As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia steams ahead with Vision 2030, MJS Holding has been a key player in helping to shape the future of the country’s food and beverage industry. The company is recognized for developing and operating high-quality restaurants throughout KSA and is credited with being the first to attract some of the world’s leading luxury and lifestyle restaurants to the kingdom, as well as being recognized as a pioneer in Saudi’s F&B market. The company’s mission is to position the kingdom as a leading player in the global restaurant scene and actively support Vision 2030.
Mohammed A. Jawa founded MJS Holding. With two decades of experience owning and operating renowned restaurants, Jawa has successfully attracted international luxury and lifestyle restaurants to the kingdom. He is also recognized as being the first to partner with the Azumi group — an award-winning global restaurant business with a portfolio that includes Zuma London, ROKA , ETARU, Oblix at The Shard, and INKO NITO, Paris Society group — a key player in the hospitality industry in France with a portfolio of some 50 exceptional venues — and other international restaurants and brands, such as Mr. Chow and Amazonico. His work continues to add a new dimension and expertise to the future of the Saudi hospitality industry. In a statement, Jawa said: “It has always been a dream of mine to witness the kingdom reach this point in its development”.
MJS Holding’s CEO, Milad Nassereddine, has worked in hospitality and F&B for over 30 years. He is known for being involved with 70 restaurants and the opening of numerous concepts around the region. He continues to honor his father’s culinary legacy and experience that sprung over 50 years.
MJS Holding currently operates:
- Il Baretto, the first restaurant to open in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh. Since opening in 2021, the restaurant quickly rose to fame, becoming a landmark in the culinary capital of Saudi Arabia.
- ROKA, a unique restaurant and terrace space with an urban design that features live edge wooden counters, antique timber and Japanese rice paper walls, the venue brings its unique style of contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine to Riyadh. The outdoor dining area is a serene, landscaped oasis in the heart of the city.
- Sobhy Kaber serves authentic Egyptian flavors. Guests can savor the taste of premium meats and Egyptian specialties from the grill, pan and oven.
- Black Tap is a well-known New York burger joint. The Riyadh location sports the vibrant ambience found in similar branches across the world complete with neon signs, graffiti art, grey brick walls and graphic black and white floors. With 10,000 cassettes, 2,500 VHS tapes, over 140 sneakers and 500 audio decks, boomboxes, and speakers masterminded into the design, Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo-based Studio Glitt has created an iconic and legendary space.
- O.K Kitchen is located in King Abdullah Financial District. Boasting a menu that’s free from refined sugar and sensitive to dairy and gluten, the restaurant doesn’t just cope with dietary requirements but freely offers them as the basis of its innovative, intimate dining experience.
In 2023, the company launched and operated additional award-winning restaurants, such as: Mr. Chow, which serves authentic Beijing cuisine with creative original recipes; Zuma, which offers a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking; Amazonico, a rainforest-themed restaurant serving Latin American flavors and sushi; and Ruya. More restaurant openings are planned in the coming years.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
