A common thread that unites AlUla’s many tourism, cultural, and community endeavors is the commitment to uplifting the men and women of the land.
Whether it’s through the upcoming AlUla Academy, which will boost vocational training in the tourism sector, the Hammayah community advocacy and engagement initiative, or the scholarship programme that has sent hundreds of AlUla students overseas – AlUla’s people are the ultimate beneficiaries of the county’s growth as a destination.

One such AlUla native who is part of this growth is Meitha Yaseen, a 32-year-old chef bringing her heritage and passion into the kitchen at Dar Tantora The House Hotel. In 2019, Meitha was one of the 24 men and women from AlUla who participated in intensive cooking training at FERRANDI Paris, one of France's leading professional training schools. She later trained in New York and the UK, honing her skills before returning to AlUla to continue her career.

Twist on a classic

In her current role, Meitha takes pride in putting a twist on traditional food by focusing on ingredients more than the conventional methods of cooking, bringing out their flavors and richness. One of her specialties is a twist on jareesh, the national dish of Saudi Arabia, which varies from household to household. Traditionally, it is a dish of wheat grain cooked in lamb or chicken stock until very soft, then mashed with a special wooden tool.

However, Meitha's method involves soaking the grains for a long time, toasting them in oil until they’re open and fluffy, and then adding vegetable stock gradually until it’s cooked but not overcooked, preserving the texture. She finishes it with black lemon sauce and crispy veggies or mushroom pickles.

She cooks it in her own way, in a risotto style, and for the flavour profile, she sometimes uses miso paste. That’s her favourite way of cooking – to borrow from different cultures.

With the bright flavours and unique preparation of her modern jareesh, Meitha showcases what can happen when traditional cooking and modern innovation harmonise to create something new and wonderful.