Digital menu for restaurants in Saudi Arabia: the complete guide

A digital menu is your menu on the guest's own phone. They scan a QR code on the table, the menu opens in the browser, and they can read it in Arabic or English. No app to download, no paper to reprint.

This guide is for restaurant and café owners in Saudi Arabia. It covers what a digital menu should include, the local rules that touch your menu, and the simplest way to get started.

What a good digital menu does

A digital menu is more than a PDF behind a QR code. A PDF is hard to read on a phone and you still have to redo it every time something changes. A real digital menu gives you:

• Two languages, one menu. Guests switch between Arabic and English with one tap. You can add more languages for visitors too.
• Prices you can change anytime. Edit an item and every guest sees the new price straight away. The QR code on the table stays the same.
• Photos next to each dish. A clear photo helps guests decide faster.
• A "sold out" switch. When an item runs out, hide it or mark it sold out in one tap, so nobody orders what you can't serve.
• Calories and allergens shown next to each item.
• Offers and banners with a start and end date, for breakfast deals or a weekend special.

The Saudi rules that touch your menu

Before you design anything, know the rules that already apply to menus in the Kingdom. Always check the latest wording with the authority itself; this is a summary, not legal advice.

Calories on every menu, printed or digital

Since the start of 2019, restaurants and cafés in Saudi Arabia have had to show the calorie content of their food and drinks. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) rule covers table menus, menu boards, cashier desks, drive-thrus and phone and web apps, as The National reported. It applies to cafeterias, bakeries, juice shops and sweets shops as well as restaurants.

In 2025 the SFDA added more. From 1 July 2025, menus must also flag high-salt meals with a saltshaker icon, show caffeine content for drinks, and give an estimate of the physical activity needed to burn off each item's calories, according to Gulf News. The rules cover physical and digital menus and delivery platforms.

A digital menu makes this easier: you add the numbers once per item, and they appear on every guest's phone.

Prices that already include VAT

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce says displayed prices must be final and include VAT, and the amount charged must match the displayed price, as Saudi Gazette reported. So the price a guest sees on your menu should be the price they pay. If you want to check your numbers, try our free VAT calculator.

Step by step: set up your digital menu

1. Gather what you have

Your current printed menu, a photo of your menu board, or a PDF is enough. Note each item's name, a one-line description, the price and the calories.

2. Import it instead of typing it

With Restu Menu you can upload a photo or PDF of your current menu and the AI fills in the items in Arabic and English for you. Check the result, fix anything that's off, and add photos. Typing it in by hand is always an option too.

3. Write for both languages

Keep names short. In each description, say what guests care about: the main ingredients, the size, and whether it's spicy. Don't translate word for word; write how your guests actually talk. "Karak" doesn't need a long explanation in Jeddah, but a tourist may like to read "spiced tea with milk".

4. Pick a look that fits your place

Choose from 16 menu styles, from Coffee Bar and Pastel Bakery to Smokehouse, Heritage and Night Lounge. Add your own colours and logo, so the menu looks like your restaurant, not like ours.

5. Add your restaurant details

Opening hours, a map link, your social accounts and the Wi-Fi name all fit at the top of the menu. Guests stop asking the staff for the Wi-Fi password.

6. Print the QR codes

Print a QR code for each table, plus one for the door or counter. Make each code at least 3 cm wide, put it where guests look first, and add a short line such as "Scan for the menu · امسح لعرض المنيو". Want to try a code first? Use our free QR menu generator.

Going further: ordering and reviews

Once the menu is live, you can switch on more when you're ready:

• Order from the table or for pickup. Guests order from the menu, and orders arrive on a live screen for your staff, or to your WhatsApp.
• Kitchen display. Orders show on a tablet in the kitchen with a sound alert. A "pause ordering" switch helps on busy nights.
• Call waiter and request bill buttons on the table menu.
• Google reviews, the right way. After ordering, every guest sees a "Review us on Google" button. Guests who had a bad experience can also tell you privately. Google doesn't allow showing the review link only to happy guests, so we never do that.

Common questions

Do guests need an app? No. The menu opens in the phone's browser.

What if my prices change? Edit the price in your dashboard. Every guest sees it straight away and the QR code doesn't change.

Can I keep my printed menu? Yes. Many places keep a few printed copies for guests who prefer paper.

How much does it cost? You can start with a free 30-day trial of all features, no card needed. See our pricing for the plans.

Start today

A digital menu takes an afternoon to set up and saves you reprinting for years. See how the QR menu works, then start your free trial with Restu Menu.

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