Welcome to Riyadh, the city of world-famous giant skyscrapers😲, mosques, and museums in Saudi Arabia!
From its captivating giant monuments to its rich cultural heritage, it offers fascinating 🤔 secrets for you to unravel.
This article will offer some amazing facts about Riyadh that will leave you amazed.
Let’s start this wonderful journey!
Interesting Facts on Riyadh
Riyadh City: The tallest skyscraper with a hole
Have you heard about the Kingdom Center in Riyadh City!?
A 41-storey building called the Kingdom Centre, which soars about 991.79 feet above the city’s skyline, is situated in the beautiful city of Riyadh.
It was the tallest structure in Saudi Arabia when it opened in 202. However, currently, it is the fifth tallest skyscraper 🌆 in the nation.
The Kingdom Center is the third tallest building in the world after the Shanghai World Financial Center and Taiwan’s famous 85 Sky Tower with a hole in it.
Riyadh: The capital city of Saudi Arabia
I am really surprised to learn this important fact about the beautiful city of Riyadh!
It is the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and also the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Arabian Peninsula is famous as the world’s largest peninsula and is a peninsula in Western Asia.
Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Yemen, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are the nations that constitute the Arabian Peninsula.
Riyadh City is the center of Riyadh Governorate and also the capital of Riyadh Province.
Riyadh City: It is the Middle East’s money capital
Did you know this unique fact about Riyadh City!?
It is classified as a global city and even carries the nickname of the Middle East’s money capital because it plays a vital role in the world’s economic 💰system.
Riyadh is the city with the largest population, and it is also the region’s fourth-most global city of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
There are about 110 consulates, embassies, and headquarters of several regional and international organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, situated in Riyadh.
Riyadh has a diverse population
As of April 2022, the city of Riyadh was home to one-sixth of the population of its country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is around 7.54 million.
According to experts, about 40% of the population is made up of non-Saudis, while Saudis make up around 60% of the city’s population 👨👩.
The two biggest groups of non-Saudis residing in the city of Riyadh are Pakistanis at 12.4% and Indians at 13.7%.
Riyadh is home to the oldest university in the country
Little scholars, you will surely love to explore this amazing fact about Riyadh City! The Riyadh University, or King Saud University 🏛️, was founded in 1957 by King Saud bin Abdulaziz.
The university, which is home to some wonderful buildings, for example, the King Salman Central Library, is the oldest university in the country.
The King Salman Central Library is a seven-floor building with over 4000 seats and has a huge collection of periodicals, books, government publications, and manuscripts.
It even has a vast collection of dissertations, academic theses, press clippings📰, electronic and audio-visual media.
This beautiful city of Riyadh is home to the Ain Heet Cave
Located at the face of Mount Al Jubayl in Wadi As Sulay, in a very small village known as Heet in Riyadh City, the Ain Heet cave has a unique underground lake that is believed to be 150 meters deep😲.
The lake 🌊 is located in the cave system’s interior chambers.
Also, this cave is one of the easily accessible caves in the region of Riyadh, situated between Al Kharj road and Riyadh.
This absolutely stunning cave is located almost 40 kilometers from the Riyadh City Center.
Riyadh City: Here, we can see the Masmark Fort
Did you know about the Masmark Fort??
The Masmark Fort in as-Dirah, which is a district in southern Riyadh is a mudbrick and clay fort.
This unique fort was constructed for Prince Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman AlDabaan at the order of the Emirate of Jabal Shammar.
The fort stands as proof of Saudi Arabian history. The fortress was captured by King Abdulaziz👑, and then he took control of Riyadh, which was his ancestral home, in 1902 after residing in exile in Kuwait.
Today, the restored building is a museum🏫 that houses artifacts and exhibitions dating between 1912 and 1937.
Riyadh was settled several centuries ago
I am quite amazed to learn this fact about Riyadh City!
During the third century AD, Banu Hanifa settled in the region of today’s Riyadh and gave it the name of Hajr in the then province of Al Yamaah.
