and mixed-use districts where convenience influences consumer decisions.

In Riyadh, F&B continues to strengthen its role as a driver of retail performance.

Data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) showed that F&B remained amongst the strongest point-of-sale (POS) categories nationally in 2025, whilst Riyadh continued to lead overall city-level POS spending.