Mayada Badr

Mayada Badr is the CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She was appointed by a decision of the Minister of Culture in 2020. She is a graduate of the International School of Le Cordon Bleu Paris and the former creative executive chef of Black Cardamom. She represented the Kingdom on several international occasions and was supervised by a group of renowned chefs around the world.

Mayada Badr pursued studies in the culinary arts and joined the renowned Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute in the capital city of France, Paris. She obtained a higher diploma in baking and culinary arts after intensive training under the supervision of world-class chefs. Before her studies in France, she earned a Bachelor's degree from Parsons School of Design in New York, USA.

She worked at Black Cardamom as a creative executive chef. In 2020, a decision was issued to appoint her as the head of the culinary sector, and to appoint her as CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission, one of the eleven authorities concerned with developing the cultural sector in the Kingdom.

The tasks entrusted to her include revitalizing the culinary sector, creating a suitable strategy for its development, and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to establish a legislative framework. This involves supporting and encouraging all individuals and specialists while providing the most conducive environment for creative growth within the sector. 

During Maydah Badr's presidency of the Culinary Arts Commission, the initiative "Our Kitchen Legacy" was launched in 2020. The initiative aimed to document and preserve the recipes of the most important traditional dishes in Saudi culture, as well as to discover the talents of local chefs. The goal was to promote communication between individuals interested in preparing classic Saudi dishes and motivate the younger generation to explore these traditional recipes with older generations.

In the same year, Mayada Badr also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Le Cordon Bleu Global Institute to establish an educational institute in Riyadh. The institute offers advanced educational programs in the culinary and hospitality sector, utilizing Le Cordon Bleu's trademarks, educational resources, and expertise.

One of the awards received by the Commission during Mayada Badr presidency was the International Culinary Arts Award for the year 2024. This prestigious award was granted to the Asir Province by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT), making it the first province outside of Europe to win this title. The Culinary Arts Commission received the award on September 24, 2022.