Coordinates: 24°42′42″N 46°43′27″E / 24.71167, 46.72417

City of Riyadh
A part of King Fahd Road
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname: Riyadh
Location of Riyadh
Coordinates: 24°38′N 46°43′E / 24.633, 46.717
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Riyadh Province
Established	Unknown
Capital of Second Saudi State	1824-1891
Capital of Saudi Arabia	1902, 1932 (officially)
Government
- Mayor	Abdul Aziz ibn 'Ayyaf Al Migrin
- Provincial Governor	Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz
Area
- Urban	1,000 km² (386. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The flag of Saudi Arabia is the flag used by the government of Saudi Arabia since March 15, 1973. The Saudi Arabian Coat of arms ( شعار السعودية) was adopted in 1950 A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 emirates ( manatiq idāriyya, singular – Mintaqah idariyya,) Riyadh Province ʔɑrːijɑːdˁ( Arabic: منطقة الرياض, Mantiqat ar-Riyadh) is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the The Second Saudi State refers to the period in the 19th century when the rule of the House of Saud was restored to central and eastern Arabia after having previously Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al-Miqrin has been the Mayor of the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, since 1998 Fahd bin Salman Ahmed bin Salman Sultan bin Salman Faisal bin Salman Abd al-Aziz bin Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 1 sq mi)
- Metro	1,554 km² (600 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- City	4,700,000
- Density	2,921/km² (1,826/sq mi)
- Urban	4,853,912
- Metro	5,188,000
	Riyadh Development Authority estimate
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
- Summer (DST)	EAT (UTC+3)
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code(s)	+966-1
Website: www.arriyadh.com

Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض‎ Ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. UTC+3 is used in the following locations Moscow Time Eastern European Summer Time West Asian Summer Time Daylight saving time ( DST East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. UTC+3 is used in the following locations Moscow Time Eastern European Summer Time West Asian Summer Time A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. Riyadh Province ʔɑrːijɑːdˁ( Arabic: منطقة الرياض, Mantiqat ar-Riyadh) is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the Nejd or Najd (literally "highland" نجد) is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula. al-Yamama ( اليمامة, lit " Dove " is an ancient district covering the eastern section of the plateau of Nejd in modern-day Saudi Arabia It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to over 4,260,000^[1] people. The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab)

The city is divided into 15 municipal districts, managed by Riyadh Municipality headed by the mayor of Riyadh, and the Riyadh Development Authority, chaired by Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz. Riyadh Province ʔɑrːijɑːdˁ( Arabic: منطقة الرياض, Mantiqat ar-Riyadh) is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the Fahd bin Salman Ahmed bin Salman Sultan bin Salman Faisal bin Salman Abd al-Aziz bin

The current mayor of Riyadh is Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al Migrin, appointed in 1998. Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al-Miqrin has been the Mayor of the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, since 1998 Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)

Contents 1 Name 2 History 2.1 Early History 2.2 The three Saudi States 3 Geography 3.1 Population 3.2 Climate 3.3 City districts 4 Landmarks 4.1 Old Riyadh 4.2 Landmarks 4.3 Embassies 5 Economy 5.1 King Fahd Road 5.2 The Industrial City 6 Demographic 7 Education 8 Culture 8.1 Religious significance 8.2 Cuisine 8.3 Media 8.4 Sport 8.5 Accent 9 Transportation 9.1 Airports 9.2 Highways 9.3 Railway 9.4 Public transport 10 Sister Cities 11 See also 12 Notes and References 13 External links

Name

The name Riyadh is derived from the plural of the Arabic word rawdha, which means "garden," particularly those formed in the desert after the spring rains. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Riyadh has for more than 1500 years been a fertile area set in the heartland of the Arabian Peninsula. ^[2] The settlement was historically famous for its Palm Trees and Dates and Orchards. The Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, extensively cultivated for its edible Fruit. An orchard is an intentional planting of Trees or Shrubs maintained for Food production. The modern name was first applied to only certain parts of the settlement where orchards predominated. Gradually the name was used for the entire settlement.

