The two-week festival, sponsored by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in collaboration with the Tourism Promotion Council of the Riyadh Province, was opened Thursday. A number of diplomatic missions are participating in the festival.

Visitors including diplomats of various countries tested US special dishes after the opening.

Williams said the aim of the American kitchen was to familiarize Saudi visitors and tourists with US food habits. He added that the food sector was a major trade sector between the Kingdom and the United States. He added US food exports to the Kingdom reached $1.3 billion in 2011, and hoped this volume would grow this year.

The diplomat believed the food festival would promote an exchange of different cultures. It would also help visitors to get familiar with US culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a related development Greek Ambassador to the Kingdom Dimitrios Lestheosis opened the pavilion of the Greek food festival in another hotel in the presence of several visitors and businessmen. The Indian food pavilion was also opened Saturday.

There will be discount sales at the festival.

A statement posted on LinkedIn by event owner (sales and distribution coordinator at Amaken) said a number of hotels are participating with different themes.

These are: Four Seasons Hotel, Italian theme; Faisalya Hotel (Rosewood Hotels), Indonesian; Marriot Hotel, Spanish; Sheraton Hotel, Greek; Holiday Inn Hotel, Lebanese; Raddisson Blu Hotel, Morrocan; InterContinental Hotel, North African; and Helton Garden Inn, American.

The festival concludes on February 2 at midnight.