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Riyadh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Riyadh City الرياض |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Province | Ar Riyadh Province |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Abdul Aziz ibn 'Ayyaf Al Migrin |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1,554 km² (600 sq mi) |
| - Land | 1,554 km² (600 sq mi) |
| - Water | 0 km² (0 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 4,700,000 |
| HDI (2006) 0.843 – high | |
| Website: City of Riyadh | |
Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض ar-Riyāḍ) is the capital and largest city 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 15 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.
Summer temperatures are very hot, frequently exceeding +45 °C (113 °F). Winters are mild with cool nights.
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.
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The name Riyadh is derived from plural of the Arabic word rawdha, meaning a place of gardens and trees. With many wadis (dry riverbeds that flood during rainy seasons) in the vicinity, Riyadh has for more than 1500 years been a fertile area set in the heartland of the Arabian Peninsula.[2] 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.
In pre-Islamic times, the settlement at the site was called Hajr (Arabic: حجر), and was reportedly founded by the tribe of Banu Hanifa. Hajr served as the capital of the province of al-Yamamah, whose governors were responsible for most of central and eastern Arabia during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras. Al-Yamama broke away from the Abbasid Empire in 866 and the area fell under the rule of the Ukhaydhirites, who moved the capital from Hajr to nearby al-Kharj. The city then went into a long period of decline. The 14th century North African traveller Ibn Battuta wrote of his visit to Hajr, describing it as "the [main] city of al-Yamamah, and its name is 'Hajr'." Ibn Battuta goes on to describe it as a city of canals and trees with most of its inhabitants belonging to Bani Hanifa, and reports that he continued on with their leader to Mecca to perform the Islamic pilgrimage.
Later on, Hajr broke up into several separate settlements and estates. The most notable of these were Migrin (or Muqrin) and Mi'kal, though the name "Hajr" continued to appear in local folk poetry. The earliest known reference to the area by the name ar-Riyadh comes from a 17th century chronicler reporting on an event from the year 1590.[3]
In 1737, Deham ibn Dawwas, a refugee from neighboring Manfuha, took control of Riyadh. Ibn Dawwas built a single wall to encircle the various quarters of Riyadh, making them effectively a single town.
In 1744, the Muslim religious scholar, Muhammad ibn Abdel Wahhab joined forces with Muhammad ibn Saud, the ruler of nearby al-Dir'iyyah. Ibn Saud then set out to conquer the surrounding region with the goal of bringing it under the rule of a single Islamic state. Ibn Dawwas of Riyadh led the most determined resistance, allied with forces from al-Kharj, al-Ahsa, and the Banu Yam tribe of Najran. However, after 27 years of battle, Ibn Dawwas finally fled and Riyadh capitulated to the Saudis in 1773.
The First Saudi State was destroyed by forces sent by Muhammad Ali of Egypt, acting on behalf of the Ottoman Empire. Egyptian forces razed the Saudi capital al-Dir'iyyah in 1818. When Turki ibn Abdallah, a member of the Al Saud clan, revived the Saudi state in 1823, he chose Riyadh as his capital.
Internecine struggles between Turki's grandsons led to the fall of the Second Saudi State in 1891 at the hand of the rival Al Rashid clan, who ruled from the northern city of Ha'il. Riyadh itself fell under the rule of Al Rashid in 1865. The al-Masmak fort dates from this period.
The city was recaptured in 1902 by Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud from the Al Rashid family. 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.[citation needed] 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.
| 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* | 5,000,000 |
| 2020* | 8,900,000 |
*Estimate
Between 1974 and 1992 the city grew by an average of 8.2% per year.
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 cities in the world. Also it is the richest city in Saudi Arabia with a GDP Per Capita of $US 47,700 (SR 178,400)
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.
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 architecture is mostly modern, including contemporary high-rise towers, but the Al-Dira district, the nucleus of the city, has been rebuilt in a style meant to evoke the old mud-brick buildings of pre-20th century Nejd.
Riyadh is divided into 15 municipalities, in addition to the Diplomatic Quarter, while on its nortwestern outskirts lay the ruins of the former Saudi capital of Diriyah. Each municipal district contributes in its own way to the character of the city.
