JEDDAH : The United States hosted its first official American Pavilion at the Saudi Food Show, bringing together dozens of U.S. companies and trade associations to showcase American food and agricultural products to importers and food industry professionals in the Kingdom.
U.S. Consul General in Jeddah Rafik Mansour visited the U.S. Pavilion at the Jeddah Superdome, where he met with participating U.S. companies and learned about their products, encouraging them to expand in the Saudi market.
The pavilion featured a wide range of American products, including beef and potatoes, rice and grains, fresh produce, nuts, snacks, beverages, and specialty foods. Participating organizations included the USA Rice Federation, Potatoes U.S.A, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and Food Export Northeast and Midwest.
The historic U.S. presence comes at a time of important developments in agricultural and food trade cooperation between the two countries, including Saudi Arabia’s recent easing of export requirements for U.S. beef. This provides Saudi consumers with greater access to U.S. beef and opens new opportunities for U.S. producers and exporters. Effective March 2, 2026, Saudi Arabia eliminated the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Export Verification requirement for U.S. beef and beef products.
“Halal compliance is fundamental to access to the Saudi market. Under the current system, halal compliance is handled through halal certification bodies in the United States that are approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s Saudi Halal Center, while USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service continues to provide the applicable U.S. export certification,” said Agricultural Attaché, Chris Frederick.
Consul General Rafik Mansour added: “Our role goes beyond commercial promotion. We want to support a trading environment based on transparency, clear requirements, and science-based information that builds confidence in the food safety system. The Saudi Food Show gives U.S. companies an opportunity to showcase their products, reach new customers, and expand opportunities in the Saudi market.” He also praised American companies by sampling classic U.S. beef.
The Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh works to strengthen and expand U.S. participation in the Saudi market by connecting American companies with importers, distributors, and food industry professionals. The American Pavilion provides a platform for American farmers, producers, and food companies to explore new commercial opportunities and expand their presence in the Saudi market.
