Interesting facts about Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula.

It is situated in the central portions of both the country and the larger Arabian Peninsula.

As of January 2021, the population of Riyadh is about 7.7 million people.

The city covers a total area of 1,973 square kilometers (762 square miles).

The average altitude is 612 meters (2,008 feet) above sea level.

The history of Riyadh dates back several centuries.

The city was established in the Yamāmah region on the ruins of the old city of Ḥajr, which long served as a centre for the trading caravans that traversed the various parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Surrounded by many valleys, the development of the city was enhanced by numerous wells, palm groves, and green areas.

The first mentioning of the city by the name Riyadh was in 1590, by an early Arab chronicler.

In 1737, Deham Ibn Dawwas, who was from the neighboring Manfuha, settled in and took control of the city. Deham built a wall around the city, and the best known source of the name Riyadh is from this period, thought to be referring to the earlier oasis towns that predated the wall built by Ibn
Dawwas.

In 1744, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab formed an alliance with the Emir of Dir’iyah, Muhammad bin Saud, and in 1774, they took Riyadh from Deham. However their state, now known as the First Saudi State, came to a collapse in 1818.

Turki ibn Abdullah founded the Second Saudi State in the early 19th century and made Riyadh his capital in 1825. However, his reign over the city was disrupted by a joint Ottoman–Rashidi alliance.

Finally, in the early 20th century, ‘Abdulaziz ibn Saud, known in the west simply as Ibn Saud, retrieved his ancestral kingdom of Najd in 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926 with the final Saudi conquest of Hejaz. After this he named his kingdom Saudi Arabia in September 1932 with Riyadh
as the capital.

Today, Riyadh is the administrative center of the kingdom and its main financial hub.

Kingdom Centre is a 99-story, 302.3 m (992 ft) skyscraper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When completed in 2002, it overtook the 267-meter Faisaliyah Tower as the tallest tower in Saudi Arabia. It has since been surpassed and is now the fifth-tallest skyscraper in the country, whose tallest two buildings
are the Abraj Al Bait Towers and the Capital Market Authority Tower. It is the world’s third-tallest building with a hole after the Shanghai World Financial Center and the 85 Sky Tower in Taiwan.

The Masmak Fort also called the Masmak Fortress or Masmak Palace, is a clay and mudbrick fort in the old city of Riyadh, situated in the modern-day Deira district. Built in 1865 by ‘Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman under the Emirate of Jabal Shammar, The fortress played an integral role in the Unification of Saudi Arabia, with the Battle of Riyadh, one of the most important conflicts of the Saudi unification, taking place in the fort. Since 1995, the fortress has been converted into a museum showcasing one of the most important landmarks of Saudi heritage.

The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is a major national museum in Saudi Arabia. Established in 1999, it is part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre in Riyadh.

Located in the heart of Riyadh, the Salam Park represents a harmonious composition of several different environments. The park has coverage of over one thousand palm trees. There is a large lake with different depth levels, which is divided into two areas – one serving for boating, and the
other representing natural life.

King Abdullah Park is one of finest Park in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. After Salam Park this is the best park in town. Its vast, lush green, and has something for everyone. The park is famous for its dancing water fountain displays, sprawling green lawns, and vibrant gardens. It’s also a runner’s
dream, with wide stone and brick paths spanning across 318,000 square meters almost 3.5 millions square feet . The main path follows the ovoid perimeter of the park for about 2 km (1.2 miles), but there are lots of interior walkways and more paths circling the stadium to the south. It’s a safe, well-lit space to run at night, when the fountains are at their most impressive and the heat has dissipated.

The spectacular sight of Riyadh from the air, illuminated in the evening by city lights, is reminiscent of its eponymous meadows – a bright sea of lights dot the desert as if fluorescent flower gardens have suddenly blossomed among its dark contours.

The city receives around 5 million tourists each year, making it the forty-ninth most visited city in the world and the 6th in the Middle East.

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.