The bustling Olaya District is the commercial heart of the 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 most prominent landmarks.
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 centre of the city, Al-Bathaa and Al-Dirah, is also its oldest part. At its heart lies the 19th-century Masmak fort, which is one of the city's major attractions; to the west lies the Riyadh Museum of History and Archeology and the Murabba' Palace, an old residence of first Saudi king, Ibn Saud, now a museum. The Qasr Al-Hukm, or Palace of Justice, is nearby. It is here that the Governor of Riyadh Province meets citizens, listens to their grievances and problems, and stays abreast to all aspects of the region's life. The Al-Dira area also contains commercial markets and traditional buildings, such as the Al-Mu'eiqilia market and the city's Grand Mosque.
Riyadh has the highest Quality of Living in Saudi Arabia . Also it has the best Health and Sanitation in Saudi Arabia and Jeddah is second. See also List of cities by quality of living and List of cities by Health and Sanitation.
- The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170 metre (558 ft) 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
- 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.
- King Abdullah International Gardens- From Worldarab.net
- King Abdullah Financial Center
- Crystals of Riyadh
- Jewel of Saudia
- Al Rajhi Tower
- Riyadh Monorail
Riyadh is home to two national universities and several specialized colleges and private universities and colleges.
National Public Universities:
Private Universities and Colleges:
Specialized Colleges:
Military Colleges:
- King Faisal College of Aviation - responsible for training the officer corps of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
- King Khalid Military College - responsible for training the officer corps of the Saudi National Guard.
Riyadh also houses the main campus of the Goverenment's Institute of Public Administration and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency's Institue of Banaking
Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport (IATA:RUH) located 35 kilometers north is the city's main airport. It's one of the three international airports in the country serving over 9 million passengers a year.
The city is served by a modern major highway system. The main Eastern Ring Road connects the city's south and north while Northern Ring Road connects the city's east and west. King Fahd Road runs through the center of the city from north to south, in parallel with the East Ring Road. Makkah Road (also known as Khurais Road) runs east-west across the city's center, connects eastern parts of the city with the city's main business district and the diplomatic quarters.
Saudi Railway Authority operates two separate passenger and cargo lines between Riyadh and Dammam passing through Hofuf, and Haradh. Two future railway projects connecting Riyadh with Jeddah and Mecca in the western region and connecting Riyadh with Buraidah, Ha'il and Northern Saudi Arabia are underway.
The Saudi Arabian Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO), the national bus system, runs a fleet of buses that provides public transportation inside the city, and also an extending service transporting passengers to several cities across the kingdom and neighboring countries.
- 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.
 Kingdom Centre from the Al Faisaliyah Center |
 Grand Court of Riyadh |
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 Satellite |
 King Fahd Road (with Al Faisaliyah and Kingdom centres in the distance) |
 Old water Tower. |
- ^ The Saudi Arabian Information Resource
- ^ Al-Juhany, U.M., Najd before the Salafi Reform Movement, Ithaca Press, 2002, ISBN 0863724019.
- ^ Al-Juhany, p. 120-1
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +3 hours | No daylight saving time in 2007 [2]
- The Saudi Information Resource - Riyadh Population Reaches 4.26 Million
- Riyadh City, official site with News, history and photos
- Saudi Arabian Information Resource, official site with history and photos
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Riyadh Principality
- Riyadh is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Maps from MapQuest, Multimap and Yahoo! Maps
- Satellite images and maps from Google Maps and Live Search
- Other mapping from GlobalGuide and WikiMapia
 Saudi Arabian Cities |
List of main Saudi Arabian cities |
|---|---|
| Afif | Arar | Abha | Abqaiq | Al-Bahah | Buraidah | Dammam | Dhahran | Diriyah | Duba | Ha'il | Hofuf | Al Jawf | Jeddah | Jizan | Jubail | Khamis Mushait | Al-Kharj | Khobar | Al Majma'ah | Mecca (Makkah) | Medina | Najran | Bisha | Qatif | Ras Tanura | Khafji | Riyadh (National Capital) | Ta’if | Tabuk | Unaizah | Yanbu' al Bahr | Hafar Al-Batin |