History

Early History

During the Pre-Islamic era, the settlement at the site was called Hajr (Arabic: حجر‎), And was reportedly founded by the tribe of Banu Hanifa. The history of Pre- Islamic Arabia before the rise of Islam in the 630s is not known in great detail Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Banu Hanifa ( بنو حنيفة) were an ancient Arab tribe inhabiting the area of Al-Yamama in the central region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. ^[3] Hajr served as the capital of the province of Al Yamamah, Whose governors were responsible for most of central and eastern Arabia during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras. al-Yamama ( اليمامة, lit " Dove " is an ancient district covering the eastern section of the plateau of Nejd in modern-day Saudi Arabia The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab) Al-Yamamah broke away from the Abbasid Empire in 866 and the area fell under the rule of the Ukhaydhirites, who moved the capital from Hajr to nearby Al Kharj. Events By Place Asia Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship Banu Ukhaidhir ( بنو الأخيضر) established a kingdom in Al-Yamamah (central Arabia) in 866 C Al-Kharj ( الخرج) is a city and governorate in Riyadh Province in central Saudi Arabia. The city then went into a long period of decline. In the 14th century North African traveller Ibn Battuta wrote of his visit to Hajr, describing it as "the main city of Al-Yamamah, and its name is Hajr". North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta (أبو عبد الله محمد ابن عبد الله اللواتي الطنجي بن بطوطة (born February Ibn Battuta goes on to describe it as a city of canals and trees with most of its inhabitants belongs to Bani Hanifa, and reports that he continued on with their leader to Mecca to perform the Hajj. Banu Hanifa ( بنو حنيفة) were an ancient Arab tribe inhabiting the area of Al-Yamama in the central region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world

Later on, Hajr broke up into several separate settlements and estates. The most notable of these were Migrin (or Muqrin) and Mi'kal, though the name Hajr continued to appear in local folk poetry. The earliest known reference to the area by the name Riyadh comes from a 17th-century chronicler reporting on an event from the year 1590. ^[4]

In 1737, Deham ibn Dawwas, a refugee from neighboring Manfuha, took control of Riyadh. Year 1737 ( MDCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Manfuha ( منفوحة) was an ancient village in the Nejd region of central Saudi Arabia. Ibn Dawwas built a single wall to encircle the various quarters of Riyadh, making them effectively a single town.

The three Saudi States

In 1744, Muhammad ibn Abdel Wahhab formed an alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud, The ruler of the nearby town of Diriyah. Year 1744 ( MDCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab at-Tamimi' (1703&ndash1792 ( Arabic: محمد بن عبد الوهاب التميمي)was an Islamic scholar born in Abdul Aziz Faysal Saud Ali Abdallah "Imam" Muhammad ibn Saud Al-Diriyah ( الدرعية; also spelled Ad-Dir'iyah, Ad-Dar'iyah or Dir'aiyah) is a town in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern Ibn Saud then set out to conquer the surrounding region with the goal of bringing it under the rule of a single Islamic state. Ibn Dawwas of Riyadh led the most determined resistance, Allied with forces from Al Kharj, Al Ahsa, And the Banu Yam clan of Najran. Al-Kharj ( الخرج) is a city and governorate in Riyadh Province in central Saudi Arabia. Banu Yam ( بنو يام) are a large tribe native to Najran Province in Saudi Arabia, and are the principal tribe of that area Najran (formerly Aba as Sa'ud) (نجران is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the frontier with Yemen.

However, Ibn Dawwas fled and Riyadh capitulated to the Saudis in 1774. Ending long years of wars. and declaring the First Saudi State. The First Saudi State was established in the year 1744 (1157 A

The First Saudi State was destroyed by forces sent by Muhammad Ali of Egypt, acting on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. The First Saudi State was established in the year 1744 (1157 A This article is about the leader of Egypt For other people named Muhammad Ali or Mehmet Ali see Muhammad Ali (disambiguation and Mehemet Ali (disambiguation The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Ottoman forces razed the Saudi capital Diriyah in 1818. Al-Diriyah ( الدرعية; also spelled Ad-Dir'iyah, Ad-Dar'iyah or Dir'aiyah) is a town in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common In 1823, Turki ibn Abdallah, the founder of the Second Saudi State, revived the state and chose Riyadh as the new capital. Year 1823 ( MDCCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Fahd ibn Turki Jiluwi ibn Turki Faisal ibn Turki Abdallah bin Turki Turki ibn Abdullah ( ترکي بن عبدالله The Second Saudi State refers to the period in the 19th century when the rule of the House of Saud was restored to central and eastern Arabia after having previously

