Riyadh

Not to be confused with Arabic nameRiyador traditional Moroccan house,riad.

For other uses, seeRiyadh (disambiguation).

Riyadh الرياض
Capital city
Al Olaya District Boulevard City Masmak Fort King Abdullah Financial District Al Abtal Gate
Seal
Location of Riyadh within Saudi Arabia Riyadh (Asia) Riyadh (Earth)
Coordinates:24°38′N46°43′E
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Riyadh Province
Governorate	Riyadh Governorate
Established	1746(1746)
Founded by	Dahham ibn Dawwas
Government
• Body	Riyadh Municipality
• Governor of Riyadh	Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud
• Mayor of Riyadh	Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Ayyaf
Area
•Capital city	1,973 km2(762 sq mi)
Elevation	612 m (2,008 ft)
Population (2022)
•Capital city	7,009,100
• Rank	1st
• Density	3,600/km2(9,200/sq mi)
•Metro	7,820,551
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
• Year	2023
• Total	$428.7 billion
• Per capita	$55,800
Time zone	UTC+03:00(AST)
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code	+966 011
HDI(2021)	0.900–very high
Website	alriyadh.gov.sa

Riyadh(/riːˈjɑːd/ree-YAHD;Arabic:الرياض,romanized:ar-Riyāḍ,standardpronunciation:[ar.riˈjaːdˤ],Najdipronunciation:[er.rɪˈjɑːðˤ];lit. 'the Meadows') is the capital and largest city ofSaudi Arabia.It is also the capital of theRiyadh Provinceand the centre of theRiyadh Governorate.The current form of the metropolis emerged as an offshoot of theeponymous walled townfollowing the dismantling ofits defensive fortificationsin the 1950s, after which the city underwent several phases of expansion and urbanization.

It is thelargest cityon theArabian Peninsula,and is situated in the center of thean-Nafuddesert, on the eastern part of theNajdplateau.The city sits at an average of 600 meters (2,000 ft) above sea level,and receives around 5 milliontouristseach year, making it theforty-ninthmost visited city in the world and the 6th in theMiddle East.Riyadh had a population of 7.0 million people in 2022, making it themost-populous cityinSaudi Arabia,3rd most populousin the Middle East, and the38th most populousinAsia.

The first mention of the city by the nameRiyadhwas in 1590, by an Arab chronicler.In 1745,Dahham ibn Dawwas,who was from the neighboringManfuha,seized control ofthe town.Dahhambuilt amudbrick palaceanda wallaround thetown,and the best-known source of the nameRiyadhis from this period, thought to be referring to the earlier oasis towns that predated thewallbuilt byIbn Dawwas.In 1744,Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhabformed an alliance with theEmirofDiriyah,Muhammad bin Saud,and they took Riyadh from Deham. However their state, now known as theFirst Saudi State,collapsed in 1818. Turki ibn Abdullah founded theSecond Saudi Statein the early 19th century and made Riyadh his capital in 1825. However, his reign over thecitywas disrupted by a jointOttoman–Rashidialliance. Finally, in the early 20th century, 'Abdulaziz ibn Saud,known in the west simply as Ibn Saud, retrieved his ancestralkingdom of Najdin 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926 with the finalSaudi conquest of Hejaz,subsequently naming his kingdom 'Saudi Arabia' in September 1932with Riyadh as the capital.Thetownwas the administrative center of the government until 1938, when Ibn Saud moved to theMurabba Palace.In the 1950s, thewallswere dismantled and Riyadh metropolis outgrew as an offshoot of thewalled town.

Riyadh is the political and administrative center of Saudi Arabia. TheConsultative Assembly(also known as theShura Council), theCouncil of Ministers,theKingand theSupreme Judicial Councilare all situated in the city. Alongside these four bodies that form the core of thelegal system of Saudi Arabia,the headquarters of other major and minor governmental bodies are also located in Riyadh.The city hosts 114foreign embassies,most of which are located in theDiplomatic Quarterin the western reaches of the city.

Riyadh also holdseconomic significance,as it contains the headquarters of many banks and major companies, such as theSaudi National Bank(SNB),Al-Rajhi Bank,SABIC,Almarai,STC,andSamba Financial Group.Highway 65,known locally as the King Fahd Road, runs through some of these important centers in the city, including theKing Abdullah Financial District,one of the world's largest financial districts, theFaisaliyah Centerand theKingdom Center.Riyadh is one of the world's fastest-growing cities in population and is home to manyexpatriates.

The city is divided into 15 municipal districts, which are overseen by theMunicipality of Riyadhheaded by the mayor; and theRoyal Commission for Riyadh,which is chaired by the Governor of the Province,Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud.As of July 2020, the mayor is Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin.Riyadh will hostExpo 2030,becoming the second Arab city to host afterDubaiin2020.

History

For a chronological guide, seeTimeline of Riyadh.

Early history

During thePre-Islamic era,the city at the site of modern Riyadh was calledHajr(Arabic:حجر), and was reportedly founded by the tribe ofBanu Hanifa.Hajrserved as the capital of the province ofAl-Yamamah,whose governors were responsible for most of central and easternArabiaduring theUmayyadandAbbasideras. Al-Yamamah broke away from theAbbasid Empirein 866 and the area fell under the rule of theUkhaydhirites,who moved the capital from Hajr to nearbyAl-Kharj.The city then went into a long period of decline. In the 14th century, North African travelerIbn Battutawrote of his visit to Hajr, describing it as "the main city ofAl-Yamamah,and its name isHajr".Ibn Battuta goes on to describe it as a city of canals and trees with most of its inhabitants belonging to theBani Hanifa,and reports that he continued on with their leader toMeccato perform theHajj.

