Hakim Bagabas

Director of Culinary

Hakim Bagabas is a Saudi Executive Chef, Culinary Director, and F&B entrepreneur with over 11 years of experience. Originally trained as a Chemical Engineer at Newcastle University, he later pursued culinary arts at Tante Marie and Bellouet Conseil in France. As Culinary Director of Food Passion, he has developed concepts including YAZA and Brioche, and his work has earned recognition from the MICHELIN Guide, Gault&Millau, and TimeOut. Through YAZA and his wider work, Hakim has contributed to the evolution of the Saudi culinary scene, presenting Saudi flavours and traditions through a contemporary lens while combining culinary creativity, engineering precision, and commercial thinking.