Saudi Culinary Arts Academy (ZADK)

The Saudi Culinary Arts Academy 'ZADK' is a non-profit Saudi academy dedicated to developing the Saudi food sector by teaching culinary arts to high standards. It aims to enhance Saudization efforts, promote social change, contribute to ending unemployment, and prepare young talents of both genders to become world-class chefs. The academy also supports initiatives related to locally produced foods, reduces food waste, and promotes healthy eating habits. It is headquartered in the city of al-Khubar in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Culinary Arts Academy aims to share the cultural heritage of Saudi cuisine with the world with quality and professionalism. It also focuses on training talented male and female students and empowering them in the food sector to become professional chefs for the sake of localizing the chef profession to global standards. The academy seeks to drive societal change by pioneering culinary education and pushing the Saudi food system toward new horizons. It is committed to preparing young talents, both men and women, regardless of their social backgrounds, to become world-class chefs. Additionally, the academy supports local food production initiatives, reduces food waste, and promotes healthy eating habits.

The Saudi Culinary Arts Academy offers several educational programs, including the Saudi-Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts and the Culinary Arts Intensive Program. In the first program, students are taught by international chefs and experts for two years, including five months of training with leading companies in the field. This program aims to qualify head chefs to work either within the Kingdom or abroad.

The Culinary Arts Intensive Program aims to teach students how to prepare a variety of recipes using different ingredients according to professional standards. It also includes instructions on maintaining kitchen cleanliness. This program involves both practical and theoretical assessments for the participants.

On June 14, 2022, a graduation ceremony was held for the first class of students from the Saudi Culinary Arts Academy at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Dammam City, Eastern Province. The graduates holding the Saudi Culinary Diploma received their certificates, accredited by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and the Swiss Academy. This qualification enables them to become professional chefs meeting global standards, aligning with the objectives of Vision 2030 to empower youth in various life fields. The number of graduates in this class was eighteen male and female chefs.

On May 30, 2023, a graduation ceremony was held for forty-three students from the diploma program at the academy at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Dammam. These students, representing the second and third classes of the Global Culinary Arts Diploma, completed the two-year Saudi-Swiss Global Diploma Program, the six-month International Cuisine Program, and the Pastry and Bakery Program. This training qualifies them to become professional chefs meeting global standards, ready to work in the food and tourism sectors. The program supports the job market by providing employment opportunities in international hotels, restaurants, and other food-related organizations. Additionally, there are opportunities for external scholarships for bachelor's degrees and the possibility of recruiting them as teaching assistants at the academy.