Later on,Hajrbroke up into several separate settlements and estates. The most notable of these wereMigrin(or Muqrin) andMi'kal,though the nameHajrcontinued to appear in local folk poetry. The earliest known reference to the area by the nameRiyadhcomes from a 17th-century chronicler reporting on an event from the year 1590. In 1737, Deham ibn Dawwas, a refugee from neighboringManfuha,took control of Riyadh.Ibn Dawwas built asingle wallto encircle the various oasis towns in the area, making them effectively asingle fortress city.The name "Riyadh", meaning "gardens" refers to these earlier oasis towns.

Economy

The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, was initially known for its availability of water and fertile land which made it ideal for farming dates and other crops. Wheat was also widely grown until the crops were infested with insects and mites. After Riyadh was designated as the capital in the mid-1900s, Riyadh became a manufacturing hub. Almost one-third of Saudi Arabia’s factories are located in Riyadh, producing a range of products including machinery, equipment, metallurgical goods, chemicals, construction materials, food, textiles, furniture, and numerous publications.

First Saudi State

1922 map of thewalled town of Riyadh

In 1750,Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhabformed an alliance withMuhammad ibn Saud,the ruler of the nearby town ofDiriyah.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 fromAl Kharj,Al Ahsa,and theBanu Yamclan ofNajran.However, Ibn Dawwas fled and Riyadh capitulated to the Saudis in 1774, ending long years of wars, and leading to the declaration of theFirst Saudi State,with Diriyah as its capital.

The First Saudi State was destroyed by forces sent byMuhammad Ali of Egypt,acting on behalf of theOttoman Empire.Ottoman forces razed the Saudi capital Diriyah in 1818.They had maintained a garrison atNajd.This marked the decline of the House of Saud for a short time.Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammadbecame the first Amir of theSecond Saudi State;the cousin of Saud bin Saud, he ruled for 19 years till 1834, leading to the consolidation of the area though they were notionally under the control of Muhammad Ali, the Viceroy of Egypt.In 1823, Turki ibn Abdallah chose Riyadh as the new capital.Following the assassination of Turki in 1834, his eldest son Faisal killed the assassin, took control of the capital, and refused to be controlled by theViceroy of Egypt.Najd was then invaded, and Faisal was taken captive and held inCairo.However, asEgyptbecame independent of the Ottoman Empire, Faisal escaped after five years of incarceration, returned to Najd, and resumed his reign, ruling until 1865 and consolidating the reign of the House of Saud.

Following the death of Faisal, there was rivalry among his sons which situation was exploited byMuhammad bin Rashidwho took most of Najd, signed a treaty with the Ottomans, and also capturedHasain 1871. In 1889,Abdul Rahman bin Faisal,the third son of Faisal again regained control over Najd and ruled till 1891, whereafter the control was regained by Muhammad bin Raschid.

Internecine struggles between Turki's grandsons led to the fall of the Second Saudi State in 1891 at the hand of the rivalAl Rashidclan, which ruled from the northern city ofHa'il.Theal-Masmakfort dates from that period.

Abdul Rahman bin Faisal al-Saud had sought refuge among a tribal community on the outskirts of Najd and then went toKuwaitwith his family and stayed in exile. However, his sonAbdul Azizretrieved his ancestral kingdom of Najd in 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926, and further expanded his kingdom to cover "most of the Arabian Peninsula."He named his kingdom asSaudi Arabiain September 1932with Riyadh as the capital.King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and his son Saud took control as per the established succession rule of father to son from the time Muhammad bin Saud had established the Saud rule in 1744. However, this established line of succession was broken when King Saud was succeeded by his brother King Faisal in 1964. In 1975, Faisal was succeeded by his brother King Khalid. In 1982, King Fahd took the reins from his brother. This new line of succession is among the sons of King Abdul Aziz who has 35 sons; this large family of Ibn Saud hold all key positions in the large kingdom.

Modern history

The demolition of thecity wallsin 1950 was a prelude to the expansion and modernization of the city.

From the 1940s, Riyadh mushroomed from a relatively narrow, spatially isolated town into a spacious metropolis.WhenKing Saudcame to power, he made it his objective to modernize Riyadh, and began developing Annasriyyah, the royal residential district, in 1950.Following the example of American cities, new settlements and entire neighborhoods were created ongrid plans,and connected by high-capacity main roads to the inner areas. The grid pattern in the city was introduced in 1953.The population growth of the town from 1974 to 1992 averaged 8.2 percent per year.

On 16 November 1983,King Khalid International Airportwas officially opened byKing Fahd,in memory to the lateKing Khalid.It remains the biggest airport in the world at nearly 300 sq miles to date.

Al-QaedaunderOsama bin Ladenlaunchedcoordinated attackson compounds in Riyadh on 12 May 2003, resulting in the deaths of 39 people. The bombings were considered to be a terrorism campaign against Western influence in Saudi Arabia.

In 2010, the first Saudi capitalDiriyah,on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh was inscribed as aWorld Heritage SitebyUNESCO.

The mayor is Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Muqrin. Al-Muqrin was appointed in 2019 by royal decreeand succeeds Tariq bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faris. Riyadh is now the administrative and to a great extent the commercial hub of the Kingdom. According to the Saudi Real Estate Companion, most large companies in the country established either sole headquarters or a large office in the city.For this reason, there has been significant growth in high-rise developments in all areas of the city. Most notable among these isKing Abdullah Financial Districtwhich is fast becoming the key business hub in the city.Riyadh also has the largest all-female university in the world, thePrincess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University.

According to theGlobal Financial Centres Index,Riyadh ranked at 77 in 2016–2017. Though the rank moved up to 69 in 2018, diversification in the economy of the capital is required in order to avoid what theWorld Bankcalled a "looming poverty crisis" brought on by lingering low oil prices and rich state benefits.

