Sumaia Showail: The Woman Who Brought Bread to Life in Saudi Arabia

In the heart of Jeddah’s creative district, Hayy Jameel, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Not in art galleries or startup hubs, but in a warm, flour-dusted kitchen. Here, Sumaia Showail is teaching Saudis how to bake bread and, in the process, how to reconnect with tradition, patience, and purpose.

What began as a personal passion has become the Kingdom’s first artisan bread academy, a place where technique meets philosophy. For Sumaia, bread isn’t just food. It’s a metaphor for growth. “Baking teaches you how to wait, how to fail, and how to begin again,” she says. In a country racing toward innovation, her work offers something equally vital: the craft of slowing down and making with intention.

From Bake a Wish to a Bigger Dream

Before she became a mentor and leader in Saudi Arabia’s culinary movement, Sumaia began her journey with a simple dream to bake with purpose. Her first venture, Bake a Wish, based in Jeddah, was born from her passion for pastry and the desire to share joy through sweetness. What started as a small home-based project soon became a thriving brand, celebrated for its artistry and heart.

Yet even as Bake a Wish grew, Sumaia sensed that her true mission was something greater. She wanted to build a community where people could learn, grow, and create together. This vision led to the birth of Aysh Academy, a space that blends education, creativity, and sustainability under one roof.

Aysh Academy Where Bread Means Life

At the heart of Jeddah’s cultural hub, Hayy Jameel, stands Aysh Academy the Kingdom’s first dedicated baking academy. Its name, Aysh (عيش), carries a dual meaning in Arabic: it means both to live and bread. The choice was intentional, reflecting Sumaia’s belief that food and life are inseparable.

Inside, students mix, knead, and shape their dreams into form. The academy’s philosophy is rooted in three elements: craft, connection, and consciousness. It’s not just a kitchen, but a movement. Every session is infused with stories, cultural reflection, and conversations about sustainability. Sumaia teaches her students that bread is a universal language, one that can connect people across borders and beliefs.

A Global Ethos Slow Food and Sustainability

Aysh Academy isn’t just a local institution; it is part of a global movement. In late 2024, the academy welcomed the Slow Food International team to Jeddah, celebrating a shared mission of promoting fairness, respect, and sustainability in food systems.

In a heartfelt post, Sumaia and her team wrote:

“Our heartfelt thanks to the Slow Food team for their visit and support. Your passion for sustainable and ethical food systems inspires us deeply. Together, we’re growing a future where food is not only about nourishment, but also about fairness and respect for the planet.”

This collaboration underscored Aysh Academy’s role in shaping not only culinary talent but also social responsibility. It became a platform for education that encourages students to think critically about where ingredients come from, how communities are nourished, and what ethical cooking truly means. Through partnerships with Azka Farms, Ihyaa Social, and other local initiatives, Aysh Academy is redefining what food education looks like in Saudi Arabia.

Breaking Bread with the World

Sumaia Showail is often described as a woman whose calm demeanor hides a fierce determination. She moves through the world with sophistication and grace in every step she takes is guided by purpose, a quiet strength that defines both her character and her craft.

Through Aysh Academy, Sumaia is not only training bakers but cultivating ambassadors of Saudi creativity. Each student who graduates carries forward a piece of her philosophy, that to create something beautiful, you must first understand its soul. Her work aligns perfectly with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of developing creative industries and empowering women across sectors.

Teaching with Heart

Sumaia's teaching isn’t about perfection but progress. Each class is a lesson in patience, empathy, and collaboration. She believes that baking can heal, that it can restore a sense of mindfulness in an age of constant speed. For her, flour and water are not just ingredients they are metaphors for how life blends strength and softness. Every student who steps into her kitchen leaves with more than just recipes. They leave with a renewed understanding of themselves.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”— Sumaia Showail

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The Woman Behind the Apron

Away from the academy, Sumaia’s world remains full of reflection and quiet gratitude. In one post from Turin, Italy a city known for its culinary heritage she wrote:

“Whatever life gives or takes, I remain thankful. I’m grateful for beauty and for those I love. I’m grateful for the good days and for lessons learned on the hard ones.”— Sumaia Showail

It’s in this balance of strength and softness that Sumaia’s true character shines. She draws inspiration from global traditions but grounds her philosophy in Saudi values family, community, and generosity. Her travels, reflections, and collaborations are all threads that weave into a single vision: to make Saudi Arabia not just a consumer of culinary excellence, but a creator of it.

A Generation Rising

The graduates of Aysh Academy are now spreading across the Kingdom, opening cafes, joining hotels, and teaching others. They carry forward Sumaia’s mission to bake with consciousness, to build with care. Many have gone on to collaborate with local brands, contributing to the growing ecosystem of Saudi food culture.

Through her leadership, Sumaia has created an ecosystem where learning, business, and sustainability intersect. Her work mirrors the creative economy vision of Saudi Arabia’s future: one where culture, innovation, and purpose blend seamlessly.

Bread as a Symbol of Life

For Sumaia, bread is more than food. It is a mirror of life rising with effort, nourishing those who share it, and reminding everyone of their connection to the earth and to one another. She often says that every recipe tells a story, not just of ingredients but of people, cultures, and values.

Her journey from a small bakery to founding a national academy reflects the evolution of Saudi Arabia itself: creative, confident, and connected to its roots. At Aysh Academy, strangers become a cohort, then a community. Bread leaves the room, but what lingers is the habit of attention. That is Sumaia’s true signature: turning technique into a way of seeing and a way of living together.

Follow Founder’s Tale for more stories of the visionaries shaping Saudi Arabia’s future.