Riyadh

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Coordinates: 24°38′N 46°43′E
Riyadh City الرياض
Looking at the Kingdom Tower from Al Faisaliyah.
Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Province	Ar Riyadh Province
Government
- Mayor	Abdul Aziz ibn 'Ayyaf Al Migrin
Area
- City	1,554 km² (600 sq mi)
- Land	1,554 km² (600 sq mi)
- Water	0 km² (0 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- City	4,260,000
Website: City of Riyadh

Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض‎ ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Ar Riyad Province and belongs to the historical region of Nejd. It is situated in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau and is home to over 4,260,000^[1] people (around 20% of the nation's population).

The city lies in Saudi Arabia's 'central corridor' of development along with Buraidah to the north and Al Kharj to the south. The other areas of concentrated population are two coastal areas - around Jiddah and Mecca on the Red Sea, and around Jubail and Dhahran on the Persian Gulf. Riyadh is located at 24°42'42" North, 46°43'27" East (24.711667, 46.724167). [1]

The city is divided into 17 branch municipalities under the control of the Riyadh Municipality and the Riyadh Development Authority, chaired by Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz. The mayor of the city is Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al Migrin.

Although located in a highly arid area the city does receive some rainfall. Five dams store the runoff. There are also 96 wells and 290 miles (467 km) of pipe bringing huge volumes of water from desalination plants on the Persian Gulf.

1 Name
2 History
3 Population
4 City districts
5 Noted structures
6 Tourism
7 Gallery
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Name

The name Riyadh is derived from plural of the Arabic word rawdha, meaning a place of gardens and trees. With many wadis (former water courses, now dry) in the vicinity, Riyadh has been, since antiquity, a fertile area set in the heartland of the Arabian Peninsula.

[edit] History

In pre-Islamic times, the settlement at the site was called Hajar. The site lies at the confluence of several wadis, chief among them Wadi Hanifah, and much underground water is accessible at the site. The settlement was historically famous for its dates and orchards. 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.

By the end of the 18th century, Riyadh was part of the First Saudi State, with the capital at Diriyah. After the destruction of Diriyah in 1818 by the Turks, the capital moved to Riyadh.

The city was seized in 1902 by Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud. He went on to establish the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, with Riyadh the capital of the nation. The diplomatic capital remained at Jeddah until 1982. Recently 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.

[edit] Population

Riyadh Population Growth 1862-2020*

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
2007*	5,000,001
2020*	8,900,000

*Estimate

Between 1974 and 1992 the city grew by an average of 8.2% per year.

[edit] City districts

Once a small walled city, Riyadh has developed into a dynamic metropolis over the years. The first major thrust came during the oil boom of the 1950s, when older structures were demolished to make way for commercial development. Today, it is one of the fastest growing and most prosperous cities in the world.

The capital and largest city of the Kingdom, Riyadh is divided into 17 municipalities. Each contributes in its own way to the vibrant character of the city, which boasts a fairly unique history and colorful past. The city has grown both culturally and commercially over the years. Along with the urban areas of Dhahran, Dammam, and Al-Khobar, Riyadh has become a focal point for both travel and trade. On the northwestern outskirts of the city lay the ruins of the former Saudi capital of Diriyah.

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 most striking aspect of Riyadh is its architecture, which is a vibrant juxtaposition of the old and the new - contemporary high-rises tower over buildings exuding old world charm.

The bustling Olaya District is the heart and soul of this city. 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 landmarks.

Recreation Park in Riyadh.

The centre of the city, Al-Bathaa and Al-Dirah, is also its oldest part. At its heart lies the beautiful 19th-century Masmak fort, which is one of the city's major attractions; to the west lies the Riyadh Museum of History and Archeology.

The Diplomatic Quarter or DQ as it is popularly known, is home to foreign embassies, 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 Qasr Al-Hukm, or Palace of Justice, is located in the district of the same name. It is here that the Governor meets citizens, listens to their grievances and problems, and stays abreast to all aspects of the region's life. Its architecture, like other buildings in the area, is a fine mélange of traditional and contemporary styles.

While the Al Khobar District is a preferred residential choice for expatriates, the Al-Dira area is rich with commercial markets and traditional buildings, which include the famous Royal Palace, the Al-Mu'eiqilia market, and the Grand Mosque.

Numerous shops, lively markets, world-cuisine restaurants, and huge malls keep both Salahuddin District and King Fahad highway packed with tourists.

[edit] Noted structures

The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 metre high television tower with an observation deck at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh TV Tower was built between 1978 and 1981
The Al Faisaliyah Center was the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia, and the second tallest building in the country after the Kingdom Center. The golden ball that lies atop the tower is said to be inspired by a ballpoint pen. Inside the ball is a restaurant; at ground level, a shopping center with major world brands
Kingdom Centre: Current tallest building in Saudi Arabia
Al Rajhi Tower: Tallest building in Saudi Arabia when completed in 2009
King Khalid International Airport
King Fahd Stadium

Major areas include Olaya, in downtown, Dabab, near the Old Airport (King Fahd Airbase) and Batha, the old downtown part of the city.

[edit] Tourism

Masmak Castle, a fort in Riyadh famous for King Abdulaziz Al Saud's daring raid on the fort in 1902.
King Fahd Cultural Center, located outside of town, the cultural center has a planetarium, museum, library, and three theaters.
King Abdul Aziz Historical Center is a complex of parks and museums, including an old residence of King Abdul Aziz, located in the center of the city.