Since 2017, Riyadh has been the target of missiles from Yemen.In March 2018, one person died as a result of a missile attack.The number of missiles which targeted Riyadh are a small portion of the dozens of missiles fired from Yemen at Saudi Arabia due to theSaudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.In April 2018, heavy gunfire was heard in Khozama;this led to rumors of a coup attempt.

A restoration of heritage buildings of historical significance was launched in Riyadh by Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salmanon 13 September 2020.

• 
  Lake at the 120 km longWadi Hanifavalley that cuts through Riyadh
• 
  King Abdullah Financial District
• 
  TheAn Nafuddesert on the outskirts of Riyadh with the JabalTuwaiqin the background

Urban development History

Up to 1930s:

Historical Riyadh was enclosed by walls. At its center was a town square and a market (souq), surrounded by residential quarters of mosques and adobe homes, each with an interior courtyard. Outside its walls were orchards ofdate trees,hence the name ‘Riyadh’ or ‘gardens’. During the 1930s, there was an initial outward expansion because new administrative buildings were needed for the country and because the population was growing. According to Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul, former deputy minister of town planning, this era coincided with the period of sedentarization as nomads settled in and around towns and cities such as Riyadh.

1940s - 1950s:

When commercial oil production began, there was a rapid rise in the rate of urbanization and the city transitioned from traditional to newer houses and buildings. This included the railway station and the (now-defunct)first airportof Riyadh. Government departments were relocated fromJeddahto Riyadh and new ministry buildings were built. To accommodate the government employees who had moved in from Jeddah, the government developed the Malaz housing block. This block’s layout was influenced by the layouts ofDammamandKhobar,which in turn were influenced by the Aramco-builtDhahran.Malaz, with its street grid and detached house type, was instrumental in shaping the master plans for Riyadh that followed, as per Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul.

1960s - 1970s:

The Department of Municipal Affairs (laterMinistry of Municipalities and Housing) selected Doxiadis Associates (DA) in 1968 to prepare a masterplan for Riyadh. After preliminary studies, they submitted a plan that was approved in 1972. They proposed that Riyadh will expand in the north-south axis along a commercial spine with and most importantly, that it will be divided into neighborhoods of 2 x 2 km blocks, thus solidifying the grid pattern to be the defining feature of Riyadh’s layout. It also maintains the style of housing that was prominent in Malaz, detached houses with setbacks, designed in what Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul identifies as an ‘international Mediterranean’ style i.e. crimson colors.However, DA’s shortcomings lay in their inability to accurately predict the extent of Riyadh’s future growth.

At the start of the 70s, Riyadh did not go much beyond what is today the Khurais road. But nearing the 80s, Riyadh’s expansion had already reached the Northern Ring Road in the north and had made considerable progress in the eastern part of the city.

In 1974, the government founded the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (laterRoyal Commission for Riyadh City) which was headed by the then governor ofRiyadh Province,King Salman Bin Abdulaziz,who oversaw Riyadh’s development.With the economic growth and national development plans of the 70s, the national infrastructure consisting of electricity grids, telecommunications networks, water pipelines, and highways was laid down that made further urban growth possible. The old and new industrial cities of Riyadh were both founded in this period.

1980s - 1990s:

The city grew at a much faster rate than Doxiadis Associates had projected and very soon, their plan became obsolete. DA predicted that Riyadh’s urban area would be 304 km²in 30 years when it reached 400 km²just four years after the plan was authorized.Therefore, SCET International was assigned to revise and update the original plan to reflect the drastic growth and offer adaptive measures, which were approved in 1982. While keeping the 2km x 2km block, they expanded it in all directions unlike DA’s linear expansion. They also added the radial ring roads and altered the DA conception of how commercial and other zones should be distributed.

It was in the 80s and 90s that most of the buildings that defined Riyadh’s urban identity were constructed. Built in styles contemporary of that time, marble with a hint of desert beige, these included theKing Khalid International Airport,King Fahd Stadium,Television tower,King Saud Universitynew campus, the King Faisal Foundation, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOMRA, andImam Muhammad Ibn Saud university.And the historical district was rebuilt with the National Museum,Qasr AlHukm district,and theImam Turki bin Abdullah mosque.Numerous health facilities were founded as well. Other developments in this period included the opening of the first shopping centers and supermarkets.

Approaching the 2000s, Riyadh had expanded well beyond the Northern Ring Road in the north and had reached the Second Ring Road in the east.

2000s - 2010s:

The MEDSTAR (metropolitan development strategy for Arriyadh) was the strategy that directed urban development in this era. Since the SCET plan also turned out to underestimate the rate of growth, a continuous approach instead of a one-off plan was adopted. The MEDSTAR was not a long term plan but an ongoing strategy on managing urban growth and economic development in the city. It was initiated after comprehensive studies by the Arriyadh Development Authority (the high commission’s research wing) on demographics, land use, transportation, security, environment, and traffic safety. In 2007, MEDSTAR won second place in the international award for liveable communities.One of the MEDSTAR strategies was balanced development by turning Riyadh into a polycentric city rather than having one single downtown. [Riyadh: The Metamorphosis of a City From Centerless to Polycentric Fernando Perez,] This has resulted in there being multiple hubs scattered around the city such as Olaya,KAFD,Sahafa, Granada, Business Gate, Digital City, and Hittin.

Riyadh’s skyline arose along the King Fahd Road starting in the 2000s. Significant construction projects like the Riyadh metro and thePrincess Noura University,the world’s largest women’s university, were undertaken. Most malls and hypermarkets opened in this era and became a feature of city life. The municipality added wide sidewalks to a number of streets which became popular spots for walking, and parks were built in many neighborhoods. Major roads were redesigned, such as the King Fahd road, King Abdullah Road, Abu Bakr Al Siddiq road, and Oruba road, transforming the look of the city.In addition, the Royal Commission rehabilitated theWadi Hanifawetlands.

