Singaporean artist and community founder Yani Rahiman (@yaniavenue) built a Riyadhbased food community, the Expat & Local Food Hunters Community Club (@efhclubksa), connecting expatriates and locals through cuisine and cultural exchange.
When Yani moved to Riyadh in June 2023, after her husband joined Qiddiya, she began discovering Saudi Arabia through food. Exploring different cuisines brought her closer to people, including Saudis who, like her, share a curiosity about food and culture. This shared passion became the foundation of the Expat & Local Food Hunters Community Club, a community intentionally built for genuine food and culture enthusiasts who are eager to explore, connect and learn from one another.
“Hospitality here is not just a gesture—it is a value,” Yani says, reflecting on her personal experiences in Saudi Arabia. “Sharing a big plate of kabsa, pouring gahwa with dates, or being invited to someone’s home for a meal all say, ‘You are welcome.’” While EFH events are carefully curated, with set timings, community guidelines, semi-formal introductions and food- and culture-related icebreakers, Yani’s personal experiences with Saudi hospitality have given her an appreciation for the generosity and warmth that extend beyond the food itself.
Saudi hospitality extends beyond formal occasions. It can be seen in the instinct to welcome newcomers, share local customs and create spaces where people can connect. For Yani, this spirit was reflected in gatherings such as Iftar in the Park, organised by a Saudi member who brought the group together and arranged the food. These moments of connection have helped Riyadh become more than a residence; it is where she has found friendship and a sense of belonging.
One friendship, in particular, has stayed with her. Yani met a Saudi woman from Al-Qassim on a flight in 2024, and the two have remained friends ever since. “I am so grateful for her generosity and support,” Yani says. “She volunteered to organise 10 events for our community, and we are still friends. We go out from time to time, and I am very grateful for everything she has done to support our community.”
That support continued during Ramadan. At an Iftar in the Park gathering in northern Riyadh in 2026, she organised traditional and commonly consumed Saudi dishes for the group, with members contributing towards the food. The gathering offered a chance to experience Saudi cuisine and Ramadan traditions while bringing the community together. “Meals are meant to be shared, not rushed,” Yani observes, reflecting on her personal experiences. For her, sharing a meal can create space for genuine conversations, personal stories and a deeper understanding of Saudi life.
As founder of the Expat & Local Food Hunters Community Club, Yani uses food as a starting point for connection. Yet the organisation is only the platform; the deeper story is the warmth she has encountered in Saudi Arabia and the willingness o ocal people to share their traditions.
“Over a shared meal, accents and backgrounds matter less,” she says. “The conversation starts with, ‘Have you tried this?’” Growing up in multicultural Singapore taught Yani that food can bring people together. In Saudi Arabia, she has discovered a powerful belief that welcoming someone to the table is an expression of respect. “Sharing a meal is how we respect each other’s cultures and build community,” she says. “Food is how we live together.”
Her experiences also challenge the idea that expatriate life must feel distant or isolating. Through the openness of people she has met in Riyadh, unfamiliar surroundings have become familiar. People who once arrived feeling alone have found themselves welcomed, included and encouraged to participate in community life.
Yani describes this transformation simply as turning “new in town” into “welcome home.” It is a phrase that captures what Saudi hospitality has meant to her: not a performance reserved for visitors, but a living tradition practised through generosity and human connection.
As Saudi Arabia celebrates National Day 2026, Yani’s story offers a Singaporean perspective on the Kingdom—one shaped by discovering diverse cuisines, experiencing different cultures and building connections with both Saudis and expatriates. Through a growing community of more than 400 members, she continues to create opportunities for people to explore Riyadh’s food scene and learn from one another.
For Yani, food is a bridge between cultures. Through the Expat & Local Food Hunters Community Club, expats and locals come together to discover cuisines, experiences and traditions from around the world. Saudi members are not only sharing their own culture; they are also enthusiastic participants, joining international food hunts, trying new cuisines and learning about cultures beyond their own. For Yani, this mutual curiosity and support is what makes the community special.
Source: IN Diplomacy Reporter
