I visited a McDonald's in Saudi Arabia to see how it compared to the US and UK, and can say the McArabia and Chicken Mac are a force to be reckoned with

Bill Bostock/Business Insider

• I went to check out a McDonald's while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in January.
• I was interested to see the menu, and compare it to those I've seen in the UK and US recently. 
• Here's what it was like, and how the famous McArabia went down. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I visited a McDonald's restaurant in central Riyadh in January 2020 while visiting Saudi Arabia.

I was intrigued to see how its menu is different from those in the UK and the US, especially as pork in any form isn't permitted in the country, as it's the home of Islam.

McDonald's is extremely popular in Saudi Arabia. There are 163 outlets, the first of which opened in 1993, and there's one in most malls you visit. 

Here's what it was like, and what interesting menu options haven't yet made it to the UK or US.

While on a work trip to Saudi Arabia in January 2020, I dashed into a McDonald's in a mall in Riyadh for some lunch.

I've eaten in McDonald's in the UK, where I live and work, and the US, and I wondered how the menu would differ in Saudi Arabia.

Also, back in 2017 McDonald's Saudi Arabia released an advert pledging allegiance to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he was set to become the country's new ruler, and I wanted to see if there were any MBS-themed menu items.

"We renew our allegiance and obedience for his royal highness, the servant of the two holy mosques, King Salman the son of Abdul Aziz Al Saud. We support Amir Mohammed bin Salman, his son, to become Minister of Defence and Prime Minister and to be nominated as successor," McDonald's said.

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