At the onset of the 2020s, Riyadh’s expansion had gone further ahead of the King Salman Road in the north and had reached the Janadriyah road in the east.

2020 - present:

Vision 2030 has stated its objective for Saudi cities to reach the list of top 100 cities of the world in quality of lifeand the city is working towards this goal through new development investments.Every year, the number of tourists visiting Saudi Arabia and Riyadh increases.In the large empty area where the old airport once was, the world’s largest urban park,King Salman Parkis being constructed, with leisure, residential, office, hospitality, and retail spaces.The historical city ofDiriyah,now encompassed by Riyadh, has been restored and developed into a cultural and tourist destination. Many roads and streets, such as the Olaya street and the Imam Saud road, are being refurbished.

Fewer malls are opening andsquares(or plazas) are taking over in popularity, the most popular having been the Riyadh Boulevard on the Prince Turki Al Awwal Road. A new downtown called ‘New Murabba’ at the intersection of the King Salman and King Khaled roads is planned.

New fully residential suburbs, unlike regular neighborhoods that have storefront-lined main streets, are under construction in the far north and far east of the city.

Geography

Climate

Riyadh has ahot desert climate(Köppen Climate ClassificationBWh), with long, extremely hot summers and short, very mild winters. The average high temperature in July is 43.9 °C (111.0 °F). If not for its elevation Riyadh would experience an even hotter climate. The city experiences very little precipitation, especially during the summer, but receives a fair amount of rain in March and April. It is also known to havedust stormsduring which the dust can be so thick that visibility is under 10 m (33 ft). On 1 and 2 April 2015, a massive dust storm hit Riyadh, causing the suspension of classes in many schools in the area and the cancellation of hundreds of flights, both domestic and international.

Climate data for Riyadh Old (1991-2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	31.5 (88.7)	34.8 (94.6)	38.0 (100.4)	42.0 (107.6)	45.1 (113.2)	47.2 (117.0)	48.1 (118.6)	47.8 (118.0)	45.0 (113.0)	41.0 (105.8)	38.0 (100.4)	31.0 (87.8)	48.1 (118.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	20.1 (68.2)	23.6 (74.5)	27.8 (82.0)	33.6 (92.5)	39.4 (102.9)	42.7 (108.9)	43.4 (110.1)	43.6 (110.5)	40.4 (104.7)	35.2 (95.4)	27.5 (81.5)	22.2 (72.0)	33.3 (91.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	14.6 (58.3)	17.5 (63.5)	21.5 (70.7)	27.2 (81.0)	33.0 (91.4)	36.0 (96.8)	36.8 (98.2)	36.9 (98.4)	33.7 (92.7)	28.5 (83.3)	21.4 (70.5)	16.4 (61.5)	26.9 (80.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	9.2 (48.6)	11.5 (52.7)	15.2 (59.4)	20.7 (69.3)	26.1 (79.0)	28.4 (83.1)	29.4 (84.9)	29.5 (85.1)	26.2 (79.2)	21.3 (70.3)	15.5 (59.9)	10.8 (51.4)	20.3 (68.5)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.3 (27.9)	−0.3 (31.5)	4.5 (40.1)	11.0 (51.8)	18.0 (64.4)	21.1 (70.0)	23.6 (74.5)	22.7 (72.9)	16.1 (61.0)	14.0 (57.2)	7.0 (44.6)	1.4 (34.5)	−2.3 (27.9)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	15.4 (0.61)	6.1 (0.24)	21.1 (0.83)	24.3 (0.96)	5.4 (0.21)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.5 (0.02)	0.0 (0.0)	1.0 (0.04)	11.4 (0.45)	14.7 (0.58)	99.9 (3.93)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm)	2.1	1.0	2.7	3.4	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.3	1.7	1.9	13.9
Averagerelative humidity(%)	47	36	32	28	17	11	10	12	14	20	36	45	26
Averagedew point°C (°F)	2 (36)	1 (34)	2 (36)	4 (39)	3 (37)	−1 (30)	0 (32)	2 (36)	2 (36)	2 (36)	4 (39)	3 (37)	2 (36)
Mean monthlysunshine hours	212.4	226.6	219.8	242.3	287.7	328.2	332.1	309.2	271.6	311.4	269.2	214.3	3,224.8
Percentpossible sunshine	63	71	59	63	70	80	80	77	74	87	82	65	72
Averageultraviolet index	3	7	9	11	12	13	13	12	11	8	6	3	9
Source 1:NOAA,Jeddah Regional Climate Center
Source 2: Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985-2015)

Climate data for Riyadh New (1991-2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	33.0 (91.4)	34.5 (94.1)	38.3 (100.9)	42.0 (107.6)	46.0 (114.8)	47.5 (117.5)	48.4 (119.1)	48.8 (119.8)	46.8 (116.2)	42.5 (108.5)	37.0 (98.6)	32.7 (90.9)	48.8 (119.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	20.7 (69.3)	23.7 (74.7)	28.0 (82.4)	33.6 (92.5)	39.5 (103.1)	42.8 (109.0)	43.9 (111.0)	43.8 (110.8)	40.9 (105.6)	35.5 (95.9)	27.4 (81.3)	22.3 (72.1)	33.5 (92.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	14.0 (57.2)	16.7 (62.1)	21.0 (69.8)	26.4 (79.5)	32.2 (90.0)	35.2 (95.4)	36.3 (97.3)	36.0 (96.8)	32.8 (91.0)	27.5 (81.5)	20.4 (68.7)	15.4 (59.7)	26.2 (79.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	7.6 (45.7)	9.9 (49.8)	13.8 (56.8)	19.1 (66.4)	24.1 (75.4)	26.1 (79.0)	27.3 (81.1)	27.0 (80.6)	23.7 (74.7)	18.9 (66.0)	13.6 (56.5)	9.1 (48.4)	18.3 (64.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−5.4 (22.3)	−3.3 (26.1)	2.1 (35.8)	8.9 (48.0)	14.0 (57.2)	19.8 (67.6)	20.0 (68.0)	20.0 (68.0)	14.4 (57.9)	8.9 (48.0)	4.5 (40.1)	−2.0 (28.4)	−5.4 (22.3)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	14.8 (0.58)	8.3 (0.33)	19.9 (0.78)	23.7 (0.93)	5.7 (0.22)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.5 (0.06)	20.1 (0.79)	13.5 (0.53)	107.6 (4.24)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm)	1.7	1.5	2.6	3.7	0.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	2.5	1.7	14.9
Source 1:NOAA
Source 2: Pogodaiklimat.ru (extremes)