Internecine struggles between Turki's grandsons led to the fall of the Second Saudi State in 1891 at the hand of the rival Al Rashid clan, who ruled from the northern city of Ha'il. The Second Saudi State refers to the period in the 19th century when the rule of the House of Saud was restored to central and eastern Arabia after having previously Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The House of Rashid ( ar آل رشيد) were a historic dynasty of the Arabian Peninsula, and the most formidable enemies of the House of Saud Ha'il (also spelled Hail, Ha'yel, or Hayil Arabic: حائل is an Oasis city in Nejd in northwestern Saudi Arabia Riyadh itself fell under the rule of Al Rashid in 1865. The House of Rashid ( ar آل رشيد) were a historic dynasty of the Arabian Peninsula, and the most formidable enemies of the House of Saud Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The al-Masmak fort dates from this period. The Masmak (Qasr al-Masmak قصر المصمك is a clay and mud-brick fort with four watch towers and thick walls founded on stone blocks lying in the center of Riyadh,

The city was recaptured in 1902 by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud from the Al Rashid family. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting King Saud King Faisal Mohammed King Khaled Nasr Saad The House of Rashid ( ar آل رشيد) were a historic dynasty of the Arabian Peninsula, and the most formidable enemies of the House of Saud He went on to establish the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, with Riyadh the capital of the nation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar.

Geography

Population

The city has experienced very high rates of population growth, which is indicated by the poor quality of development since the 1970s. In the 1960s, its population was 50,000. According to most recent sources, today it is home to over 4. 5 million inhabitants.

Year	Population
1862	7,500
1935	30,000
1960	150,000
1970	370,000
1972	500,000
1974	650,000
1988	1,500,000
1990	2,000,000
1997	2,800,000
2008	5,100,000

Climate

Summer temperatures are very hot, frequently exceeding 45 °C (113 °F). Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Winters are mild with cool nights. Although the city is located in a highly arid area, It receives some rainfall. In general terms the Climate of a local or region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available Water, to the extent of hindering Hail occasionally falls in Riyadh during winters. Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones

Riyadh Climatological Data[5]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec		Year
Record high °C	30	33	38	40	43	45	45	44	44	38	34	31
Average high °C	21	23	28	32	38	42	42	42	39	34	29	21		33
Record low °C	-7	-2	1	2	15	19	19	17	17	10	2	0
Average low °C	8	9	13	18	22	25	26	24	22	16	13	9		17
Rainfall mm	3	20	21	22	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		76

City districts

Riyadh is divided into 15 municipalities, in addition to the Diplomatic Quarter, while on its northwestern outskirts lay the ruins of the former Saudi capital of Diriyah. A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Al-Diriyah ( الدرعية; also spelled Ad-Dir'iyah, Ad-Dar'iyah or Dir'aiyah) is a town in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern Each municipal district contributes in its own way to the character of the city.

The bustling Olaya District is the commercial heart of the city. Olaya District (in Arabic: العليا is a growing financial district This commercial and residential district offers accommodation, entertainment, dining and shopping options. The Kingdom Center, Al Faisalyah and Al-Tahlya Street are the area's most prominent landmarks. Gallery The Al Faisaliyah Center (or Al Faisaliah Center, برج الفيصلية was the first Skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and the second tallest

The Diplomatic Quarter, or DQ as it is popularly known, is home to foreign embassies and international organizations as well as residential structures and malls. With lush gardens and numerous sports facilities, it is also one of the city's greenest areas. It is especially known for its fine architecture, and is considered a model for other Islamic cities around the world. Despite its name, the Diplomatic Quarter offers no special privileges. All Saudi laws must be obeyed and there are occasional patrols by the Mutaween, or Saudi religious police. The Mutaween (مطوعين muṭawiʿiyn; variant English spellings mutawwain muttawa mutawallees mutawa’ah mutawi’ mutawwa' means "volunteer" in Arabic

