In May, a group of at least 50 youths in Riyadh started the first such event and called it , or #twtrlunchR for short.

“I coordinated with my Twitter friend Fahad Al-Barak to get everyone online in our Twitter group, to meet up for a lunch meal, and to socialize. This event was meant to get tweeters behind the screen to see and meet each other in person at one time and one place,” said 16-year-old Abdulrahman Al-Rahama, #twtrlunchR coordinator.

Around 50 or more people showed up at local restaurant in the capital, to dine, socialize, and finally get the chance to see the faces behind Twitter user accounts.

A similar event was successfully held in the Eastern Province as well. Al-Rahama, who also goes by the Twitter name @SmokyAbdulrahman, told Arab News on Tuesday: “On Twitter, you find many people of whom you build an online friendship with.

These friendships are based on similar interests, work, and ideas, however beside meeting online, in reality no one actually gets the chance to meet in person.”

On the #twtrlunchR YouTube video, everyone seemed happy to finally have the chance to see each other.

“This event was great,” said @ibrahemsu, another guest. @AliAlbdullatif added. “The food was great.” “We now had the chance to meet our Twitter friends and followers who we normally follow and read their tweets and comments, and now we see them in reality!” another guest said. Several tweeters wondered whether a similar event will be hosted somewhere near them.

“We will definitely try doing this event again. Saudi youths are creative, and can come up with more and more creative and innovative ideas,” said Al-Rahama.