City districts

Riyadh's skyline in 2018

Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque

Riyadh is divided into fourteen branch municipalities,in addition to the Diplomatic Quarter. Each branch municipality in turn contains several districts, amounting to over 130 in total, though some districts are divided between more than one branch municipality. The branch municipalities are Al-Shemaysi,Irqah,Al-Ma'athar, Al-Olayya, Al-Aziziyya, Al-Malaz, Al-Selayy, Nemar, Al-Neseem, Al-Shifa, Al-'Urayja, Al-Bat'ha, Al-Ha'ir, Al-Rawdha, and Al-Shimal ( "the North" ).Olaya Districtis the commercial heart of the city,with accommodation, entertainment, dining and shopping options. TheKingdom Centre,Al Faisalyah,and Al-Tahlya Street are the area's most prominent landmarks. The center of the city,Al-Bathaaand Al-Deerah, is also its oldest part.

Some of the main districts of Riyadh are:

• Al-Bat'ha
  • Al-Deerah (old Riyadh)
  • Mi'kal
  • Manfuha
  • Manfuha Al-Jadidah (منفوحة الجديدة – "new Manfuha" )
  • Al-'Oud
  • Al-Mansorah
  • Al-Margab
  • Salam
  • Jabrah
  • Al-Yamamah
  • 'Otayyigah
• Al-'Olayya& Sulaymaniyyah
  • Al-'Olayya
  • Al-Sulaymaniyyah
  • Al Izdihar
  • King Fahd District
  • Al-Masif
  • Al-Murooj
  • Al-Mugharrazat
  • Al-Wurood
• Nemar
  • Nemar
  • Dharat Nemar
  • Tuwaiq
  • Hazm
  • Deerab
• Irqah
  • Irqah
  • Al-Khozama
• Diplomatic Quarter
• Al-Shemaysi
  • Al-Shemaysi
  • Eleyshah
  • Al-Badi'ah
  • Syah
  • Al-Nasriyyah
  • Umm Sleym
  • Al-Ma'athar
  • Umm Al-Hamam (East)
• Al-Ma'athar
  • Al-Olayya
  • Al-Nakheel
  • King Saud Universitymain campus
  • Umm Al-Hamam (East)
  • Umm Al-Hamam (West)
  • Al-Ma'athar Al-Shimali ( "North Ma'athar" )
  • Al-Rahmaniyya
  • Al-Muhammadiyya
  • Al-Ra'id
• Al-Ha'ir
  • Al-Ha'ir
  • Al-Ghannamiyyah
  • Uraydh
• Al-'Aziziyyah
  • Al Aziziyah (Riyadh)
  • Ad Dar Al Baida
  • Taybah
  • Al Mansouriyah
• Al-Malaz
  • Al-Malaz
  • Al-Rabwah
  • Al-Rayyan
  • Jarir
  • Al-Murabba'
  • Sinaiyah Qadeem
• Al-Shifa
  • Al-Masani'
  • Al-Shifa
  • Al-Mansuriyya
  • Al-Marwah
• Al-Urayja
  • Al-Urayja
  • Al-Urayja Al-Wusta ( "Mid-Urayja" )
  • Al-Urayja (West)
  • Shubra
  • Dharat Laban
  • Hijrat Laban
  • As-Suwaidi
  • As-Suwaidi (West)
  • Dahrat Al-Badi'ah
  • Sultanah
• Al-Shemal
  • Al-Malga
  • Al-Sahafa
  • Hittin
  • Al-Wadi
  • Al-Ghadir
  • Al-Nafil
  • Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Universitymain campus
  • Al-Qayrawan
  • Al-Aqiq
  • Al-Arid
• Al-Naseem
  • Al-Naseem (East)
  • Al-Naseem (West)
  • As-Salam
  • Al-Manar
  • Al-Rimayah
  • Al-Nadheem
• Al-Rawdhah
  • Al-Rawdhah
  • Al-Qadisiyah
  • Al-M'aizliyyah
  • Al-Nahdhah
  • Gharnatah (Granada)
  • Qortubah (Cordoba)
  • Al-Andalus (Andalusia)
  • Al-Hamra
  • Al-Qouds
• Al-Selayy
  • Al-Selayy
  • Ad Difa'
  • Al Iskan
  • Khashm Al-'Aan
  • Al-Sa'adah
  • Al-Fayha
  • Al-Manakh
• King Abdullah Financial District
• Diriyah(suburb of Riyadh)

Demographics

Riyadh population pyramid in 2010

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1918	18,000	—
1924	30,000	+8.89%
1944	50,000	+2.59%
1952	80,000	+6.05%
1960	150,000	+8.17%
1972	500,000	+10.55%
1978	760,000	+7.23%
1987	1,389,000	+6.93%
1992	3,834,986	+22.52%
1997	3,100,000	−4.17%
2004	4,138,329	+4.21%
2009	4,873,723	+3.33%
2010	6,792,776	+39.38%
2013	5,899,528	−4.59%
2016	6,506,700	+3.32%
2017	7,676,654	+17.98%
Source: Census data,

In 2022, the city had over 7 million people.The city had a population of 40,000 inhabitants in 1935 and 83,000 in 1949.The city has experienced very high rates of population growth, from 150,000 inhabitants in the 1960s to over seven million, according to the most recent sources. As of 2017, the population of Riyadh is composed of 64.19% Saudis, while non-Saudis account for 35.81% of the population.Indiansare the largest minority population at 13.7%, followed byPakistanisat 12.4%. The population is so high due to the doubled birth rates and the high economic growth. There was also an influx of immigrants.

