Others arrive at this oil-rich city on supported business trips, usually finding little time or facility for free time and bliss. Saudi Arabia and Riyadh is intent on keeping its traditions, culture and religious inheritance away from snooping western eyes. Its cities, however, are not backwaters but modern, bustling business centers, like the Royal capital, Riyadh, offering outstanding hotels and some out of this world sights, like the Al Faisaliah golden geodesic dome, one of the tallest buildings in the region.
There are a number of Riyadh tourist attractions. Among it all, the magic of Arabia shines through in the souks (markets) where vendors flaunt everything from carpets to camel milk. Rules and set of laws make Tourism in Riyadh difficult for foreigners except on a few accepted and luxurious tours, but sites like the ruins of 15th-century Dir'aiyah (the nation's first capital) and trips to the world's largest camel market make for exciting excursions. The conserved very old city of Jeddah is also listed as a 'tourist site', as is that city's seafront corniche, a popular spot with the air of a British seaside resort that draws the country's own domestic holidaymakers.
Inhabiting most of the Arabian Peninsula, and bordered by no less than eight Middle-eastern states, many of them discordant, Riyadh Tourism manages its highly controlled religious culture flanking the assault of its progressive oil-boom industry. The kingdoms planned position both geographically, culturally and religiously at the centre of the Arab world have made it an insecure place for westerners and those who do visit are advised to plan well and be fully learned.History of Riyadh
Riyadh is one of the finest and largest city of Saudi Arabia. To know the history of Riyadh you have to go through the details of the city. Riyadh is the capital city of Saudi Arabia and also the capital of Ar Riyad Province. It is located in the core of the Arabian Peninsula where 4,260,000 people resides. In order to get Riyadh Overview, it is important that one learns about the history of Riyadh. You must not forget to look into the Riyadh Geography which is equally important.
History of Riyadh should start from the name 'Riyadh'. The name is originated from the Arabic word 'rawdha' which is a plural form. 'Rawdha' is the place where you can find beautiful gardens and trees. Once upon a time in Riyadh there were water courses which has now turned dry. But since ages Riyadh is known for its fertile land situated in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. The History of Riyadh says that since historic times, the city was splited up into 17 branch municipalities which was ruled under the Riyadh Municipality and the Development Authority. The Riyadh Municipality and the Riyadh Development Authority is moderated by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz who is the Governor of the province.
The history in Riyadh can be traced back to 19th century. The history at Riyadh informs you about how its colonization stepped into a great mod city. During 1955 under the rule of Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, the ministries and the government bureau were established. Slowly in that year, a Royal Decree came forth highlighting the works of the municipality. This raised to the growth of the resources with the developing population.The history in Riyadh helps us to peep into the Pre-Islamic times of Saudi Arabia. 'Hajar' was the name given to the settlement at the city. The area was historically popular for its orchards and dates. As days rolled on, the new name was applied for the total settlement. Riyadh became the part of the First Saudi State and the capital of Diriya, at the end of the 18th century. Later in 1818 Diriyah was destroyed by the Turks which made the capital proceed to Riyadh.
After passing through several ups and downs, the city of Riyadh has lately prospered and consolidated its position as a cultural, economical, industrial and technological center.
Culture of Riyadh
Riyadh being the capital of Saudi Arabia is also the cultural hub of the country. The culture of Riyadh and its citizens is amply reflected thorough its music, dance and religion. One can come to this city and get a taste of the rich Islamic culture.
Music and dance forms an integral part of the culture of Riyadh. The Arabian folk music is extremely popular all across the world. Music and dance in Riyadh is greatly influenced by music of different countries, which was brought to this place by the pilgrims and the Bedouins, a nomadic tribe. Music is different in different regions of Saudi Arabia. The Arabs also love to dance. Their national dance, called the sword dance, is extremely famous and worth taking a look. This dance is performed mainly by the men folk. The women folk also have their own dances.
Poetry recitation also forms part of the culture in Riyadh. The Arabs have flair for literary composition, which is highlighted through their poetic compositions. A large number of poets often organize functions where they assemble and share their compositions with one another.
The culture of Riyadh also includes its religion. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country and hence Islam is the main religion of the city. The Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. Their holy book is The Quran. The city is filled with a large number of mosques where the Muslims go everyday to offer prayers. Religion in Riyadh is very rigid and one is expected to follow the rules as laid down by the government of the city. The vibrant culture of Riyadh is also visible through its numerous festivals like the Janadriyah Festival and the Riyadh Festival for Shopping and Leisure. People from all across the city come to participate in these festivals and enjoy themselves.
The Ministry of Culture and Information in Riyadh has taken a large number of steps to promote the culture of Riyadh. They have set up a large number of associations like the Saudi Society For Culture and Arts and others to promote the cultural advancement amongst the people of the country.
Getting a complete Riyadh Overview is not possible without learning about the culture of Riyadh. The music, dance and religion of the city brings forth the true colorful culture of the people of the city.
Popular destinations near Riyadh
Riyadh in Saudi Arab is a very popular place to visit. In fact, the Popular destinations near Riyadh provide you with great locations.
