Step into Saudi culture on this small-group experience in London, where hospitality takes centre stage. Guided by Amal, your storyteller, you’ll enjoy Arabic coffee, a full shared meal of traditional Saudi dishes and desserts, and stories that bring contemporary Saudi life into focus, alongside music, fragrance, and a live dance showcase. This is a relaxed, immersive experience, the meal is generous and intended to replace lunch, so come hungry.

Tour Highlights

• Share a full Saudi meal, served family-style, featuring both savoury dishes and traditional sweets
• Experience authentic Saudi hospitality, sitting on cushions and drinking Arabic coffee as it’s shared in homes
• Explore scent and sound, from oud and incense to the music that shapes cultural expression
• Learn about Saudi women in the arts, through stories of musicians and cultural pioneers
• Enjoy a live bellydance showcase by Amal, with the option to join in if you wish, no pressure, just joy
• Small-group format, allowing time for questions, conversation, and meaningful connection

Detailed Itinerary:

You’ll meet Amal and the rest of the small group near Edgware Road, an area in London long shaped by Middle Eastern communities. From the start, the experience is designed to feel welcoming and unhurried, with time to settle in and get comfortable.

The first part of the tour focuses on Saudi hospitality, a central part of everyday life. You’ll be welcomed into a traditional setting, invited to remove your shoes, sit on cushions, and share Arabic coffee. Amal explains when and how coffee is served in Saudi homes, what it represents, and why hospitality is treated as a responsibility rather than a gesture.

Food follows naturally. You’ll sit down together for a generous shared meal of traditional Saudi dishes, served family-style. This is a full meal, including savoury dishes and sweets, intended to be enjoyed slowly. As you eat, Amal talks through the ingredients, regional influences, and how meals are used to bring people together, at home, during celebrations, and in everyday life. There’s no rush here; this part of the experience is about eating well and understanding what food means in context.

After the meal, the focus shifts to other senses. You’ll visit a space dedicated to oud, incense, and fragrance, where Amal explains how scent is used in Saudi homes, during gatherings, and for welcoming guests. You’ll learn the difference between bukhur, musk, and oud, and why fragrance plays such a visible role in social life.

Music comes next. You’ll be introduced to the oud as an instrument and to its place in Saudi and wider Arab music. Amal shares stories of Saudi musical heritage, including the role of women who helped shape modern music and performance, offering context without idealising or simplifying.

The experience ends with a bellydance showcase by Amal. This is a demonstration rather than a formal class. If you’d like to join in and try a few movements, you’re welcome to do so, but there’s no expectation to participate. The focus is on expression, confidence, and enjoyment rather than instruction.

The tour concludes with time for conversation and questions. You’ll leave having eaten well and gained a clearer, more grounded understanding of Saudi culture, through food, sound, scent, and everyday practices, rather than headlines or stereotypes.