Riyadh, a city of mud brick and glass

About Riyadh, a city of mud brick and glass

By the ULTIMATE Riyadh Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Riyadh grew from an oasis town of mud brick in the valley of Wadi Hanifah into one of the largest cities in the Gulf, and both cities are still there to see. On the wadi’s edge in Diriyah, At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the 18th-century mud-brick capital of the first Saudi state, now restored and opened in the evenings, with Bujairi Terrace’s restaurants across the water. In the old centre, the Masmak, a mud-brick fort of 1865, faces the souqs of Al Dirah, and the National Museum and Murabba Palace stand in the gardens of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center. Along King Fahd Road, the Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah towers mark the modern city, and in the north the towers of KAFD rise around Zaha Hadid’s metro station.

Diriyah

At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Bujairi Terrace across Wadi Hanifah.

The old centre

The Masmak, the souqs of Al Dirah and Souq Al Zal, the National Museum and Murabba Palace.

See the old centre in the morning and Diriyah after dark: At-Turaif opens in the evening.

The modern city

The Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah on King Fahd Road, and the towers of KAFD.

Beyond the city

The Edge of the World on the Tuwaiq escarpment, Ushaiqer’s mud-brick village and Six Flags Qiddiya City.

Our advice: dress modestly (elbows and knees covered, for men and women), and plan outdoor sights for the cool months from November to March.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Riyadh, a city of mud brick and glass before you go.