Global Elite Awards had the pleasure of speaking with Ali Musalam, Founder & CEO of NAVA Group, the hospitality company behind Rava Restaurant, following the restaurant’s recognition as the Leading Persian Dining Restaurant in Saudi Arabia 2026. In our conversation, Ali shared the founding vision behind Rava, the culinary philosophy that guides every dish, and the ambition of establishing a Saudi-born brand that celebrates Persian heritage while shaping the future of fine dining in the Kingdom.
A New Voice for Persian Cuisine in Saudi Arabia
Rava Restaurant was created with a very specific ambition: to move beyond the traditional perception of Persian restaurants and build a complete hospitality experience anchored in identity, design, and quality.
“Rava was created from a desire to present Persian cuisine in a way that feels both authentic and relevant to today’s Saudi dining scene. We saw an opportunity to move beyond the traditional perception of Persian restaurants and build a complete hospitality experience, one that combines distinctive identity, refined design, consistent quality, and warm service,” Ali explains.
The goal was never simply to open another restaurant, but to create a Saudi-born brand capable of honouring Persian culinary heritage while meeting the expectations of a modern, experience-driven guest.
“We wanted Rava to feel memorable from the moment guests arrive, not only through the food, but through every detail of the atmosphere and service,” Ali shares.
Dishes That Carry the Soul of Persian Dining
For the team at Rava, the essence of Persian cuisine lives in the dishes that appear simple but reveal enormous depth. Kebabs, delicate rice preparations, and slow-cooked stews sit at the heart of the menu, each shaped by patience, precision, and layered flavour.
“For me, the dishes that best represent the soul of Persian dining are the ones that balance simplicity with depth, particularly our kebabs, rice dishes, and slow-cooked stews. They reflect the patience, care, and generosity that define Persian hospitality,” Ali shares.
A well-prepared kebab may look simple, but its quality depends on the ingredients, the seasoning, the preparation, and the precision of the cooking. The same is true of Persian rice and stews, where every layer of flavour is built gradually.
“These dishes matter to me because they represent more than recipes; they represent a culture of gathering, sharing, and making guests feel genuinely welcomed. That spirit is at the heart of what we want every guest to experience at Rava,” Ali explains.
Sourcing With No Compromise
Staying faithful to a cuisine outside its home country begins long before a dish reaches the plate. At Rava, supplier selection and ingredient sourcing are treated with the same care as the cooking itself.
“Authenticity begins long before the food reaches the kitchen. At Rava, we carefully select our suppliers and source ingredients that meet our quality standards, whether locally or internationally. We never compromise on ingredients that define the character of Persian cuisine, while also respecting the expectations of our guests in Saudi Arabia,” Ali shares.
That approach is not about replicating tradition line for line. It is about protecting the soul of the cuisine while delivering the consistency, freshness, and quality a modern Saudi guest expects.
“For us, authenticity is not about copying traditions exactly as they are, it is about preserving their essence while delivering consistency, freshness, and exceptional quality in every dish we serve,” Ali explains.
Where the Experience Begins Before the First Course
A great restaurant is remembered as much for how it feels as for what it serves, and at Rava every design and service decision is calibrated to shape that feeling from the first moment.
“We believe a great restaurant is remembered by how it makes people feel, not just by what it serves. Every detail at Rava, from the architecture and interior design to the music, lighting, service, and presentation, has been carefully considered to create a warm, elegant, and memorable experience,” Ali shares.
The intention is that every guest leaves not simply satisfied, but with the sense of having lived a genuine moment, one that inspires a return visit and a story worth sharing.
“We want every guest to feel genuinely welcomed from the moment they arrive and leave with the feeling that they experienced something special, an experience that inspires them to return and share it with others,” Ali explains.
Hospitality as a Mindset, Not a Script
At Rava, the warmth of Persian tradition meets the deeply rooted generosity of Saudi culture, and the team believes true hospitality can never be rehearsed.
