Riyadh is the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This largest city of the Arabian Peninsula is located amidst the An-Nafud desert. The land of this city comprises the eastern part of Najd Plateau, which is approximately 600 meters above the sea level. Millions of tourists visit Riyadh every year, to have a view of various spectacular tourist attractions in this city.
How to reach Riyadh
Travelers can reach Riyadh from any city of the world by taking a flight from their home city to reach King Khalid International Airport (RUH). Plenty of international flights are run by Saudi Arabian, Nas Air, Flyadeal, Air Cairo, Air Arabia, Air India, KLM, and IndiGo Airlines. Various domestic flights also fly to Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Medina, and Jizan. People from King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah prefer JED to RUH direct flights that take only around 1 hour 30 minutes. Hence, this route is faster and easier than going by train or bus from Jeddah to Riyadh. Then passengers can take buses run by the Saudi Arabian Public Transport company to reach their hotels in Riyadh.
History
In ancient times before the advent of Islam religion, Riyadh was a city called Hajr. It was probably founded by the Arabic tribe Banu Hanifa and was the capital of Al Yamamah province, as stated by African traveler Ibn Battuta. Later, the capital was shifted southeast to Al Kharj and Hajr was broken up into several estates. In 1737, a person named Deham ibn Dawwas from the neighboring village Manfuha arrived here and united several oases of that area, by enclosing them all within a single wall. He named this city ‘Riyadh’ which means ‘gardens’ in the Arabic language, as it was a group of oasis or desert gardens.
Then it went through a long history of battles waged between different Saudi rulers and adjoining kingdoms. In 1823, Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad made Riyadh his capital, after founding Second Saudi State. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 with Riyadh as its capital by King Abdul Aziz. Riyadh further flourished under the reign of King Saud, who ruled from 1953 to 1964.
Climate
Since Riyadh is located in a desert, it experiences a very hot and dry climate with very little rainfall throughout the year. Summers are excessively hot with temperature going up to 45 degrees C while short winters are mildly cool here. However, winter nights can be very cold sometimes in the desert, with temperature dipping near zero degrees. The city is hit with dust storms during March and April when this place gets some rainfall as well. Massive dust storms lead to the cancellation of flights due to zero visibility and all schools remain closed at that time.
Traveling
Tourists can travel by trains or buses from Riyadh to visit other Saudi cities, like Dammam or Jeddah. They may hire rental cars to get around this city for sightseeing, for which they need to carry their passports and other valid documents all the time. They can activate a GPS to travel to their destinations when they are driving these rented cars. However, most tourists prefer to hire a white taxi, which is available even at night. Some cab-riding apps also can be used to hire a taxi whenever needed.
Though most of these drivers know English, it is better to know the Arabic names of all destinations. Minibuses plying the streets of Riyadh are most crowded with laborers and do not stop everywhere. Some tourists also prefer sightseeing by walking; though the streets of northern Riyadh are not friendly for pedestrians, due to too many cars running around.
Places to see
Kingdom Center Tower is a notable tourist attraction of Riyadh, which is a 41-storey building that houses numerous shopping stores from famous brands, the Four Seasons Hotel, several apartments, and a 56-meter long sky bridge over this huge skyscraper.
Al Faisaliyah Center is another popular shopping mall of Riyadh, which has 44 floors in a height of 267 meters and houses shops from all branded companies. It is the 4th highest tower of this city and is noted for a shiny golden ball at the pointed top of this building.
Masmak Citadel is a fort made of mud bricks and clay, at the centre of the city, having 4 watchtowers and now turned into a museum that can be seen for free. It was built in the 19th century and the word ‘Masmak’ means ‘strong’, referring to the strength of this fortress wall. Tourists admire the wonderful architecture of this fort.
The National Museum in Riyadh was opened in 1999, using the latest technology to make it more interesting for viewers. Several videos and animations of historic events, like the Battle of Medina are shown in mini theatres here, with English translations for foreign tourists. It is close to Murabba Palace and remains open on all days of the week.
Riyadh Zoo is another prime tourist attraction, which is accessible in the afternoon and contains camels, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, and other animals, except tigers and lions. Tourists can enjoy a train ride here and also buy things from some kiosks.
Ad-Diriyah was the previous capital of Saudi Arabia and it is located on the outskirts of Riyadh. It is divided into three districts, containing many ruined ancient buildings made of mud and bricks. These districts are mostly on top of hills and tourists visit here to see Al Saud House and Diriyah gateway.
Deerah Souq is a popular marketplace that is located near Al Masmak Fort. It is also called Al-Thumairi Souq or Al Zel Souq, containing hundreds of small shops selling all kinds of local handicrafts, clothes, and household items. It is also known for holding the largest camel market in the Arabian Peninsula.
King Abdul Aziz Historical Center is built in Murabba Palace, where visitors can learn all about the history of Saudi Arabia. It displays a collection of historical vehicles, an ancient water tower, and a model of the local mosque.
Therefore, tourists enjoy visiting Riyadh with their families, to make memorable vacations while sightseeing in this beautiful city.
