We know that Saudi Arabia has an incredible restaurant scene, but it’s just got a little bit more exciting. Jason Atherton’s Maraya Social is opening in AlUla on October 1, and sees the celebrity chef bring some Michelin magic to the desert.
Atherton joins an ever-growing list of famous chefs, from David Burke to Rainer Becker, who are opening restaurants in the kingdom. Located 1,100km from Riyadh, Jason Atherton’s Maraya Social restaurant is the chef’s first permanent eatery in the country. The menu will offer sharing plates and combine the best Mediterranean, Arabic and British flavours.
The rooftop restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining spaces and impressive views of the Al Ula mountains as well as the glittering Maraya Concert Hall. There ain’t no party like an Al Ula party – as the restaurant has its very own DJ booth, you can enjoy some tunes under the stars.
Even though Atherton has restaurants in London and Dubai, he’s clearly thrilled about his Maraya Social restaurant.
“We don’t want to do loads of restaurants in our lifetimes, but we do want to do meaningful projects, and I think this project could be just that. It’s a real step forward in how Saudi is starting to open up to the rest of the world and people are starting to come in to see its natural beauty,” Atherton said of the opening.
“This restaurant is a gamble, but if it plays out right, it could absolutely become iconic. I think it could play a really strong role in the future of Saudi Arabia. I don’t want to sound overly dramatic but I really do believe that. It’s such an iconic building and it could be something marvellous.”
We think so, too.
For more information about Jason Atherton’s Maraya Social restaurant, visit experiencealula.com.
Planning a trip to AlUla? Your timing couldn’t be better. Four festivals have just been announced, kicking off with Winter in Tantora in December. Click here for everything you need to know.