Landmarks and architecture

Vernacular architecture of Old Riyadh

The old town of Riyadh within thecity wallsdid not exceed an area of 1 km²,and therefore very few significant architectural remnants of the original walled oasis town of Riyadh exist today. The most prominent is theMasmak fortand some parts of the original wall structure with its gate which have been restored and reconstructed. There are also a number of traditional mud-brick houses within these old limits, but they are for the most part dilapidated.

Expansion outside thecity wallswas slow to begin with, although there were some smaller oases and settlements surrounding Riyadh. The first major construction beyond the walls was King Abdulaziz'sMurabba Palace.It was constructed in 1936, completed in 1938, and a household of 800 people moved into it in 1938. The palace is now part of a bigger complex calledThe King Abdulaziz Historical Centre.

There are other traditional villages and towns in the area around traditional Riyadh which theurban sprawlreached and encompasses. These includeDiriyah,Manfuha and Wadi Laban. Unlike in the early days of development in Riyadh during which vernacular structures were razed to the ground without consideration, there is a new-found appreciation for traditional architecture. TheSaudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritageis making efforts to revitalize the historic architecture in Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom.

Ain Heet Cave

Ain Heet cavehas an underground lake (150 meters deep) situated at the face of Mount Al Jubayl in Wadi As Sulay in a small village called Heet in Riyadh. Between Riyadh and Al Kharj road, it is one of the easily accessible caves in the area of Riyadh.

Archeological sites

A courtyard in the Murabba Palace

The archeological sites at Riyadh which are of historical importance, in which the Municipality of Riyadh is involved, are the five old gates on the old walls of Riyadh. These are the eastern gate of Thumaira, the northern gate of Al-Suwailen, the southern gate of Dukhna, the western gate of Al-Madhbah, and the south-western gate of Shumaisi. There are also four historic palaces:Musmak Palace,Murabba Palace(palace of King Abdul Aziz), Atiqah Palace (belongs to PrinceMuhammad bin Abdul Rahman) and Al Shamsiah Palace (belongs toSaud Al Kabeer).

Turaif district

Main article:Al-Turaif District

TheTuraif district,is another important archeological site inscribed inUNESCO World Heritage Liston 31 July 2010.It was founded in the 15th century bearing an architectural style of Najdi.There are some Historic palaces and monuments in Al-Turaif district include: Salwa Palace, Saad bin Saud Palace, The Guest House and At-Turaif Bath House, and Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque.

The Masmak Fortress in 2014

Masmak Fortress

Main article:Masmak fort

This fortress was built around 1865 under the reign ofMohammed ibn Abdullah ibn Rasheed(1289-1315 AH), the ruler ofHa'ilto the north, who had wrested control of the city from the rival clan ofAl Saud.In January 1902Ibn Saud,who was at the time living in exile inKuwait,succeeded in capturing the Masmak fortress from its Rashid garrison. The event, which restored Saudi control over Riyadh, has acquired an almost mythical status in the history of Saudi Arabia. The story of the event is often retold and has as its central theme the heroism and bravery of King Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Masmak Fortress is now a museum and is in close proximity to the Clock Tower Square, also known to English-speaking residents asChop Chop Square,referring to the capital punishment that takes place there.

Contemporary architecture

Kingdom Centre

Main article:Kingdom Centre

Designed by the team ofEllerbe BecketandOmrania,the tower is built on 94,230 square meters of land. The Kingdom Centre is owned by a group of companies includingKingdom Holding Company,headed byAl-Waleed bin Talal,a prince of the Saudi royal family, and is the headquarters of the holding company. The project cost 2 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was undertaken by El-Seif. The Kingdom Centre is the winner of the 2002Emporis Skyscraper Award,selected as the "best new skyscraper of the year for design and 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. The shopping center has a separate floor for women only to shop where men are not allowed to enter.

The Kingdom Tower has 99 stories and is the fifth tallest structure in the country, rising to 300 m. A special aspect of the tower is that it is divided into two parts in the last one-third of its height and is linked by a sky-bridge walkway, which provides extensive views of Riyadh.

Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski

Main article:Burj Rafal

Burj Rafal, located on King Fahd Road, is the tallest skyscraper in Riyadh at 307.9 meters (1,010 feet) tall. The tower was designed and engineered by P & T Group. Construction began in 2010 and was completed in 2014. The project was considered a success, with 70% of the residential units already sold by the time the skyscraper was topped out. The tower contains 474 residential condominium units and a 349-room 5-star Kempinski hotel.

Burj Al Faisaliyah

Main article:Al Faisaliyah Center

Al Faisaliyah Centre (Arabic: برج الفيصلية) is the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia and is the third tallest building in Riyadh after the Burj Rafal and theKingdom Centre.The golden ball that lies atop the tower is said to be inspired by a ballpoint pen, and contains a restaurant; immediately below this is an outside viewing deck. There is a shopping center with major world brands at ground level. Al Faisaliyah Centre also has a hotel on both sides of the tower while the main building is occupied by office. The Al Faisaliyah Tower has 44 stories.It was designed byFoster and Partners.

