Country : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Population : 7,231,000 (2021 estimate) 
Area : 1,973 square km 
Currency : Saudi Riyal (SR) (SAR) 
Land : 100 % 
Elevation : 599 M 
Water : 0 % 
Time Zone : UTC+03:00 (AST) 
Map Referred : Riyadh
Driving : Right Home / Destinations / Riyadh Guide
The literal meaning of the word 'Riyadh' translates to 'the Gardens'. This was the name given to the city in the earliest scripts that have been found around the globe. The city of Riyadh has come very far from the fantasy description of the city in many books by different travellers. One such traveller to arrive at the city and be blown away by its beauty was the famous North African traveller Ibn Battuta. His reference to the city that resembled a garden with canals and palm trees has become a modern marvel. The city of Riyadh is also the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The city lies at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level making it one of the most unique cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| Official Name | : | Riyadh Province |
| Form of Government | : | Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy |
| Official Language | : | Arabic |
| Languages Spoken | : | English, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi |
| Ethnicity | : | 90% Arab | 10% Afro-Arab |
| Lowest Point | : | N/A |
| Highest Point | : | City of Riyadh (599 meters) |
| Coastline | : | N/A |
Famous For: Dates | Edge of the World | Kingdom Centre Skybridge | Sand dunes
Time Zone: UTC+03:00 (AST)
Driving Side: Right
Airports in Riyadh: King Khaled International Airport Riyadh
Network connectivity in Riyadh is one of the best in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are several network providers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that provide world-class connectivity. Network and mobile connectivity cover almost the entire country. However, travellers coming in from the UAE may be charged for the roaming by their du or Etisalat operators. So, it is advised to switch to a local SIM card for better and cheaper connectivity. As roaming charges coupled with mobile data might get a bit out of hand. Thus, travellers travelling to Riyadh from UAE may grab local SIM cards at the several available telecom operator shops at the airport. A new SIM card in Riyadh may cost you around $ 10. Places like restaurants, hotels and malls offer free wi-fi services so you can save on the cost of mobile data.
Before the pre-Islamic era, the current region of Riyadh was called Hajr. According to historical records, Hajr was the capital of Al-Yamamah, which was founded by the Banu Hanifa tribe members. During the 14th century, Ibn Battuta the famous North African traveller is seen mentioning the city in his records. The records mentioned the city of Hajr as a city of canals and trees with most of the locals belonging to the Bani Hanifa. The records also mentioned Ibn Battuta carrying on with his journey to Mecca for Hajj with the leader of the Banu Hanifa tribe.
So, how did the city of Hajr come to be known as Riyadh?. The earlier reference to the name ‘Riyadh’ came from the records dating back to 1590. Deham ibn Dawwas a refugee from the neighbouring city of Manfuha took control over the city of Riyadh in 1737. Ibn Dawwas made a massive mud wall around the oasis town of Riyadh. It was from here that the name Riyadh meaning ‘the gardens’ became known far and wide.
It was in 1744, that now the ruler of the city of Riyadh saw resistance from an alliance between Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahaab and Muhammad ibn Saud. Muhammad Ibn Saud was the ruler of the nearby town of Diriyah and planned on conquering Riyadh to bring both regions under one single Islamic state. However, Ibn Dawwas mounted a large scale resistance with the help of his allies namely Al Ahsa, Al Kharj and the Banu Yam clan of Najran.
But in 1774 Ibn Dawwas fled the town of Riyadh, which eventually came under Saudi rule ending a long tribal war. The new development also led to the formation of the first Saudi State in the region, with Diriyah as its capital. However soon the Saudi state met a huge scale attack by the forces sent by Muhammad Ali of Egypt. Muhammad Ali Of Egypt was acting on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman forces destroyed the city of Driyah in the year 1818. Which marked the decline of the House of Saud in the region. However, the Saud’s launched a strong and quick counterattack to take back control of their city.
Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad became the first Amir of the second Saudi state that came to be known as Nejd. Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad ruled the new state for 19 years up to 1834. In 1823 Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad choose Riyadh as the new capital of the Emirate of Nejd. Post Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad’s assassination in 1834. His eldest son Faisal took over the reins of the nation after killing the assassin responsible for his father’s death.
