Dining Napkin
Dining napkins and table runners in Saudi Arabia — the two fastest ways to dress a dining table are a proper cloth napkin at every seat and a runner down its centre. At RIS you will find the eye napkin set of four, a palm trees Egyptian linen runner at 180 × 40 cm, and coordinated placemat, napkin and ring linen sets. Build the full table with our table linens and dinnerware.
Read more
Napkins First — The Detail Every Guest Touches
Of everything on the table, the napkin is the piece every guest actually holds — which is why cloth, not paper, is the refined standard for dining at home. A generous napkin of about 40–45 cm in linen or a linen blend feels substantial, absorbs well and folds crisply. Sets of four, like the eye napkin set, build the table in even numbers: one set dresses a table of four, two sets cover eight and leave the pattern perfectly repeated at every seat.
The Runner — 180 × 40 cm and What It Fits
A runner gives a table a centre line: serving dishes, candles and the dallah all sit along it, and the wood or stone of the table stays visible on both sides. The palm trees runner is woven in Egyptian linen at 180 × 40 cm — a size made for tables of about 140–150 cm, leaving the elegant 15–25 cm overhang at each end that makes a runner look finished. On longer villa tables, let the runner sit centred with equal ends, or run two across the width as cross-runners under each pair of settings.
Rings and Simple Folding
- Napkin rings: slide a rolled or folded napkin through a ring for the neatest setting — the ring also keeps linen sets coordinated on the table.
- The flat fold: fold the napkin in thirds and lay it left of the forks, or under the side plate, for a clean modern line.
- The plate fold: a simple rectangle or triangle centred on the dinner plate — the classic guest-dinner presentation.
- Keep it simple: linen looks best in easy folds; complicated shapes fight the fabric's natural crispness.
Coordinated Linen Sets
A placemat, napkin and ring sold as one linen set removes all guesswork: every seat matches, the colours are already balanced, and the table can be dressed in minutes before guests arrive. Sets are the smart choice for a majlis dining room that hosts often, and for anyone building a table from zero. Extend the look with glassware and plates from our dining collection.
Delivery Across Saudi Arabia
RIS delivers across Saudi Arabia, with free delivery in main cities on orders of 2,500 SAR or more. Napkins and runners are folded and packed flat, and you can feel the Egyptian linen in person at our Jeddah showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose cloth dining napkins over paper?
Cloth dining napkins feel generous in the hand, absorb better through a full meal, and are reused for years, so they suit both family dinners and guests. Paper is practical for very large gatherings, but at a seated dinner a cloth napkin is the detail that makes the table feel refined. Linen napkins also fold crisply and hold a ring beautifully, which paper cannot do.
What is a table runner used for?
A table runner is a long strip of fabric, typically 30–40 cm wide, that runs down the centre of the dining table to ground serving dishes, candles and centrepieces. It dresses the table while leaving the wood or stone visible on both sides — a lighter alternative to a full tablecloth. In Saudi dining rooms it also frames the shared dishes and dallah at the centre of the table.
What table size does a 180 × 40 cm runner fit?
A 180 × 40 cm runner fits tables of about 140–150 cm best, leaving 15–25 cm of elegant overhang at each end. On a 180 cm table it will sit flush, which still works if centred carefully, though without the overhang. For longer tables, centre the runner with equal ends or use two runners across the width beneath pairs of place settings.
What is special about Egyptian linen?
Egyptian linen is woven from long-staple flax grown in the Nile Delta, giving fabric that is stronger, smoother and more absorbent than ordinary linen, with a refined natural sheen. It softens with every wash while keeping its crisp structure for folding. For napkins and runners that are washed after every dinner, that durability is exactly what a busy Saudi dining room needs.
How do I fold a dining napkin simply?
The simplest elegant fold is the rectangle: fold the napkin in half, then in thirds, and lay it left of the forks or centred on the dinner plate. A rolled napkin through a ring takes seconds and looks tailored at every seat. Avoid complicated shapes with linen — its crispness is the decoration. Whatever fold you choose, repeat it identically at every setting.
Are napkin rings necessary?
Napkin rings are not necessary, but they are the fastest way to make every setting look finished and identical, especially with rolled napkins. They also arrive as part of coordinated linen sets with placemats, so the whole seat matches without effort. On a formal majlis dining table, rings add the small metallic or crafted detail that lifts plain linen.
Is a set of four napkins enough?
A set of four napkins is enough for a table of four, but most Saudi homes that host should own two matching sets — eight napkins — so a full table of guests can be seated and a clean spare set exists. Buying both sets together guarantees the dye and weave match exactly. Extra napkins also cover the inevitable one that picks up a stubborn stain.
How do I wash and iron linen napkins and runners?
Wash linen napkins and runners in warm water with gentle detergent soon after the meal, before stains set, and avoid bleach, which weakens flax fibres. Iron them while slightly damp on a medium-high setting for the crisp finish linen is loved for. Store them flat or rolled, never tightly folded for months, to keep creases soft and the fabric fresh.
Can I use a runner without a tablecloth?
Yes — a runner on a bare table is the modern standard in Saudi dining rooms, especially over beautiful wood, marble or stone tables that deserve to be seen. The runner protects the centre strip where hot serving dishes sit, while placemats protect each setting. Add napkins and the table is fully dressed with no cloth to launder in bulk.
What is included in a placemat, napkin and ring set?
A coordinated linen set includes, for each seat, one placemat, one matching napkin and one napkin ring, all in the same fabric and colour story. It is the fastest way to dress a whole table identically, with no mixing mistakes. Sets suit majlis dining rooms and new homes building a table from scratch, and they store together in one drawer.
Do palm and eye designs suit a formal table?
Yes — a single repeated motif, such as palm trees on a runner or the eye design on napkins, reads as intentional design rather than decoration overload. Palms carry the symbol of Saudi hospitality, making them especially right for majlis dining rooms and national occasions. Keep plates and glassware plain so the motif leads, and repeat it identically at every seat.
Do you deliver napkins and runners outside Riyadh and Jeddah?
Yes, RIS delivers to all regions of Saudi Arabia, and delivery is free in main cities for orders of 2,500 SAR or more. Napkins, runners and linen sets are folded and packed flat, arriving neat and ready for a quick press. You can also feel the Egyptian linen quality in person at our Jeddah showroom before you order.
