There’s a certain comfort that lives in a bag of Marami chips or a box of Sun Top juice. It’s the kind of comfort you only understand if you’ve sat in the backseat on a road trip to Makkah with a bag of Lusine croissants. Or walked to your neighborhood baqala with a crumpled 5 riyal note and left with a handful of Abu Walad biscuits.
The best snacks in Saudi Arabia are more about memory than flavour. About growing up in schoolyards, staying up late during Ramadan — especially during qayyam nights, or finding something familiar when you’ve just moved to the Kingdom. Each one tells a small story. Of taste, time, and togetherness.
Let’s walk through the Saudi snacks that have shaped local lives and shelves, from crunchy chips to nostalgic drinks, and everything in between.
The Chip Culture That Raised a Generation
Saudi chip brands have loyal followings, and for good reason. They don’t hold back on flavor or crunch, and they’ve quietly become part of childhood routines. These are the kinds of Arabic snacks that fill lunchboxes, road trip baskets, and snack drawers at home.
Marami
You’ll find Marami in almost every school bag. Their ketchup, salt, and hot chili flavors hit that perfect balance of spice and snack. The packaging itself brings back memories for many; bright, bold, and impossible to ignore on a baqala shelf. Among the best grocery store snacks in Saudi Arabia, Marami is a clear favorite.
Al Batal
With flavors like cheese, chili, and ketchup, Al Batal has a fan base of its own. The popcorn rings and mini cheese puffs are favorites for kids and teens. They’re the kind of local munchies in Saudi Arabia that you buy in bulk before a weekend hangout. The best part is, they offer packaged popcorns too that you can carry along on-the-go.
Tasali and Crispy
Tasali, known for flavors like hot sauce and cheddar, is loud on the tongue. Crispy chips, shaped like Arabic letters, have an educational angle that parents love. Kids still eat them for the crunch, not the grammar. These are some of the top snack foods loved by Saudis.
Kitco Stix and Zoro
Kitco’s stick-shaped crisps are clean, salty, and perfect for dipping. Zoro, with its cheese or spicy flavors, is a newer favorite. It’s the kind of thing you’d buy once and find yourself hooked — a popular snack in KSA that turns into a weekly craving.
Chips Oman
There’s something about Chips Oman that makes them hard to forget. Maybe it’s the simple salt-and-vinegar flavor, the perfect spice level that makes you want to eat more, or the way the pack feels almost weightless in your hand. They’re not Saudi-made, but they’ve lived on shelves here for decades. You’ll find them tucked into school lunches, shared between cousins on lazy afternoons, or eaten straight out of the pack on long road trips. The chips are thin, tangy, and crumbly. A quiet favorite that never really left.
Juice Boxes and Sips of Nostalgia
In a country where summer stretches across most of the year, drinks are a necessity to beat the heat. Many of Saudi beverages bring with them the comfort of school lunch breaks or family dinners. These are classic Saudi Arabian treats.
Sun Top and Capri Sun
Ask anyone who went to school in Saudi Arabia, and they’ll probably remember a juice box with a straw glued to the side. Sun Top’s orange or mango flavors were a lunchbox staple. Capri Sun had that shiny silver pouch that made it feel like a treat. These drinks top the list of best snacks in Saudi Arabia for kids.
Vimto
Ramadan and Vimto go hand-in-hand. The thick, sweet drink appears on almost every iftar table, year after year. One sip and you know what season it is. This is one of those traditional Saudi Arabian sweet snacks that signals celebration.
Almarai and Al Safi
Almarai’s double chocolate milk became a reward drink after exams, during road trips, or just because. Al Safi’s juices (orange, apple, mango) are easy finds in supermarkets and pair well with a salty snack. Rani and Al-Rabea also fill similar gaps with their fruit-based drinks, making them go-to choices for healthy snacks available in Saudi supermarkets.
Ayran and Almarai Laban
Some days call for something salty, cold, and grounding. That’s where Ayran and Almarai Laban come in. Both are classic savory drinks that have long been part of meals across Saudi Arabia, especially when the food is rich or the weather is scorching.
Ayran, with its tangy, yogurt-like taste, cools you down in seconds. Almarai Laban has a smoother, milkier flavor that pairs easily with everything from kabsa to shawarma. They’re both comfort drinks, but practical too. Easy to find, easy to love, and always doing the job.
Baskin-Robbins Flavored Milk
This one feels like a dessert in disguise. Baskin-Robbins flavored milk started popping up in stores more recently, but it caught on fast. Think of it as a shortcut to a milkshake. Creamy, sweet, and packed with flavors like strawberry or chocolate. It’s the kind of thing you grab after school or during a late-night baqala run when you want something cold, quick, and indulgent. Kids love it. So do grown-ups who still have a soft spot for anything that tastes like a treat.
Croissants and Road Trip Staples
Croissants in Saudi Arabia aren’t reserved for cafés. They’re road trip essentials. Easy to pack, filling, and never go out of style. Considered cheap snacks in Riyadh or Jeddah, they’re often found in gas stations and baqalas along highways.
7 Days Chocolate Croissant
Wrapped in foil and easy to throw into any bag, this sweet croissant is a favorite for long car rides or a mid-day treat. The chocolate filling gives just enough sugar rush to keep you going. It’s one of the must-try snacks in Saudi Arabia.