Faisal’s defect from the rule of Egypt saw him being imprisoned for a brief period of 5 years. That came to an end with his escape from Egypt, after Egypt gained freedom from the Ottoman rule. Faisal came back to Nejd and resumed his reign until 1865 while consolidating the House of Saud. After a series of conflicts and turmoils between the grandson’s of Turki and the rival Al Rashid clan. Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud won back his ancestral kingdom back in 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926. Finally, towards the last quarter of 1932, Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud named his extended kingdom, the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia. That became the third and the final Saudi state with Riyadh as its capital.
Saudi culture thrives on hospitality and tends to use long greetings with hugs and kisses. The locals are very friendly and warm. They greet you with praises to God. Embraces and kisses are between males. Visitors are served Arabic coffee also known as ‘Kawah’ and dates as a welcoming gesture in an Arabic home. Shoes are removed outside before entering a Saudi home. Do shake hands with the host while arriving and leaving as a polite gesture. It is customary for the host of the Saudi family to put in some pieces of charcoal in an incense cauldron and drop in the resin of frankincense or myrrh. This symbolizes immense respect and honour to the guest. Do not shake the hands of a woman unless she puts out her hand first.
Riyadh lies in the Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia and is bordered by six other provinces. These provinces are Al-Qassim to the north, Madinah to the northwest, Makkah to the west, 'Asir to the south-west, Najran to the south. And lastly the Eastern province to the east. The city of Riyadh itself lies 600 meters above sea level, which is approximately 1,900 feet. The city lies on a plateau that is majorly dominated by rocky terrain. Riyadh is a part of a series of rocky escarpments that rise to form an arch from north to south. Which form the backbone of the longest and highest of the escarpments called the Tuwayq mountains. Of which the city of Riyadh is a part.
Islamic culture and traditions are very conservative that do not allow many performances. However one may find Saudi men take part in a traditional war dance known as Yowlah. Where they are seen dancing in circles while swirling and swinging rifles in their hands. Furthermore, the art culture in Riyadh has survived for many years in the form of architecture that is prevalent on the walls of several buildings recently found.
The music culture in Saudi Arabia also witnesses men making the use of several traditional music instruments. Some of these include instruments like duf, simsimiyya, oud, rebab, mirwas and many more. These instruments have membranes often made from the skin of a goat or camel. Another popular form of art that survives in the country is the art of 'Calligraphy'. This art form has been prevalent in the region for over 1,400 years dating back to the century when Islam took shape in the country.
The staple foods that make up the need for nutritional requirements in Saudi Arabia. Include food items like yoghurt, seafood, lamb, rice, chicken, wheat, potatoes and dates. These ingredients are prevalent in almost every dish that one may find in Saudi Arabia including chickpeas, eggplant and dry fruits. Chickpeas are popularly used as the main ingredient for making hummus, whereas eggplant finds itself being used to making babaganoush. Which are two of the most popular Persian dips/spread that is popular in many Islamic countries.
In terms of beverages, the most popular beverage being consumed in Saudi Arabia is the Arabic version of coffee known as 'Kahwah' or 'Gahwah'. This unique beverage is obtained by slightly roasting green coffee beans to a slightly greenish-brown colour. In the olden days, the beans were often roasted, cooled off and ground in front of guests. As a sign of reverence and hospitality. It was during this grinding phase where the guest would add pods of cardamom and a few strands of 'Zaffaran' or saffron as we popularly know it. The 'Gahwah' was then poured from a Dallah, which is an Arabic coffee pot. Into small ceramic cups known as Finjan.
Madfoon (Saudi style lamb biryani) | Mandi (underground oven rice with meat) | Jalamah (spring lamb meat) | Kabsa (rice, dry fruits and meat platter) | Khubz ruqaq (Arabic unleavened bread) | Mutabbaq (stuffed pan-fried bread) | Sambusak (stuffed savoury pockets of goodness) | Mabshoor (chickpea stew with vegetables and meat) | Manthoo (Arabic version of meat dumplings) | Roz Bukhari (Saudi style pilau rice) | Kanafeh (Saudi dessert with vermicelli and cheese)
Jallab (dates drink), Gahwah (Arabic coffee), Laban (Arabic buttermilk), Sobia (light fermented mixture of date palm sap, barley, herbs and spices)
Saudi culture thrives in hospitality and tends to use long greetings with hugs and kisses. The locals are very friendly and warm. They greet you with praises to Allah. Embraces and kisses are between males. Do not shake the hands of a woman unless she puts out her hand first. Visitors are served Arabic coffee or 'Gahwah' and dates as a welcoming gesture in any Saudi home. Shoes are removed outside before entering a Saudi household. Do shake hands with the host while arriving and leaving, as a polite gesture.
