15 November 2025
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“They are there, they empower,” Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh of MICHELIN-selected Villa Mamas says proudly of women. For generations, Saudi women have been the quiet architects of family and community life. Their influence, once confined to the private sphere, has always been powerful, rooted in clarity, resilience, and vision.
With the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s roadmap for diversification and reform, the role of women has moved from invisible strength to visible leadership. Yet, this shift isn’t about rewriting history – it’s about honoring it.
The opportunities have expanded across various sectors, empowering women to lead on their own terms – especially in commercial kitchens. “It’s a pride for us Khaliji women to see female ministers, ambassadors and chefs today – this our place as women, Saudi women,” Saleh iterates.
Culinary Voices of Change
Across Saudi Arabia, women are finding new ways to express leadership – through culture, creativity, and cuisine.Nihal Felemban, Saudi Moroccan chef/owner of Bib Gourmand The Lucky Llama, began her journey with a desire she could not shake: “I wanted to show the world what Saudis are capable of,” she shares.
In a time when women’s presence in professional kitchens was rare, Felemban’s perseverance turned passion into purpose. Her restaurant now stands as a symbol of her travels and courage – a bridge between Saudi and the rest of the world. “I always had this seed to open my own business, I was just waiting for the right time,” she reflects.
Similarly, Dalal Haj Ibrahim, Saudi Lebanese chef/founder of MICHELIN-selected Yawmiyat by Dalal, turned her mother’s Lebanese recipes into a popular restaurant. “[My mother] taught me everything, she’s with me whenever I am in the kitchen,” she explains. After starting out from her home kitchen catering for corporate events, she launched a simple sandwich and salads shop before turning it into a beloved family-run eatery with the help of her daughter. “As soon as Sarah joined, the business took off,” she dotingly says, “she’s my backbone.”
© Michelin
As for banker-turned-chef Roaya Saleh took the culinary industry head on taking inspiration from all the women in her life. Her aim was not only to bring Khaliji dishes to a global stage, but to lead like a mother: a powerhouse. “Leading like a mom keeps my team intact,” she says, “because the mother is really the pillar of the universe.”
Building the Future, Rooted in Heritage
These women – and countless others – are part of a broader transformation. Whether through entrepreneurship, policy, or art, Saudi women are not just participating in change; they are leading it.Their impact extends beyond economics – it’s cultural, social, and deeply human. In every boardroom and classroom, every kitchen and creative studio, they bring the same instinct for community and clarity that once defined family life.
From raising families to raising ideas, Saudi women continue to be the heartbeat of a nation in motion. As the Kingdom looks toward the future, it carries forward the strength, wisdom, and grace of its women – who have always known how to lead, long before the world began to notice.
6 minutes