To begin with, Mecca is a nice place to visit in Saudi Arab. Mecca is a holy place for the Muslims. The pilgrimage to the Masjid-al-Haram in Mecca is considered to be the holiest part in a Muslim's life. Millions of people come to this place at least once in their lifetime.
Popular destinations near Riyadh also includes Jeddah, which happens to be the main gateway to Mecca. Also, the place is a popular business area. This is why; it remains crowded throughout the year.
Madinah also forms an important part of popular destinations near Riyadh. Situated at a distance of 447 kms away from Mecca, this is the second holiest city in Islam. This is also the place where the Holy Quran was compiled. Popular destinations nearby Riyadh also includes Abha. One of the interesting features of this place is that the homes here are made of stone and mud with hand. Some of these homes are as old as 300 years old and even more. Besid4es, the place is also renowned for its marketplace.
Riyadh overview also includes Dammam which is one of the largest cities on the banks of the Persian Gulf. The city includes the King Fahd International Airport and the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium and also the head quarters of Saudi Aramco which is the largest oil company of the world.
Touring in and Riyadh is really a great idea if you are planning to come to this place. Do not miss the opportunity to visit these places, which are popular tourist attractions in Saudi Arab.
Sightseeing in Riyadh
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is one of the most regularly visited tourist destinations of the world. The city is filled with a large number of tourist attractions and places of interest that makes sightseeing in Riyadh an interesting and educational activity.
Sightseeing in Riyadh includes checking out the numerous parks, gardens, castles, palaces, museums and other fabulous structures and places that not only adorn the city, but also speak volumes about the heritage, culture and history of the city and Saudi Arabia.
One of the most famous sightseeing destinations in Riyadh is the Al-Thumama Entertainment Village. This is a major entertainment center of the city. Extremely popular amongst the children, the entertainment center offers a wide range of games and activities for both the young and the old. This is more of an amusement park. You can come over here and go on the bumper cars or check out the food stalls selling traditional Arabian dishes.
Travelers coming to Riyadh can also pay a visit to the Al Musmak Castle. This castle is a symbol of the history of Riyadh. Built during the reign of Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Rasheed, this castle is known for its marvelous watch-towers and the huge Castle gate. This historical site is a definitely worth a visit when planning to go for sightseeing at Riyadh.
Riyadh is home to a large number of modern architectural marvels and buildings. Sightseeing in Riyadh is almost incomplete without checking out these structures like the Kingdom Center. This is one of the tallest buildings of the city. The building is shaped like a bottle opener and is home to a large number of offices, shopping malls and hotels. It is a fine example of modern architecture. Another building that is worth checking out is the Al Faisaliyah Center.
Sightseeing in Riyadh is definitely one of the major activities that you can embark upon when on a holiday to this city.
Riyadh Festivals & Events
Riyadh is a fascinating place by itself and it is further supplemented by the numerous events and festivals of the place. The Riyadh Festivals and Events are great crowd pullers and if you have selected Riyadh for touring during the holidays then you should not miss these special occasions as these would really add on to the enjoyment. So make it a point to enjoy the Festivals and Events of Riyadh.
The major Festivals and Events in Riyadh are-
Saudi Food 2007 (Nov 11 to Nov 15 '07)
The Saudi Food 2007 (Nov 11 to Nov 15 '07) is among the most popular amongst the Riyadh Festivals and Events and it is the longest established food exhibitions in Saudi Arabia. It is a bi annual event and it is a grand opening for the leading food production companies to exhibit their new products, technologies, and the equipment that they are using.
Annual King's Cup Camel Race
The Annual King's Cup Camel Race is held once every year and there are more than 2000 riders who participate in the Annual King's Cup Camel Race. The specialty of this race lies in the fact that most of the competitors in this race are young boys who have been trained in the art of camel riding since childhood.
Janadriyah Festival
This is a major cultural event amongst the Riyadh Festivals and Events. It is held annually and is the oldest and the most traditional of all the festivals. This is usually held from the 12th to the 26th of February. The Kingdom of Riyadh arranges for the extravaganza. This festival is considered to be the National Festival of Heritage and Culture in the al Janadriyah region of Riyadh.
Riyadh Festival for Shopping and Leisure
This is held every year in the month of July. One can shop all types of things right from garments, accessories, electronic goods, you just need to name it and you have it right here in Riyadh.
Eid-ul-Fitr
The Eid-ul-Fitr is the celebration that marks the coming of the new moon and it is an important one amongst the Festivals and Events at Riyadh. This comes at the end of the month of Ramadan and it heralds the auspicious arrival of this wonderful occasion.
How to Get in
Riyadh the capital city of Saudi Arabia is a fantastic tourist destination for all travel lovers. The prosperous and dazzling city of Riyadh has become a major tourist destination in the recent years. Getting to Riyadh is very easy from all other cities of Saudi Arabia.
By air:
Getting to Riyadh by Air is one of the best ways of traveling to this land. The Riyadh Airport is also known by the name of King Khaled Airport and it is about 35 kilometers away from the center of the city and is well linked from all parts of world by Saudi Arabian Airlines.
By Train:
The only train station that serves the city is located in Alhafuf that is the starting point of Riyadh.
Hotels in Riyadh