Lusine Croissant
The plain version might seem simple, but it’s surprisingly versatile. Many eat Lusine croissants with cheese or dip it in Karak chai. During Hajj or Umrah journeys, it’s the kind of thing families keep handy to share along the way.
Instant Noodles and Dorm Room Dinners
Noodles are the comfort food in almost every culture, and similarly in Saudi Arabia. It is a crowd favorite, especially among people staying away from home or in dorms. It’s quick, easy to make, and hits the spot every single time. There’s one brand that dominates this category in Saudi Arabia, and that’s Indomie. A street snack in Saudi Arabia that has also become a kitchen staple.
Indomie
Indomie’s vegetable flavor was the starting point for many. Some make it straight from the packet, while others customize it with eggs, chili sauce, or tomatoes. It’s cheap, fast, and oddly comforting. The fried version sold by street vendors has become a trend too, especially when mixed with bold add-ins like camel meat or truffle oil.
Sweet Treats and Dairy Delights
Delicious and nostalgic Saudi snack, Abu Walad sandwich biscuits served with tea – (Credits Rehat al Yemen/Facebook)
From ice cream sandwiches to creamy yogurts, Saudi shelves carry a wide range of options that suit every kind of sweet tooth. These are some of the best snacks in Saudi Arabia if you have a soft spot for sugar.
Saudia Ice Cream Sandwich
If you grew up in Saudi, you’ve probably had this after school. The mix of soft vanilla ice cream and a cookie-like outer layer hits the spot every time. This ice cream sandwich is a nostalgic part of traditional Saudi food culture.
Abu Walad Sandwich Biscuits
Abu Walad Sandwich Biscuits are a shared childhood memory. Easy to find, affordable, and often split between friends as a small act of kindness. These local snacks in Saudi Arabia have stayed consistent over generations.
Cream Fudge Candy and Tutti Frutti
Creamy, chewy, and available in big tubs, cream fudge is the kind of thing people bring out for guests. Tutti Frutti candies add a burst of color to baqala counters and are often snuck into school bags.
Greek Yogurt Drinks and Almarai Yogurts
Nada’s Greek yogurt drinks, often with added protein, are newer to shelves but have carved out a space, especially among those looking for protein-packed options. They’re increasingly popular in Riyadh and Jeddah. Almarai’s regular yogurt pots are a staple in lunchboxes and fridges. These tasty bites in the Kingdom are also frequently offered on flights. It also offers protein drinks in chocolate and vanilla flavours.
Snack Time Moments That Stay With You
The best snacks in Saudi Arabia carry a kind of familiarity that sneaks up on you in the crinkle of a chip bag, the cold hit of chocolate milk, or the sight of a juice box with a straw stuck to the side. These are the things you pack before a long drive to Makkah, the things you trade during study breaks, the things you reach for after taraweeh when the house is quiet and the night feels long.
For those who grew up here, they’re part of a rhythm. A backdrop to school days, family trips, and Ramadan nights. And for those who’ve recently moved here, these snacks are a soft landing, a small but meaningful way to feel more rooted in a place that’s still becoming home.
Chips, croissants, yogurt drinks, sweet biscuits, each one says something about how people here eat, share, and live. They’re not extravagant. They’re everyday. But they show up in all the right moments, and that’s what makes them unforgettable. They represent the kind of Saudi Arabian treats that weave everyday life together.
If you’ve been here a while, maybe this list reminded you of something you hadn’t thought about in years. And if you’re new, maybe it gave you a few ideas for what snacks to try in Saudi Arabia. Either way, these KSA snack foods are a piece of the bigger story. One about taste, memory, and belonging in Saudi Arabia.
To truly experience local life, look beyond the main meals and explore the snacks. The best snacks in Saudi Arabia offer a flavorful glimpse into its culture, and you’ll find them in grocery aisles, schoolbags, and glove compartments all across the Kingdom.
FAQs
What are the best snacks in Saudi Arabia to try for the first time?
If you’re new to Saudi Arabia, start with Marami chips (ketchup or hot chili), Sun Top juice boxes, Indomie noodles, and a 7 Days croissant. These are everyday favorites that locals have grown up with and still enjoy.
Where can I buy popular Saudi snacks online?
Many Saudi snack brands are available through local supermarket apps like Tamimi, Lulu Hypermarket, and Carrefour. You can also find some traditional Saudi Arabian treats on international platforms that deliver to the region.
Are there any healthy snacks available in Saudi supermarkets?
Yes, options like Nada’s Greek yogurt drinks, Ayran, Almarai laban, and fruit-based juices from Al Safi and Al Rabie are commonly found and work well as healthier snack choices. These are widely stocked in most grocery stores.
What are some affordable snack options in Riyadh or Jeddah?
Baqalas across the city offer cheap and nostalgic snacks like Abu Walad biscuits, cream fudge candy, and Zoro chips. You can easily find tasty bites in the Kingdom for under SAR 5, especially near schools and residential areas.
Why are snacks such a big part of Saudi culture?
Snacks are tied to moments—road trips, school lunch breaks, Ramadan nights, and visits to the baqala. They’re familiar, comforting, and deeply woven into daily life, making them a key part of both Saudi and expat routines.