“At Rava, we believe hospitality is not a script, it is a mindset. We train our team to focus on genuine care, attention to detail, and making every guest feel welcomed and valued,” Ali shares.
Persian hospitality inspires much of what happens in the dining room, but the team is equally drawn to the warmth of the culture that surrounds them.
“While Persian hospitality inspires us, we also embrace the warmth and generosity that are deeply rooted in Saudi culture. Our goal is for every guest to leave feeling they were treated with sincerity, respect, and generosity, not simply served a meal,” Ali explains.
Respecting Tradition Without Being Limited by It
Introducing Persian fine dining to a Saudi audience requires a delicate balance between heritage and local palate, and Rava has made that balance a defining part of its identity.
“Our philosophy has always been to respect tradition without being limited by it. We preserve the authentic techniques, flavours, and identity of Persian cuisine while ensuring the overall dining experience meets the expectations of today’s Saudi guest,” Ali shares.
The response from guests, the team notes, has been one of the most moving parts of the journey. Many arrived out of curiosity and stayed because of the consistency of what they discovered.
“What has inspired us most is how enthusiastically our guests have embraced the cuisine. Many visited out of curiosity, but they returned because of the quality, consistency, and the complete experience we offer. That trust encourages us to keep raising our standards while staying true to our identity,” Ali explains.
A Growing Ambition for Saudi-Born Persian Fine Dining
Looking ahead, Rava continues to treat every year as a chance to elevate the guest experience rather than simply expand it. New dishes, signature experiences, and refinements across service and design are all part of the ongoing evolution.
“At Rava, we see every year as an opportunity to raise the standard of the guest experience. Our focus is not only on introducing new dishes, but on continuously refining every aspect of what we do, from seasonal menu additions and signature experiences to service, design, and hospitality,” Ali shares.
The wider ambition is even greater: to establish Rava as the leading Persian dining brand in Saudi Arabia and a homegrown Saudi concept recognised across the region.
“We will continue investing in innovation while remaining true to the authenticity and values that define who we are,” Ali says.
About Ali Musalam, Founder & CEO of NAVA Group
Ali Musalam is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NAVA Group, one of Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing hospitality companies, dedicated to creating original restaurant concepts that combine authentic regional identity with world-class guest experiences. His passion for hospitality began during his university years in the United States, where he spent much of his time exploring restaurants across Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, and Chicago, less as a diner and more as a student of how memorable dining experiences are truly built.
That curiosity evolved into a lifelong journey. Over the years, Ali travelled extensively across Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland, studying operations, customer journeys, kitchen efficiency, interior design, branding, and service culture in some of the most respected hospitality concepts in the world. Every destination became a classroom, and the ideas gathered along the way have gone on to shape his own hospitality philosophy.
Inspired by these experiences, Ali founded NAVA Group with a clear ambition: to create Saudi-born restaurant brands capable of competing with the very best in the Middle East and beyond. Today, the group owns and operates Rava and Bahriyat, both recognised for their distinctive identity, strong operational standards, and commitment to delivering memorable dining experiences. His leadership philosophy extends well beyond opening restaurants, focused on building sustainable brands through operational excellence, continuous innovation, talent development, and systems that allow businesses to scale without compromising quality.
Looking ahead, Ali’s vision is to establish NAVA Group as one of the Middle East’s leading hospitality companies while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing hospitality industry under Vision 2030. For Ali, hospitality is more than serving food, it is about creating experiences that people remember long after they leave the table.
Setting a New Standard for Persian Fine Dining in Saudi Arabia
Rava Restaurant’s recognition at the Global Elite Awards is a tribute to a rare kind of restaurant: one where centuries of Persian heritage are held with the same care as the modern expectations of a Saudi guest. In an industry too often defined by imitation, Rava stands as a reminder that a truly memorable restaurant is built on the coherence of every detail, from the sourcing of a single ingredient to the atmosphere that greets a guest at the door.
Discover more about Rava Restaurant and explore the experience at ravarest.com.
