Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay is set to launch his first culinary academy in Saudi Arabia this year.
The Riyadh branch will also be the first Gordon Ramsay Academy outside the United Kingdom, marking a significant step in the chef’s international expansion.
The project follows an agreement earlier this month between Gordon Ramsay Holdings International Ltd and Alkhaleej Training and Education Company. The deal grants Alkhaleej Training the exclusive right to establish and operate branches of the Gordon Ramsay Culinary Academy in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. The contract, valued at SAR 2.81 million, is set to run for ten years with an option to renew.
Ramsay already operates more than 50 restaurants worldwide, but the Riyadh project marks the first international expansion of his education-focused brand. The original Gordon Ramsay Academy opened in Surrey, England, in 2021, offering a mix of professional training and public courses. The Saudi academies will follow a similar model, blending structured chef qualifications with accessible workshops. The project aligns with wider developments in the country’s hospitality and tourism sectors, which are being expanded under Vision 2030.
The Riyadh branch will house advanced teaching kitchens designed to cater for a wide range of students. Courses are set to include accredited chef training programmes, as well as shorter masterclasses and workshops aimed at both aspiring professionals and enthusiastic home cooks. Reports suggest the academy may be located within the VIA Riyadh development, though this has not been officially confirmed.
