The caviar is very expensive but it is also highly nutritious and has no side effects.
Abdul Aziz Al-Juwaie, a prominent investor in this field and the owner and director of the Golden Caviar Exhibition in Riyadh, said his exhibition has made a lot of furor in the media because it only brings the most expensive types of caviar with prices going up to SR1 million per kg.
For the Rich People and Stars
The caviar is an important element in banquets. It is a proof that the host is giving much attention and care to his guests. It was monopolized by the ruling family in Russia during olden times.
According to Al-Juwaie, the caviar then was only served during victory celebrations and official events.
He pointed out that his customers were only wealthy people including senior officials, businessmen, artists and soccer players such as Faiz Al-Malki, Nawwaf Al-Timyat and others. He said he only brings to Riyadh the best and rarest kinds of the caviar that is known as the "diamond". He explained that this kind of caviar is only imported under request.
"I was surprised at the start of my business by visits from personalities who were not usually seen in public places," he said adding that his list of clients is distinctive and is a source of pride to him.
Al-Juwaie said his beginning was not at all easy but rather painful, bitter and exhausting. "However, we were finally able to gain the confidence of the customers but this was made possible by patience, high quality and close follow up," he said.
He said they have reached a point to serve customers even when they are outside the Kingdom. "The customer may determine his budget and we will choose the suitable brand and send it to him wherever he may be," he said.
"Tough the caviar is the food of the rich people because of its high prices, we sometimes reduce its prices for the sick people who take it as medicine," Al-Juwaie said.
Al-Juwaie said his success was not yet complete as his ultimate goal was to control the entire caviar market. "I am now trying to buy some caviar farms to use for the manufacture of cosmetics, oils and fine leather," he said. He added that the caviar is fundamental for the make up of the female artists, models and celebrities.
According to him, the caviar will give freshness to the face and treat wrinkles. "The evidence of this is that the Hollywood stars use caviar before they appear in important occasions such as the Oscars," he said.
Al-Juwaie made it clear that his end goal was to spread in all the regions of the Kingdom, the GCC countries and finally the entire world.
He said the cultivated caviar, which is grown outside the Caspian Sea, is 100 percent natural and cannot be compared to the artificial one.
Al-Juwaie said the black caviar is used by wealthy people as appetizers and added that he brings to Riyadh one of the rarest species of the caviar.
He said the culture of caviar eating is not widely spread in the Kingdom as many people do not know the basics of doing so. "The caviar is taken by a special spoon made of marble or bone which may cost up to SR110. The eggs must go directly to the mouth of the consumer without being touched so as not to lose its nutritious value," he said.
Al-Juwaie warned against taking artificial caviar and said it has a very repulsive smell.
He said the meat of the acipenseridae fish of which the caviar is made, is one of the best species of fish which has is highly nutrient. "It makes the best sea food when served with caviar," he added.
Al-Juwaie warned against buying the caviar from unknown places which may not have good storage facilities.
• The Golden Caviar was established in 2007
• Golden Caviar is always served at official government events
• The prominent tasters of the Golden Caviar included US President Barack Obama during his visit to the Kingdom in 2009
• The Golden Caviar is considered the first Exhibition in the Middle East specialized in selling caviar
• It is the first Exhibition in the world specializing in preparing caviar for festivals and events suiting various tastes
