Hit BBC Show Million Riyal Menu Lands in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s culinary scene is moving fast. Every other day, we hear of a new spot that’s popped up somewhere in the Kingdom and, somehow, instantly gone viral. These spots are typically independently operated passion projects that have a way of outshining the prestigious global names that live down the street from them. But these spaces don’t always have the resources to survive, or even see the light beyond a home-based cloud kitchen.
To bring local dreams to life - if they make it through - BBC hit show Million Pound Menu is landing in Saudi as Million Riyal Menu.

Brought by Innovative Media Productions (IMP), the producers behind Shark Tank Egypt and Egypt’s Million Pound Menu, Million Riyal Menu is set to provide a stage for Saudi culinary entrepreneurs to imagine their wildest food concepts at the biggest possible scale. The show takes on three chefs per episode, who each take time to make their pitch - both through a deck and on a dish. The winner from each episode will get to take over the shiny new Million Riyal Menu restaurant in Riyadh’s BLVRD City for 48 hours, where they get the chance to impress investors and customers.

“Million Riyal Menu was the natural starting point for this partnership in Saudi Arabia,” says IMP managing director Ahmed Luxor, “Especially with the booming restaurant sector, strong investment climate, and the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation.”

The show comes to life with the support of His Excellency consultant Turki Al Sheikh for Riyadh Season, and is guided by chef-turned-host Hisham Baeshen. The investors, who also serve as the judges of the show, include restaurateur Tarek Al Turiji, hospitality expert Nader Al Qahatni, Basamh Group CEO Khalid Temairik, F&B consultant Sameh El Sadat, and PepsiCo CEO Mohamed Shelbaya.

Accompanying the announcement of the show come two major signings set to change the landscape of lifestyle events in the Kingdom. Events management company Benchmark acquired marketing giant Big House, and the two collaborated with IMP to bring Million Riyal Menu to life. It’s sponsored by Sela, Pepsi, Foodics, Dunkin’ Donuts and Halawani Brothers.
“Million Riyal Menu is the first fruit of a partnership that delivers meaningful and educational entertainment that reflects the Kingdom's evolution to the Saudi market,” said Big House Ahmed Tharwat.

The show will air across eight episodes on MBC 1 by April, and will be available for online streaming on Shahid.