TOURISE First-Ever Gala Event at Six Flags Qiddiya – 2025
A highlight of the Tourise Global Tourism Summit was the memorable gala dinner that took place on 10 November 2025 at the still-under-construction Six Flags Qiddiya City. This gala dinner in Saudi Arabia brought together over 450 of the world’s foremost tourism and hospitality executives to witness firsthand Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for the future of the industry, marking a defining moment often referred to as the Qiddiya gala dinner.
We were honoured to partner with Tourise and the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), an official summit sponsor, to design and deliver the culinary experience. For QIC, the night was the perfect moment to offer guests an insight into what awaits in Qiddiya City when the official opening is celebrated on 31 December, 2025, for which reason it was so important to hold a gala dinner in Qiddiya City.
Located in the beautiful Tuwaiq mountains just 40km from Riyadh, Qiddiya is already attracting interest internationally, likely to be a world of attractions when its gates open to welcome visitors. With Six Flags at its heart, it will be a wonderland for people from every background to enjoy, relax and make memories.
On the night we hosted our Gala Dinner, the site looked beautiful, all dressed up as an evening park should be, the perfect set up for new friendships and big talk about the future of world tourism. These were extraordinary moments for us all as we rallied together to deliver a grand gala dinner in Saudi Arabia that would showcase the potential of Qiddiya as a new landmark.
What we set out to do at Kitchen Theory is to reflect the pure joy of play on a plate and celebrate the very best of Saudi hospitality. We created an experience which was a joy to eat. A fruition of an idea, a 6 course theme-park inspired food experience using local ingredients, higher-end molecular techniques and a strong desire to wow.
It began gently: an airy date espuma kissed with Al Ahsa honey. Then came a playful take on Mansaf, tender sous-vide lamb spheres cradled in fermented labneh foam, finished with wild thyme “coaster” crisps that crackled like a ride taking off.
Each course brought its own thrill. A pistachio granita, flash-frozen tableside with liquid nitrogen, delivered the icy rush of a waterslide and was paired with preserved Red Sea lemon. The main course celebrated zero-waste creativity: perfectly cooked line-caught hammour resting on edible “track” tuiles made from vegetable trimmings and glazed with harissa emulsion.
The grand finale was a saffron panna cotta engineered with tiny internal air pockets so it appeared to float above the plate. One gentle press and it collapsed dramatically, revealing pistachio caviar and fragrant rose petals, pure theme-park surprise, translated into dessert.
This wasn’t just a gala dinner; it was a full multisensory ride. Subtle oud notes drifted through the air, thrill-ride soundscapes played softly in the background, and emerging Taif wines were paired throughout. Sustainability was woven into every detail, from NEOM-sourced produce to upcycled peels and bones while proudly championing Saudi agricultural excellence.
Beyond the table, the gala dinner advanced Vision 2030 in the most delicious way possible. Delegates left buzzing with fresh ideas about MICE opportunities, VIP offerings, and the park’s six immersive themed lands. One guest summed it up perfectly: “A rollercoaster for the senses, the ideal warm-up for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ascent.”
Led by Chef Jozef Youssef, Kitchen Theory exists to tell stories through food, blending heritage recipes with cutting-edge techniques to create moments people never forget. Being part of the Six Flags Qiddiya City story lets us pioneer a new kind of fusion, where serious business meets pure fun, and we can’t wait to share more from our Innovation Kitchen™ projects very soon.
To everyone who joined us that night, thank you. And to the wider industry watching Saudi Arabia’s rise: the Kingdom is wide open for bold, creative collaboration. The Tourise gala dinner was just the beginning. There’s so much more excitement on the horizon.