Cool Inc, a luxury and lifestyle hospitality group, has thrown open the doors to 12 new restaurants in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority.
Four opened at the Jeddah Yacht Club on Wednesday, and eight launched at Via Riyadh entertainment hub on Friday.
Cool Inc will also bring three new dining concepts, Madeo, Ernestou by PJ, and Crustacean, to the kingdom by the end of this year.
Ghaith Al Johani, chief commercial officer of Cool Inc, tells The National that each of the restaurants has been cherry-picked keeping Saudi consumers in mind.
"They have a discerning taste that reflects an appreciation for quality, authenticity and innovation. The market has been thoroughly observed to be able to define their preferences and provide tailored offerings ... to exceed expectations and provide memorable experiences that resonate with their palate.
"The Saudi market is rapidly evolving. Riyadh and Jeddah were chosen as key locations based on their vibrant and dynamic nature, which offers a blend of traditional and modern ambiences," he adds.
Sinan Al Saadi, Cool Inc’s group chief executive, said: “We are confident that Via Riyadh and Jeddah's Yacht Club will become sought-after destinations in the kingdom for fine dining."
New restaurants in Jeddah:
Mashi No Mashi
Renowned Japanese ramen restaurant Mashi No Mashi, which translates as “eat more and more”, will bring its signature hot Jiro-style 100 per cent Wagyu ramen to Jeddah.
Other bestsellers include tokusei Wagyu tsukemen (slow-cooked beef served with 24-hour stewed Wagyu bone broth, whole wheat noodles and eggs) and spicy samurai bomb tsukemen (Wagyujiro dry ramen served with thick-cut Wagyu brisket char siu).
Mashi No Mashi was launched by chef and Wagyu expert Hisato Hamada, who is also known for creating the members-only fine-dining restaurant WagyuMafia.
Le Comptoir de Nicole
Le Comptoir de Nicole, the 30-year-old French bistro originating from the mountains of the Cote d’Azur, will launch in Jeddah in collaboration with mastermind Nicole Rubi, Domenico Laria and restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi.
The menu offers Mediterranean cuisine, with signatures such as burrata fraiche, tuna carpaccio, Australian Wagyu tomahawk, and lamb chops with aubergine caviar.
Emmy Squared Pizza
The American pizzeria from Brooklyn has brought its signature square-shaped Detroit-style pizza to the kingdom, soon after launching its second outpost in the UAE.
The Jeddah restaurant will have an exclusive addition to its menu: Le Big Matt Scorcher, aka Saudi’s hottest burger, which comes in two spice levels = the two million scoville and the nine million scoville.
Founded by Emily Hyland, Emmy Squared is all about melding ultimate comfort food with high-quality ingredients by way of signature sauces and cheesy frico crusts, with fluffy dough and crispy bottoms.
Le Vesuvio
The Italian restaurant and pizzeria comes straight from Cannes to Jeddah Yacht Club.
The restaurant uses northern Italian cooking techniques to cook up wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta and signature desserts, with a focus on the freshest of ingredients.
New restaurants in Riyadh:
Chi Spacca
Chi Spacca is a fine-dining Italian addition to Riyadh’s burgeoning culinary scene. Created by award-winning chef and restaurateur Nancy Silverton, it offers an array of LA-inspired meat specialities as well as newly crafted dishes exclusive to Riyadh.
The American-Italian restaurant, which will have candlelit tables, focuses on the art of woodfire cooking and dry curing techniques, all influenced by a Tuscan butchery and a Californian approach to “seasonal cooking”.
Best-sellers include affettati misti platters and lamb chops, although a number of seafood options will be available.
ManuH Cigar Lounge
ManuH Riyadh is a must-visit for those who enjoy premium cigars. The cigar lounge will open its doors in Via Riyadh to sit alongside its other outlets around the world, in Italy, France and the Ivory Coast.
The Riyadh outpost will also host monthly workshops and themed events.
Members can enjoy a cigar butler service and can also store their cigars in a humidifier room within the lounge, which has 200 lockers.
The dining menu, meanwhile, includes lobster, Wagyu beef sandwiches and dim sum, plus a range of drinks.
Spago by Wolfgang Puck
The flagship restaurant of internationally acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck first opened in 1982 on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Spago draws inspiration from around the world, mixing American, Asian and Italian influences. It offers a seasonal menu and has a farm-to-table philosophy.
The bestsellers are tuna tartare cones, black sea bass and Chinois chicken salad.
Ferdi
The famed and cosy Parisian spot is now at Via Riyadh, where it has an upscale and elite setting.
Ferdi was founded by husband-wife duo Alicia and Jacques Fontanier, and named after their son Ferdinand.
Ferdi melds French cuisine with South American flavours, paying homage to the owner’s Venezuelan roots.
On the menu is the restaurant's award-winning cheeseburger, as well as macaroni and cheese and beef enchiladas.
Raoul’s
New York City’s star-studded hangout is touching down at Via Riyadh, bringing its quintessential Soho dining experience to Saudi Arabia.
The two-level French bistro channels the glamour of 1970s New York with its intimate lounge area overseeing the restaurant.
Bestsellers include foie gras, steak au poivre and an Instagram-worthy oyster tower.
Les Deux Magots
Established in 1812, Les Deux Magots, meaning “two Chinese figurines”, has chosen Riyadh as the Parisian restaurant's first Middle Eastern outpost.
Here residents can enjoy signature coffee blends, traditional hot chocolate, viennoiseries, steaks and sandwiches.
Over Under
Bringing London's coffee culture and food to Riyadh is Over Under, which offers “modern coffee” with a selection of light food and a mocktail bar.
On offer are healthy toasties, chicken wraps, granola bowls and the signature spiced mascarpone and berry toast.
Cafe Elle
Elle magazine's eponymous cafe is an attractive spot for afternoon tea with friends.
On offer are a range of desserts, glazed pastries and indulgent savoury snacks, to be paired with teas and coffees.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PLUS
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UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