The centre of the city, Al-Bathaa and Al-Dirah, is also its oldest part. Al-Bathaa is a district in downtown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and one of the oldest sections of the city At its heart lies the 19th-century Al Masmak fort, which is one of the city's major attractions; to the west lies the Riyadh Museum of History and Archeology and the Murabba' Palace, an old residence of first Saudi king, Ibn Saud, now a museum. The Masmak (Qasr al-Masmak قصر المصمك is a clay and mud-brick fort with four watch towers and thick walls founded on stone blocks lying in the center of Riyadh, King Saud King Faisal Mohammed King Khaled Nasr Saad ^[6] The Qasr Al-Hukm, or Palace of Justice, is nearby. It is here that the Governor of Riyadh Province meets citizens, listens to their grievances and problems, and stays abreast of all aspects of the region's life. Riyadh Province ʔɑrːijɑːdˁ( Arabic: منطقة الرياض, Mantiqat ar-Riyadh) is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the The Al-Dira area also contains commercial markets and traditional buildings, such as the Al-Mu'eiqilia market and the city's Grand Mosque.

Landmarks

Old Riyadh

The old town includes Diriyah, King Abdulaziz district, Wadi Laban and many other historical villages which became a part of the city. Al-Diriyah ( الدرعية; also spelled Ad-Dir'iyah, Ad-Dar'iyah or Dir'aiyah) is a town in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern It had a lot of amazing traditional multistory buildings, but lost ground to more modern development and giant business projects. However, the city's recent generations have come to appreciate its traditions more and have persevered in having many of the older buildings carefully preserved. Some of these structures are Al Masmak Castle and Qasr Al Hokom. The Masmak (Qasr al-Masmak قصر المصمك is a clay and mud-brick fort with four watch towers and thick walls founded on stone blocks lying in the center of Riyadh,

Landmarks

Burj Al Mamlakah

Main article: Kingdom Centre

Kingdom Tower (Arabic: برج المملكة‎) in Riyadh is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia. Gallery With a height of 302 m (992 ft), it is the 37th tallest building in the world. The tower is built on area of 94,230 square meters of land, while the whole center is built on a total area of 300,000 square meters. The tower is host to the highest mosque in the world. ^[7]

The Kingdom Center is owned by Al-Waleed bin Talal, a prince of the Saudi royal family. Khaled bin al-Walid Reem bint al-Walid It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company. Kingdom Holding Company ( Arabic: شركة المملكة القابضة is a public Holding company, incorporated in Saudi Arabia, and is the largest The total cost of the project was 1. 717 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was taken by Saudi Arabian El Saif and the Italian Impregilo S. p. A. Kingdom Center is situated in Al-Urubah Road between King Fahd Road and Olaya Street in the growing business district of Al-Olaya in Riyadh. Kingdom Center was the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award, selected as the "best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality". The Emporis Skyscraper Award is an award for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors.

Burj Al Faisaliyah

Main article: Al Faisaliyah Center

Al Faisaliyah Center (Arabic: برج الفيصلية‎) was the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and the second tallest building in the country after the Kingdom Center. The Al Faisaliyah Center (or Al Faisaliah Center, برج الفيصلية was the first Skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and the second tallest Gallery The golden ball that lies atop the tower is said to be inspired by a ballpoint pen. Inside the ball is a restaurant, immediately below it an outside viewing deck at ground level, there is a shopping center with major world brands.

Burj Al Anoud Al Anoud tower is a major commercial building on King Fahd road, with a height of 145 m. There is plans to build another similar tower beside the current tower with the same name. The tower is owned by Princess Al-Anoud and moderated by several Saudi Arabian companies.

Riyadh TV Tower

Main article: Riyadh TV Tower

The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 metre high television tower with an observation deck at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 metre high television tower with an observation deck at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tower was built between 1978 and 1981.

Ministry of Interior Building

The main building of Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia which is located in Riyadh, Can be considered as one of Riyadh most beautiful landmarks with its unique design.

