Founding Day 2025: A Culinary Journey through Saudi Arabia’s Local Breads

Saudi Arabia is known for its rich and diverse cuisine, boasting a wide variety of delicious dishes that embody the Kingdom’s cultural identity and authentic heritage. Throughout the ages, traditional breads have been a stable in every Saudi cuisine, passing across generations as a symbol of heritage and hospitality.

As Saudi Arabia is preparing to mark its Founding Day on February 22, 2025, traditional food is a key element in the celebrations, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich culinary heritage and unique cooking arts. Local breads feature in the Founding Day celebrations, as a key component in everyday meals.

Saudi Arabia’s Local Breads

Saudi local breads are distinguished with their unique and rich flavors. Yet, they are made from simple ingredients that are available in every Saudi kitchen. Wheat flour and water are the key ingredients of all Saudi breads, with some variations in other ingredients. Each region across the Kingdom has its own type of bread, adding its own flavors to the dough and passing the recipe from one generation to the other.

While Saudi Arabia has a wide and diverse array of local breads, some types have gained global recognition and popularity. From Al-Khubz Al-Ahmar (red bread) to Tamees and Muqana, each type of bread enjoys rich flavors and a unique taste, reflecting its region’s rich culinary heritage and cultural traditions.

Saudi Breads on UNESCO List

In recognition of Saudi Arabia’s culinary heritage and diversity, three types of Saudi local breads have joined the UNESCO “Breads of the Creative Cities” initiative. They are a testament to the deeply-rooted history and rich culinary heritage of the cities they represent, which are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. These delicious baked goods represent Al Ahsa, Buraidah and Taif.

Al-Khubz Al-Ahmar represents Al Ahsa. This flavorful bread is baked with dates and special spices. Meanwhile, Al-Mallah bread represents Taif. It is one of the oldest breads in Saudi Arabia’s cuisine. The third type of bread, Kleija, is a pastry that represents Al-Qassim.

The selection of these breads is based on certain criteria, including the use of local ingredients in their preparation, and playing a significant role in the city’s heritage, further underscoring the cultural richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia.

Central Region

One of the most popular traditional breads in the central region of Saudi Arabia is Qurs (coal disc bread). It is usually served for breakfast alongside a dish of ghee or butter. It is also eaten with main dishes or dates.

To bake Qurs bread, all you need is wheat flour, water and salt. Mix the ingredients and shape the dough into a large circular disc. Place the dough directly on hot coal and cover it with more coal. Leave it for few minutes then flip it on the other side and cover it until done.

You can also bake it on a hot metal plate or griddle. Qurs bread has a thin and crispy texture, which absorbs the flavors of ghee, butter or stew.

Eastern Region

Al-Khubz Al-Ahmar (red bread) is a signature bread of Al Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region. Baked with dates, Al-Khubz Al-Ahmar has a unique red color. It is usually served for breakfast, alongside boiled eggs or dates and ghee. It can also be served alongside main meals.

The bread’s ingredients include flour, salt, dates and water. To bake Al-Khubz Al-Ahmar, mix the ingredients and bake the dough at high temperature.

Western Region

Bread is an essential item in the western region of Saudi Arabia, especially for breakfast. People in the region start their day eating bread with butter and honey, as both items are good source of energy and available in every Saudi kitchen.

With flour, salt, water, honey and butter, you can bake this type of bread. Mix flour, salt and water, leave the dough to rest, and then bake it in the oven. When done, spread honey and butter on the bread while hot.

Another type of popular traditional breads in the western region is a bread baked in ashes. It is baked just before mealtime as it is served hot and fresh. It is usually eaten for breakfast but can be served with other meals. People of the western region serve radish and chives with meals and eat them with this bread.

This type of bread is made from water and wheat flour. Mix the ingredients and knead it into a thin layer of dough. Cover it with hot coal until baked.

Southern Region

The southern region of the Kingdom is known for the Mefa bread. It is one of the ancient traditional breads in the region and is known by many names, including Fateer bread, Dho bread, Mefa or Tannour bread. Mefa and Tannour refer to the oven it is baked in.

This type of bread is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, so it is often served for breakfast or dinner, as well as for guests.

The Mefa bread ingredients include wheat flour, barley or corn flour; yeast; water; salt; ghee; and honey. Mix all ingredients until you have a thick dough. Divide the dough into equal pieces and knead each piece into an oval shape. Place each piece around the edges of the Tannour oven from the inside. Cover the Tannour and place hot coal on top. when the bread is baked, peel it off and serve hot with ghee, honey or yoghurt.

Northern Region

In the northern region of Saudi Arabia, the Mat’han bread (mill bread) is a specialty of the region’s people and one of the most celebrated breads. It is served with tea on holidays and special occasions. The Mat’han bread is an essential item in every meal in the northern region. The bread is used to make the Mansaf dish, and is also served alongside stews, honey, ghee, date molasses and butter.

To bake this signature bread, you need wheat flour, salt, yeast, and water. Mix the ingredients until you have a dough and leave it to rest. When the dough rises, divide it into circles, stretch each one until you form a large circle, place each piece on a dome-shaped griddle, and bake it in hot oven until its color changes.