Riyadh TV Tower

Main article:Riyadh TV Tower

Anthropomorphic stela from the4th millennium BCat theNational Museum of Saudi Arabia,Riyadh

The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 meter high television tower located inside the premises of the Saudi Ministry of Information. It is a vertical cantilever structure which was built between 1978 and 1981. The first movie made in 1983 by the TV tower group and named "1,000 Nights and Night" had Mohammed Abdu and Talal Mmdah as the main characters. At that time, there were no women on TV because of religious restrictions. Three years later, Abdul Khaliq Al-Ghanim produced a TV series called "Tash Ma Tash," which earned a good reaction from audiences inEastern Arabia.This series created a media revolution back in the 1980s.

Museums and collections

Main article:Museums in Riyadh

In 1999, a new central museum was built in Riyadh, at the eastern side of theKing Abdul Aziz Historical Centre.TheNational Museum of Saudi Arabiacombined several collections and pieces that had up until then been scattered over several institutions and other places in Riyadh and the Kingdom. For example, the meteorite fragment is known as the "Camel's Hump", recovered in 1966 from theWabar site,that was on display at theKing Saud Universityin Riyadh became the new entry piece of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

TheRoyal Saudi Air Force Museum,or Saqr Al-Jazira, is located on the East Ring Road of Riyadh between exits 10 and 11. It contains a collection of aircraft and aviation-related items used by theRoyal Saudi Air ForceandSaudia(Saudi Arabian Airlines).

Sports

Footballis the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia. The city hosts four major football clubs,Al Hilalwas established in 1957 and has won 18 championships in theSaudi Professional League.Al-Nassrclub is another team in the top league that has many supporters around the kingdom. It was established in 1955, and has been named champion of the Saudi professional League 9times.Another well-known club,Al-Shabab,was established in 1947 and holds 6 championships. There is alsoAl-RiyadhClub, which was established in 1954, as well as many other minor clubs.

The city also has several large stadiums such asKing Fahd International Stadiumwith a seating capacity of 70,000.The stadium hosted theFIFA Confederations Cupthree times, in the years1992,1995and1997.It also hosted theFIFA U-20 World Cupin1989,andPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium(Al-Malaz Stadium) that is used mostly forfootballmatches. The stadium has a capacity of 22,500 people.

The city'sGPYW Indoor Stadiumserved as host arena for the1997 Asian Basketball Championship,whereSaudi Arabia's national basketball teamreached theFinal Four.

On 29 February 2020, the world's richest thoroughbred horse race took place at theKing Abdulaziz Racetrackin Riyadh. The Saudi Cup is a new race for thoroughbreds aged four and up, to be run at weight-for-age terms over 1800m (9f). The prize money is US$20m with a prize of US$10m to the winner and prize money down to tenth place. The Saudi Cup is perfectly positioned between the Pegasus World Cup and the Dubai World Cup to attract the best horses from around the world to compete for horse racing's richest prize. Putting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international horseracing map, the Saudi Cup will also hold an undercard of international races on both dirt and the new turf course.

On 26 April 2020, Saudi Arabia entered the bidding process for the 2030 Asian Games; their main rival for this event wasDoha,Qatar.On 16 December 2020, it was announced that Riyadh will host the2034 Asian Games.

Esportsin Riyadh began its journey with the city's first major tournament, the GSA E-Sports Cup, in 2018. The Saudi Esports Federation further boosted this growth by organizing the Gamers8 festival in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 edition of the festival offered the largest prize pool in the history of global competitive esports at the time, totaling $45 million. As part of the Gamers8 festival, the Riyadh Masters, aDota 2tournament, boasted a significant prize pool of $15 million, surpassed only by the Fortnite World Cup Finals andThe Internationalin the history of esports tournaments.Gamers8 would be replaced by the Esports World Cup in2024,which boasts a total prize pool of over $60 million, which will be the largest prize pool in the history of global competitive esports, split among at least 20 different tournaments and a Club Championship for esports organizations.

Transportation

Air

King Khalid International Airport

Riyadh'sKing Khalid International Airport(KKIA) is located 35 kilometers north of the city center. It is the city's main airport, and served over 20 million passengers in 2013.The airport will beexpanded into a huge airport,with six parallel runways and three or four large passenger terminals by 2030. It will be able to serve 120 million passengers per year after 2030, and 185 million passengers per year by 2050.

Buses

The metro system will be integrated with an 85 kilometers (53 mi), three-line bus rapid transit (BRT) network.

The main charter bus company in the kingdom, known as the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), offers trips both within the kingdom and to its neighboring countries, including Egypt (via ferries fromSafagaorNuweiba) and Arab states of theGulf Cooperation Council.

Metro

The six lineRiyadh Metroopened in 2024.

Railways

Saudi Railways Organizationoperates two separate passenger and cargo lines between Riyadh andDammam,passing throughHofufandHaradh.Two future railway projects, connecting Riyadh withJeddahandMeccain the western region, and connecting Riyadh withBuraidah,Ha'iland Northern Saudi Arabia are underway.

Roads

Highways intersecting in Riyadh

The city is served by a major highway system. The main Eastern Ring Road connects the city's south and north, while the 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, 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.

• Highway 65runs north-south alongHa'il,Buraidah,through Riyadh, toAl-Kharj.
• Highway 40runs east-west fromJeddahtoDammamthrough Riyadh.

Media

The 170 m (560 ft)Riyadh TV Tower,operated by the Ministry of Information, was built between 1978 and 1981. National Saudi television channels Saudi TV1, Saudi TV2,Saudi TV Sports,Al-Ekhbariya,ART channels networkoperate from here.Television broadcasts are mainly in Arabic, although some radio broadcasts are in English or French. Arabic is the main language used in television and radio but radio broadcasts are also made in different languages such as Urdu, French, or English. Riyadh has four Arabic newspapers;Asharq Al-Awsat(which is owned by the city governor),Al Riyadh,Al JazirahandAl-Watan,two English language newspapers;Saudi GazetteandArab News,and one Malayalam language newspaper,Gulf Madhyamam. The Saudi government monitors and filters internet content. Political dissent is not tolerated in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has had strict regulations on cinema and the arts.