Al Masmak Castle

Main article: Masmak Castle

This castle was built around 1865 under the reign of Mohammed ibn Abdullah ibn Rasheed (1289-1315 AH), the ruler of Ha'il to the north, who had wrested control of the city from the rival clan of Al Saud. The Masmak (Qasr al-Masmak قصر المصمك is a clay and mud-brick fort with four watch towers and thick walls founded on stone blocks lying in the center of Riyadh, Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The House of Rashid ( ar آل رشيد) were a historic dynasty of the Arabian Peninsula, and the most formidable enemies of the House of Saud Ha'il (also spelled Hail, Ha'yel, or Hayil Arabic: حائل is an Oasis city in Nejd in northwestern Saudi Arabia The House of Saud ( Arabic: آل سعود romanized Āl Suʿūd is the Royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In January 1902 Ibn Saud, who was at the time living in exile in Kuwait succeeded in capturing the Masmak fortress from its Rashid garrison. Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting King Saud King Faisal Mohammed King Khaled Nasr Saad The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed The event, which restored Al Saud control over Riyadh, has acquired almost mythical status in the history of Saudi Arabia and has been retold many times, but has as its central theme the heroism and bravery of the future King Abd Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.

Embassies

Riyadh hosts 50 embassies , 32 embassies belong to the states of the Arab League. The Arab League ( الجامعة العربية) officially called the League of Arab States ( جامعة الدول العربية Along with embassies of Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially Brunei Darussalam, (bruːˈnaɪ in English officially the State of Brunei Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam Jawi: برني دارالسلام Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Niger ( or /ˈnaɪdʒɚ/) officially the Republic of Niger, is a Landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Singapore South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Economy

Once a small walled city, Riyadh has developed into a dynamic metropolis over the years. A metropolis (from the Greek μήτηρ mētēr meaning 'mother' and πόλις pólis meaning 'city/town' is a big City, in most cases with Along with the urban areas of Dhahran, Dammam and Khobar, Riyadh has become a focal point for both travel and trade. This article is about Dhahran the city For the Saudi Aramco residential compound see Dhahran Aramco Camp. Dammam (Also Ad Dammām) (الدمام is the Capital of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. Khobar (also written al-Khobar or al-Khubar; Arabic: الخبر) is a large city located in the

In addition to being the center of power, the city is also a commercial hub. Numerous educational, financial, agricultural, cultural, technical, and social organizations have set up base here. The architecture is mostly modern, including contemporary high-rise towers, but the Al-Dira district, the nucleus of the city, has been rebuilt in a style meant to evoke the old mud-brick buildings of pre-20th century Nejd. Nejd or Najd (literally "highland" نجد) is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.

Since beginning of oil exploration in Saudi Arabia until nowadays, the government is attempting to promote growth in the private sector by privatizing industries such as power and telecommunications. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Saudi Arabia announced plans for privatizing the electricity companies. A lot of these new private conglomerates and companies headquarters are located in Riyadh, along with National Banks headquarters. A conglomerate is a large Company that consists of seemingly unrelated Business sections Generally a company is a form of Business organization. The precise definition varies Because of that, Riyadh can be considered as one of biggest business cities in the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.

King Khalid International Airport, has a major impact on the commercial movement in Riyadh, Providing Air-Transportation for millions of people across a year. King Khalid International Airport ( Arabic: مطار الملك خالد الدولي) is located 35 kilometers (about 21 And shipping goods to the city from all continents.

King Fahd Road

King Fahd road is the wealthiest business place in Riyadh, Headquarters of major companies and organizations are located on the road's both sides. Huge malls, business towers and skyscrapers are widely distributed on this road.

The northern end reaches the Airport over another highway. According to many opinions, King Fahd Road is the most beautiful street in Saudi Arabia. Which gives the road a tourism value also.

Famous landmarks such as Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliyah Center, Al Anoud Tower and the Ministry of Interior building are also located in King Fahd Road. Gallery The Al Faisaliyah Center (or Al Faisaliah Center, برج الفيصلية was the first Skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and the second tallest

The Industrial City

The Industrial areas are located on the East and the North-East of the city, Including some of world largest factories of oil-related industry, high-tech, low-tech and agriculture. The headquarter of Aramco, The world largest oil company is located in Riyadh. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia, is the largest oil corporation in the world and the world's largest in terms of proven crude Electricity and water-treatments plants supply the city with the needed energy and water, which also reach the nearby towns.

