Food trucks offer a great opportunity in the restaurant and hospitality industry, both in Saudi Arabia and globally. Their popularity has surged due to lower startup costs and easier licensing compared to traditional restaurants.
According to a recent report, the global food truck market was valued at $4.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach between $5.22 billion in 2025 and $8.78 billion by 2033, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% between 2025 and 2033.
The report also found that it takes about 37 days to obtain permits for a food truck in the United States, whereas a traditional restaurant may take 3 months or more.
In Saudi Arabia, the food and beverage (F&B) market was valued at $28.8 billion in 2023, with a projected CAGR of 3.22% over the next 5 years.
Saudi Arabia’s F&B sector is thriving, with commercial registrations increasing dramatically. Registrations for F&B businesses jumped 35% to 62,510, while restaurant and food truck services rose 10% to 136,102 by the end of 2024.
If you’re planning to start a food truck business in Saudi Arabia, this article will guide you through the entire process. We’ll tackle all you need to know to successfully launch and manage your food truck venture.
Why is a food truck a successful business option?
Food trucks have become a popular choice due to the rising demand for high-quality fast food in the last 10 years. According to the Grand View Research study, consumers aged 16 to 34 increasingly prefer food trucks over traditional restaurants.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are attracted to food trucks for several reasons, including:
- Lower operating costs without expensive rents or leases
- Flexibility to move to strategic locations
- High demand for fast food
- Access to a large consumer base
- Simplified licensing
- Government and private support (e.g. loans and initiatives for small businesses by the Saudi government)
Initial Preparations for Food Trucks
To start a food truck, you’ll need to gather the necessary documents and submit them to your local authority for licensing. Ensure compliance with all local laws and regulations related to the food industry and designated vehicles for food trucks.
First: Legal Requirements and Licenses
In Saudi Arabia, to obtain a food truck license, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Log in to the Unified Access Portal via the National Platform GOV.SA
- Select “Professional License Services” and then “Mobile Vehicle License Services.”
- Choose the “Mobile Vehicle License Issuance Service.”
- Select your municipality and secretariat.
- Submit the application, enter vehicle data, and select the appropriate pathway.
- Upload the required documents and send the application.
For more information, refer to the health requirements for food trucks from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs here. (Please note the document is only available in Arabic).
Second: Food truck design
Your food truck needs careful design and preparation. Consider the minute details of designing your food truck and how you’ll use it to attract your target audience, especially teens.
To design an enticing food truck, you’ll need to follow these steps.
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Identify market needs
To succeed with a food truck business, you need to analyze the market and your competitors to identify strengths, weaknesses, and customer demand. Key areas to focus on include:
Competitor analysis: Look at what your competitors are offering. What types of food do they offer? Note their strengths and weaknesses, their pricing, quality, and variety. Consider where your competitors are located. Are they located close to parks, gardens, or business districts? These are all areas that can boost revenue potential.
Understanding customer needs: Identify local preferences for fast food, healthy options, and beverages. You’ll need to define your target audience, such as teens and youth, families, and employees in business areas…etc.
Selecting a strategic location: Look for high-traffic areas, like shopping malls or densely populated neighborhoods, to maximize customer exposure.
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Planning and design
Choose a logo and colors that represent your brand. Your food truck’s exterior design should be modern, trendy, and attractive to customers.
For the interior, create a comfortable layout for easy movement, with designated areas for cooking, packaging, food storage, and a cashier’s space.
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Essential requirements and equipment
Equip your food truck with essential kitchen tools like ovens, refrigerators, and a basin for washing utensils. Choose high-quality equipment that meets health and safety standards. Use an efficient storage system to prevent food spoilage and use technology to minimize waste.
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Manufacturing and installation
After finalizing your food truck design and contents, it’s time to put the plan in action. You’ll need to work with a company that specializes in setting up food trucks, which will install an integrated electrical and water system, ventilation, and lighting.
External decorations and signage are also important for showcasing your brand identity.
Food truck menu prep and inventory management
Before launching your advertising campaigns, it’s important to define your target audience.
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Determine the type of food offered
Choose a food type you’ll offer through your food truck. You can choose anything like Chinese fast food, Thai cuisine, or sandwiches. Alternatively, you can decide to offer various beverages and ice cream.
This step helps you identify your target age group and increases your project’s success.
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Design your menu
Create an appealing menu with diverse options to cater to customer needs. You can offer seasonal items, dishes, or beverages to boost seasonal sales.
Set reasonable prices that cover labor costs and ingredients, while ensuring a profit margin.
Further reading: 8 Innovative Menu Ideas That Help You Drive Sales
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Inventory management
Effective inventory management is key to your food truck’s success. It affects your sales and helps you identify your most in-demand dishes.
Proper inventory management ensures enough stock during peak times, reduces waste, and boosts profits.
It’s worth mentioning that inventory management doesn’t only cover food items and ingredients, but also includes detergents, packaging items, staff uniforms, among others.
Marketing and building a customer base
To build your customer base and raise awareness about your food truck, consider the following:
1. Create a brand logo
Design a simple and attractive logo that reflects your food truck’s identity.
2. Create social media accounts
Create accounts and be active on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Set up a Google My Business account to help new customers find you. Share engaging photos and videos of your food and events.
3. Create digital marketing and ad strategies
A strong restaurant marketing strategy is vital for your food truck’s success.
To attract customers, target the 16 to 34 age group and clearly mention your city or governorate in your ads.
Consider partnering with local influencers or food bloggers to promote your project effectively.
4. Use local marketing strategies
Saudi Arabia hosts many events and festivals that are great for food trucks. The Riyadh Season, the country’s largest festival, spans several weeks.
If you’re outside Riyadh, visit the Saudi General Entertainment Authority‘s website and create an account to learn about past activities and upcoming events.
If you’re not in Saudi Arabia, check local event organizers’ official websites to find important or noteworthy events you can participate in to boost your sales.
5. Build loyalty through rewards programs
Create a rewards program to attract new customers and build loyalty. Customers earn points for purchases or referrals, which they can redeem for products, meals, or discounts.
Consider offering special discounts to your most loyal customers as well.
Further reading: 6 Effective Loyalty Program Ideas for Restaurants
Efficiently operate and manage your food truck
To effectively manage your food truck, you need to:
1. Use modern point-of-sale systems
Modern point-of-sale (POS) systems enhance transaction speed and flexibility, reducing customer wait times and boosting satisfaction. They offer detailed reports on sales, peak hours, and employee performance, helping you make informed decisions to improve workflow. Proper employee training on the POS system is crucial for maintaining efficiency.
Recruitment and Training
Select experienced staff for your fast food business and food truck, including a chef, kitchen assistant, and, if necessary, a cashier. Offer ongoing training on food quality, presentation, and customer service.
Dealing with peak hours
Plan for peak times by preparing ingredients in advance and effectively distributing tasks among employees to speed up service. Peak days typically include official holidays, Eid, and weekends.
In Saudi Arabia, Thursday evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays are busy, while in the UAE, Europe, and the United States, peak days are Saturday and Sunday, with Friday evenings often being busy as well.
Conclusion
Starting a food truck is a great choice for entrepreneurs because of its low startup costs and high profitability. Before launching your food truck, be sure to follow local licensing requirements and research your business plan and competitors.
With Foodics, you can easily manage many of your food truck’s operations. Our point-of-sale system streamlines payments, while our inventory management software helps you keep track of your supplies.
To enhance your business, use Foodics Online to create a website or app that offers a loyalty program. Explore the Foodics Marketplace for innovative tools to run your business efficiently.
Start your food truck journey with Foodics today—get your free consultation now!
