Sponsored: Meet Ahmed Alajmi, Founder of Takara Hospitality Group (THG) and the visionary reshaping Saudi Arabia’s culinary scene

What sparked the idea for Takara Hospitality Group, and how did you envision it shaping Saudi Arabia’s hospitality scene?

Takara Hospitality Group began with a single restaurant — Takara, which opened in 2019. What started as a Japanese dining concept in Al Khobar quickly became a regional landmark, attracting guests from across the Kingdom and GCC. Its early success revealed something bigger: Saudi Arabia was ready for homegrown concepts that could deliver world-class experiences while carrying a clear cultural identity.

From this foundation, the idea for Takara Hospitality Group emerged. The goal was to transform the success of one distinctive restaurant into a full hospitality company capable of developing completely original brands, each crafted with its own story, style, and culinary direction. As Saudi Arabia entered a period of rapid growth and global recognition, there was a noticeable gap in concepts that reflected the country’s evolving tastes and sophistication. With experience from international hospitality, I envisioned a group that blended global standards with rich regional identity, creating concepts uniquely tailored to the Saudi dining landscape.

Under the Takara Hospitality Group, each brand was created with a purpose. Takara represents refined Japanese elegance, ZIBA celebrates Persian heritage, and Sold Out brings an innovative, bold take on casual dining. More brands continue to grow under this umbrella, each built with the same commitment to authenticity, consistency, and exceptional guest experience. What began as one restaurant has become a company dedicated to shaping the future of Saudi hospitality — concept by concept, story by story — bringing homegrown brands to a global standard.

As Saudi Arabia’s dining culture rapidly evolves, what sets Takara Hospitality Group apart from other hospitality brands in the city?

What sets Takara Hospitality Group apart is a belief that hospitality is not just a service; it is an art form. We design every brand as an immersive world of its own, where the design, the culinary craft, the music, and even the tone of service work together to create a complete story. But beyond concept and aesthetics, our true distinction lies in our unwavering commitment to quality. At Takara Hospitality Group, excellence is never negotiable, from ingredients and recipes to operations, training, and guest experience. We invest deeply in our people because we know that extraordinary brands are built by extraordinary teams. Creativity, collaboration, and a strong team spirit are at the heart of everything we do. Each of our brands delivers a distinct experience, yet all are built on the same foundation of authenticity, quality, and creative excellence. In a rapidly evolving dining scene, we focus on leading rather than following — setting new standards, shaping trends, and creating experiences that feel both fresh and deeply memorable.

How do you bring local heritage and culture into your venues, and is this something that resonates with diners in Saudi Arabia?

At Takara Hospitality Group, our connection to culture is both instinctive and intentional. We believe that true hospitality stems from honouring one’s roots while embracing the global perspective that modern Saudi Arabia embodies. Each of our venues carries its own cultural heartbeat, woven subtly through design, storytelling, and cuisine. At Takara, Japanese precision meets Saudi warmth, creating an atmosphere of quiet sophistication that feels globally refined yet locally grounded. Ziba celebrates Persian artistry through contemporary interpretation, offering a sensory journey rich with history, emotion, and authenticity. Sold Out, on the other hand, captures the joyful nostalgia of 90s American pop culture, reimagined through the lens of today’s Saudi creativity and spirit.

What truly resonates with our guests is this harmony between global inspiration and cultural familiarity. They see their values reflected, not through imitation, but through reinterpretation. Every experience feels personal because it celebrates the shared language of hospitality that’s so deeply rooted in Saudi tradition: generosity, warmth, and genuine connection.

When designing the guest journey, how do you strike the perfect balance between luxury, comfort, and authenticity across your venues?

Luxury is not defined by extravagance; it is defined by how a guest feels. We design each venue around emotion rather than appearance, curating every sensory element to create experiences that feel both elevated and effortless. At Takara, refined design, gentle ambience, and attentive service come together to create an atmosphere of quiet indulgence, luxury expressed through harmony, precision, and grace. Ziba transforms the richness of Persian heritage into a contemporary experience, where every texture, hue, and aroma tells a story of culture, craftsmanship, and depth. Sold Out reimagines luxury through comfort, nostalgia, and playfulness, blending bold energy with premium quality to redefine what a casual experience can be.
Across all our brands, authenticity is the constant thread that guides us. We create experiences that feel natural and sincere, built on genuine connection rather than performance. That balance between refinement and warmth, sophistication and sincerity, is what keeps our guests returning, because they don’t just dine with us; they connect with a feeling.

With sustainability and local sourcing becoming imperative, how are your venues turning these initiatives into meaningful, long-term value rather than following trends?

Sustainability has never been a fast trend for us — it has been part of our identity since Takara first opened in 2019. We always believed that meaningful concepts must evolve with the world, but in a way that remains true to who we are. So yes, we embrace global movements, but we translate them into our own stable, long-term practices rather than quick, short-lived trends. Through Santiam, our sourcing and supply division, we’ve built a system centred on traceability, ethical partnerships, and consistency. We work closely with local farmers, producers, and artisans to ensure every ingredient is chosen with intention and care. Our menus celebrate seasonality, reduce waste, and elevate flavour integrity through responsible sourcing.

Operationally, we integrate eco-conscious choices — energy-efficient equipment, waste segregation, and thoughtful packaging. But sustainability for us goes deeper than processes. It’s cultural. It’s about building relationships, supporting local talent, and creating a hospitality ecosystem that is resilient, responsible, and future-ready. So, while the world may shift quickly, our approach remains steady. We adopt trends, but we refine them, stabilise them, and integrate them in a way that strengthens our values and enhances our guest experience — now and for years to come.

What can we expect from Takara Hospitality Group in 2026?

As 2026 approaches, Takara Hospitality Group stands at the threshold of an exciting new chapter, one defined by bold expansion, creative evolution, and deeper cultural impact. Our flagship, Takara, will soon relocate to a landmark destination in Al-Khobar, where it will offer an immersive fine dining journey that blends art, ambience, and gastronomy in a way that redefines luxury. Ziba will make its debut in Riyadh, bringing its acclaimed Persian cuisine and contemporary hospitality to the heart of the capital. Meanwhile, Sold Out will continue to grow its cult following with a new Riyadh outlet, reinforcing its status as a premium, personality-driven burger brand.

Our vision for 2026 and beyond is both simple and ambitious: to position Takara Hospitality Group as a regional leader setting new standards in creativity, sustainability, and human-centred hospitality, bringing to the world not just our brands, but the authentic spirit of Saudi hospitality and innovation.