Saudi Arabia, April 2025
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and AlBaik have announced the launch of the e-AlBaik Smart Food Tech Lab, a collaborative initiative designed to accelerate research and innovation across food systems, logistics, and sustainable delivery technologies.
Located on KAUST’s campus, the lab combines academic research with operational insights from one of the Kingdom’s most beloved fast food brands. Its mission is to explore the future of intelligent kitchens, eco-friendly packaging, food traceability, and autonomous delivery systems—including drones and robotics.
The project gained early attention by completing Saudi Arabia’s first-ever drone-delivered meal in 2024. While the moment was headline-worthy, the broader scope of the lab is focused on long-term R&D efforts that will support smarter infrastructure, cleaner energy use, and more resilient supply chains.
Commenting on the launch, Mohammed AlQurashi, Founder of Saudi FoodTech, said:
“This isn’t just about technology—it’s about transformation. The e-AlBaik Lab embodies the spirit of Saudi FoodTech: driving real-world impact through bold partnerships and visionary execution.”
The lab sets a new precedent for university-industry collaboration in Saudi Arabia. It builds on KAUST’s strength in applied science and engineering while leveraging AlBaik’s operational expertise and scale. It also reflects a shift in how innovation is delivered—not just through isolated R&D, but through integrated, commercially relevant testbeds.
For Saudi FoodTech, the initiative serves as a model for future cross-sector partnerships. It also demonstrates that food innovation isn’t limited to agriculture—it touches everything from production to delivery to packaging, and requires creative alignment between unlikely collaborators.
As the Kingdom looks to scale more such projects, the e-AlBaik Smart Food Tech Lab will be watched closely as both a symbol of what’s possible and a prototype for how the next generation of food systems could be built
