The restaurants include Khana Khazana Restaurants for up market customers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam under the direct supervision of Kapoor and his group.

Addressing a press conference here, Kapoor said he had signed a 10-year franchising agreement with CSC.

Kapoor currently hosts a popular show on India's Zee TV that has been winning the Indian Television Academy's "Best Cookery Show" award each year since its inception in 2000. The show, with 700 episodes telecast non-stop for 14 years, has become the longest running TV show in any category on any channel.

Kapoor's luncheon press briefing was also attended by many catering industry leaders including CSC's Managing Director Othman Aba Hussain, CSC's managing partner Dhiaf Ullah, and CSC's Executive Manager Said Mohamed Perothayil.

"Eight Yellow Chilli restaurants, another medium-income group brand, will also be opened in the Kingdom besides the three outlets of his signature restaurant chain Khana Khazana," said Perothayil.

He pointed out that there will be two Yellow Chilli restaurants in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam each, besides one each in Makkah and Madinah. "It was our quest to offer the ultimate and the most authentic Indian cuisine in different countries of the world ... now we are opening in Saudi Arabia, we look forward to warmly welcoming you to your nearest Khana Khazana and Yellow Chilli restaurants in Saudi cities," he said.

Kapoor said he would also create new recipes to satisfy Saudis in particular and said he had created sweets and desserts without sugar for the Kingdom's burgeoning number of diabetes sufferers.

He added that the Yellow Chilli Express outlets would also have drive-through pick-up points.