Demographic

As a capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has received millions of visitors of different backgrounds from all over the country. The population of Riyadh includes 66% of Saudis along with 34% of foreigners ^[8] from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, many of whom remained and became residents of the city. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south

Education

Riyadh is home to two public universities and several private universities and colleges.

Universities:

• King Saud University
• Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University
• Prince Sultan University
• Arab Open University
• Al-Faisal University
• King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

Colleges:

• Al Yamamah College
• Riyadh College of Dentistry and Pharmacy
• King Faisal College of Aviation - responsible for training the officer corps of the Royal Saudi Air Force. General Information King Saud University (جامعة الملك سعود is Saudi Arabia 's oldest and most prestigious University, located in the capital Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University ( Arabic: جامعة الإمام محمد بن سعود الإسلامية in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was Prince Sultan University (also known as Jamia'h Al-Amir Sultan in Arabic) located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a private University See also List of Open University Alumni The Royal Saudi Air Force (القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية) is the Air force branch of Saudi Arabian armed forces.
• King Khalid Military College - responsible for training the officer corps of the Saudi National Guard. The Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG also known as the White Army) is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian

Riyadh also houses the main campus of the Government's Institute of Public Administration and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency's Institute of Banking. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA established in 1952 is the central bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Culture

Religious significance

The vast majority of Riyadh residents are Sunni Muslims, with a minority of Asian and Westerner Christians. Kabsa ( كبسة) is a family of rice dishes that are served mostly in Saudi Arabia, and the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The city has over 4292 Mosques^[9]. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger The cultural environment of today's Riyadh has been influenced by a religious movement that began in central Arabia in the mid-18th century. This movement is commonly known as the Wahhabi movement. Wahhabism ( Arabic: Al-Wahhābīyya الوهابية or Wahabism is a conservative reformist call of Sunni Islam attributed to

Cuisine

Like other Saudi cities, the Nejdi Kabsa is the most traditional lunch in Riyadh. Nejd or Najd (literally "highland" نجد) is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula. Kabsa ( كبسة) is a family of rice dishes that are served mostly in Saudi Arabia, and the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The Yemeni Mandi is also popular as a lunch meal. Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya Mandi (Arabic المندي is the traditional dish in Hadhramaut, Yemen.

Fast food is also popular in the city. McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza and KFC among others are widely distributed in Riyadh. Burger King ( often abbreviated to Domino's Pizza Inc ( is an international Fast food Pizza delivery corporation headquartered just outside Ann Arbor Michigan, United States Kentucky Fried Chicken, usually known as KFC, is a chain of Fast food restaurants based in Louisville Kentucky.

Media

Riyadh is served by four major Arabic-language newspapers, Asharq Al-Awsat (which is owned by the city governor), Al-Riyadh, Al-Jazira and Al-Watan. Asharq Al-Awsat (الشرق الاوسط The Middle East) is a major Pan-Arabic Daily Newspaper, with a circulation of Al-Watan ( الوطن) is a leading Reformist newspaper in Saudi Arabia.

Television stations serving the city area include Saudi TV1, Saudi TV2, Saudi TV Sports, Al-Ekhbariya, ART channels network and hundreds of cable, satellite and other specialty television providers. Arab Radio and Television Network (Acronym ART) is an Arabic-language Television network characterized by its multitude of channels

The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 m (558 ft) high television tower with an observation deck at Riyadh. The tower started construction in 1978 and finished in 1981 and is a part of the Ministry of Information. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981

See also: Riyadh TV Tower

Sport

Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport in Riyadh. The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 metre high television tower with an observation deck at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The city hosts four major football clubs, Such as Al Shabab, which was established in 1947, holding a great record in the Saudi Premier League. Al-Shabab ( Arabic: الشباب is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Riyadh. History Up until the late seventies football in Saudi Arabia was organised on a regional basis with the only nationwide tournament being the King's Cup Al-Nasr club is another famous squad in the league, was named six times as a champion of the Saudi League, and was established in 1955. Al-Nasr (Arabic Victory النصر is one of the premier football clubs in Saudi Arabia located at the Saudi Capital (Riyadh The well-known club Al-Hilal, Which was established in 1957 conquers the league as the winner of ten championships, is the most popular team in Riyadh. Al-Hilal (الهلال is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in the country's capital of Riyadh. Also, there is Al-Riyadh club, which was established in 1954 along with many other minor clubs. Al-Riyadh (نادي الرياض السعودي is a Saudi Arabian Football club based in Riyadh that is currently playing in the First Division (second