Development projects

Digital City

In 2019, King Salman launched a plan to implement 1281development projects in Riyadh. The project is planned to cost around US$22 billion.The main goal of the plan is to improve the infrastructure, transportation, environment and other facilities in Riyadh and the surrounding area.In the framework ofSaudi Vision 2030,the plan will take care of constructing 15 housing projects, building a huge museum, establishing an environmental project, sports areas, medical cities, educational facilities, etc.This includes the establishment of 14 electricity projects,20 sewage projects, 10 housing areas, 66 trading and industrial areas, a number of lakes covering 315,000 square meters, and advanced sports cities.Since the announcement of the Vision, Riyadh has implemented various reforms to lay the foundation for the next steps of the Vision. Of the states goals of Vision 2030 are that it will promote tourism, and help push Saudi Arabia to theglobal front.

Alongside the development project and with the aim of enhancing the artistic landscape of the city, 1000 pieces of art are planned to be publicly displayed in the city by the end of 2030.In the framework of Riyadh's development projects, an amount of SR 604 million has been awarded to develop and construct roads of Riyadh.On 3 July 2020,Bloombergreported that Saudi Arabia has allocated $20 billion on the mega-project of tourism and culture in Riyadh, branded asDiriyah,while facing a double economic crisis after rise incoronaviruscases.

The Ministry of Investment and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced on 13 July 2021 that they have partnered withSEK Education Groupto open SEK International School Riyadh, its first campus in Saudi Arabia. The new international school will welcome students from Pre-K (age 3 years) to Grade 12 (age 17/18 years), and will become one of the few schools in Riyadh accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

In July 2024 the plan to create the Sports Boulevard which will include the world's tallest sports tower was approved. This is part of a $23 billion project meant to enlarge green spaces within the city.

Arts

The arts can create a big change in societies and Riyadh is no different. There are many Muslim Scholars who have made great improvements to the arts and literature that were from Saudi Arabia. The development of agriculture is said to have pushed the wave of the arts into Saudi Arabia.One art form that is focused on is Calligraphy as it is associated with the Quran. There is also a history of folk music and folk dancing rituals that are performed in festivals. Poem readings are also very prominent in the culture as there is a poem for almost every event (weddings, funerals, etc.).

Literacy rate

The literacy rate in 2020 was 99.36% and in 2021 it was 99.38%. The literacy rate in Saudi Arabia has improved from 2010 when it was 98.10%.

Events and festivals

Jenadriyah

Jenadriyah is an annual festival that has been held in Riyadh. It hosts a number of cultural and traditional events, such as camel race, poetry reading and others.

Riyadh International Book Fair

It is one of the largest book fairs in the MENA region. It is usually held between March and April and it hosts a wide range of Saudi, Arab and international publishers.

Riyadh Season

In the framework of the recent Saudi endeavor to promote tourism in the country,Riyadh Seasonwas held as part of the Saudi Seasons initiative. The season took place in October 2019 and lasted until December 2019. It hosted a wide range of sports, musical, theatrical, fashion shows, circus, and various other entertainment activities.Some ofRiyadh Seasonevents areBTSconcert, Joy Convention and Joy Expo, Ice Rink, WWE Events, Arabian concerts, Egyptian Theater, League of Legends, Real Madrid Interactive Expo and Ferrari Festival.

Noor Riyadh

Noor Riyadh (Noor meaning light in Arabic) is an annual festival and one of the four major projects under the mandate of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. It is the festival of light and art. In 2021, the festival will be launched on 18 March and will last until 3 April.

Hiba Tawaji Concert

Riyadh hosted the first all-female concert in 2017. This marks a change within the culture of Riyadh that has sparked the wave of arts to Saudi Arabia.

Bibliography

See also:Bibliography of the history of Riyadh

• Craze, Joshua (2009).The Kingdom: Saudi Arabia and the Challenge of the 21st Century.Hurst Publishers.ISBN978-1-85065-897-9.
• Cybriwsky, Roman A. (23 May 2013).Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture.ABC-CLIO.ISBN978-1-61069-248-9.
• Elsheshtawy, Yasser (27 May 2008).The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity and Urban Development.Routledge.ISBN978-1-134-12821-1.
• Facey, William (1 January 1992).Riyadh, the Old City: From Its Origins Until the 1950s.Immel Publishing.ISBN978-0-907151-32-6.
• Farsy, Fouad (1990).Modernity and Tradition: The Saudi Equation.Routledge. p.22.ISBN978-0-7103-0395-0.
• Ham, Anthony (2004).Saudi Arabia.Lonely Planet.ISBN978-1-74059-667-1.
• Saud Al-Oteibi; Allen G. Noble; Frank J. Costa (February 1993). "The Impact of Planning on Growth and Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1970-1990".GeoJournal.29(2): 163.Bibcode:1993GeoJo..29..163A.doi:10.1007/BF00812813.
• Menoret, Pascal (2014).Joyriding in Riyadh: Oil, Urbanism and Road Revolt.Cambridge University Press.
• Jordan, Craig (2011).The Travelling Triathlete: A Middle – Aged Man's Journey to Fitness.AuthorHouse.ISBN978-1-4670-0081-9.
• Sloan, Stephen; Anderson, Sean K. (3 August 2009).Historical Dictionary of Terrorism.Scarecrow Press.ISBN978-0-8108-6311-8.
• Sonbol, Amira (29 March 2012).Gulf Women(English ed.). Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing.ISBN978-99921-94-84-3.

External links

• Official website
• Riyadhtravel guide from Wikivoyage
• دليل الرياض-الدليل السعودي