The city also hosts several giant stadiums, such as King Fahd International Stadium with capacity of 70,000 seats. King Fahd International Stadium (أستاد الملك فهد الدولي is a multi-use Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup three times in 1992, 1995 and 1997. The FIFA Confederations Cup is an Association football tournament for national teams currently held every four years by FIFA. The 1992 King Fahd Cup tournament the first Confederations Cup, was hosted by Saudi Arabia in October 1992 The 1995 King Fahd Cup tournament was the second and last tournament held under the King Fahd Cup name before the competition was taken over by FIFA and renamed The 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup was the first Confederations Cup to be organised by FIFA. And also the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1989. The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of Association football for male players under the age of The 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Saudi Arabia between February 16 and March 3 1989.

Accent

The Riyadh city area has a distinctive regional speech pattern called the Najdi dialect. It is often considered to be one of the most recognizable accents within the Arabic language. The Najdi accent is widely spoken in the desert regions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi

See also: Najdi Arabic

Transportation

Airports

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (IATA: RUH), located 35 kilometers north, is the city's main airport. Najdi Arabic ( اللهجة النجدية) is a variety of the Arabic language spoken in the desert regions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia King Khalid International Airport ( Arabic: مطار الملك خالد الدولي) is located 35 kilometers (about 21 It's one of the four international airports in the country serving over 9 million passengers a year. An international airport is an Airport typically equipped with Customs and Immigration facilities to handle international flights to and from other

Highways

The city is served by a modern major highway system. The main Eastern Ring Road connects the city's south and north, while Northern Ring Road connects the city's east and west. King Fahd Road runs through the center of the city from north to south, in parallel with the East Ring Road. Makkah Road (also known as Khurais Road), which runs east-west across the city's center, connects eastern parts of the city with the city's main business district and the diplomatic quarters.

Railway

Saudi Railway Authority operates two separate passenger and cargo lines between Riyadh and Dammam passing through Hofuf, and Haradh. The Saudi Railway Authority was established by the government of Saudi Arabia to manage the country's Railway system Dammam (Also Ad Dammām) (الدمام is the Capital of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hofuf also Hofuf or Al-Hufuf ( الهفوف) is the major urban center in the huge Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province of Haradh is a small village located about 280 km southwest of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Two future railway projects connecting Riyadh with Jeddah and Mecca in the western region and connecting Riyadh with Buraidah, Ha'il and Northern Saudi Arabia are underway. Jeddah (also spelled Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda; جدّة Ǧiddah) is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Buraydah (Arabic burayda 'بريدة' or Buraidah is the capital of Al-Qassim Province in northcentral Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian peninsula Ha'il (also spelled Hail, Ha'yel, or Hayil Arabic: حائل is an Oasis city in Nejd in northwestern Saudi Arabia Developers are the RC corporation, wholly owned by H O’Donovan, W Daly and S Burgoyne, however, are now being built single-handedly by H O'Donovan.

Public transport

The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO), the national bus system, runs a fleet of buses that provides public transportation inside the city, and also an extending service transporting passengers to several cities across the kingdom and neighboring countries.

An electric sky train system has been approved and the first phase will be installed in King Abdullah Road, King Fahd Road and Al Olaya Road. A monorail is a transportation system based on a single beam The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system or the vehicles travelling on such a beam or It will run for 25km and will include communication services such as phones and internet. ^[10]

Sister Cities

Acapulco, Mexico

See also

Riyadh Province

Saudi Arabia

Notes and References

External links

• Riyadh Key, The non official guide to Riyadh.
• Riyadh Directory, A Directory of businesses and services in Riyadh.
• Riyadh City, official site with News, history and photos
• Saudi Arabian Information Resource, official site with history and photos
• Saudi Arabian Travel and Trekking Guide, A travel site with photos and routes
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Riyadh Principality

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