Riyadh was not the capital city of the nation until 1823.
In 1938, until vast oil reserves were found near the Persian Gulf, the kingdom was at first a poor desert area.
After the discovery of oil reserves, Saudi Arabia became a wealthy 💰nation, and by 1976, it had become the largest oil exporter in the world.
Riyadh: The city during 1737 and 1744
Deham Ibn Dawwas, settled in and took control of Riyadh.
He was from the neighboring Manhufa. Deham constructed a wall around the city, and the best known origin of the city’s name Riyadh is from this period.
It was believed to be referring to the earlier oasis cities that predated the wall constructed by Ibn Dawwas.
During 1744, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab and the Emir of Dir’iyah, Muhammad bin Saud, formed an alliance, and took Riyadh from Deham.
However, this state called the First Saudi State, collapsed in 1818.
The beautiful city of Riyadh: Here, we can tour the edge of the world
If you love exploring secrets, just like me, then you will surely love to explore another amazing fact about Riyadh!
One of the most popular tourist destinations of Saudi Arabia is Jebel Fihrayn or the Edge of the World.
At the top of its 300-meter-high cliffs⛰️, the famous Edge of the World offers an uninterrupted view of the horizon overlooking the nearby plain.
It is a wonderful spot, even though it is a little bit frightening 😵 for some people.
In the city of Riyadh: Al Rajhi Grand Mosque
One of the most famous landmarks of Riyadh City is the Al Rajhi Grand Mosque.
It serves not just as a sacred place of worship🛐 for Muslims but also as a meeting place for social events for the community.
Regarded as an architectural wonder and one of the most important Islamic institutions in Riyadh, the Al Rajhi Grand Mosque 🕌 is the largest mosque in the city.
This beautiful mosque holds two libraries📚, an automated utility system, forensic science courses, and an 18,000-person capacity hall, among others. Quite impressive, isn’t it?
The city of Riyadh: Explore the Salam Park
Just like me, if you love to take a stroll in beautiful parks, then you will surely love to explore this wonderful fact about this beautiful city of Saudi Arabia!
Situated in the heart of the city of Riyadh, the famous Salam Park 🌳 represents an amazing and harmonious composition of several different environments.
The park has coverage of more than one thousand palm trees.
There is even a large lake with different levels of depth, which is divided into two vital areas, one representing natural life and the other one serving for boating⛵.
Riyadh City: Experience King Abdullah Park
King Abdulah Park is another significant Park in Riyadh. Its vast, lush green🌲 areas have something for everyone.
The park is well-known for its sprawling green lawns, dancing water fountain displays, and vibrant gardens.
It even has wide brick and stone paths that span across 318,000 square meters.
The main path follows the park’s void perimeter for around 2 km, but there are even many interior walkways and paths circling the stadium to the south. It is a well-lit and safe space to enjoy a run even at night 🌃.
Jenadriyah: Explore this annual festival in Riyadh
Have you heard about Jenadriyah? No?? Then, let us enjoy this fun secret about Riyadh!
Jenadriyah is a famous yearly festival that has been held in the city of Riyadh.
It hosts several traditional and cultural events, like poetry reading, camel race🐪, and many more.
Turaif district: Know about a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riyadh
Beautiful Riyadh even has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, isn’t it surprising??
The Turaif district, a famous archaeological site inscribed on July 31 2010 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site can be seen here.
Founded in the 15th century, it is an archaeological style of Najdi.
There are several historical monuments and palaces🏰 in Al-Tiraif district, such as Saad bin Saud Palace, Salwa Palace, and Mohammad bin Saud Mosque.
Explore the mystery of Riyadh TV Tower
The famous Riyadh TV Tower is a television tower of 170-meter height located inside the premises of the Saudi Ministry of Administration.
This tower is actually a vertical cantilever structure which was constructed between 1978 and 1981.
The first movie that was made in 1983 by the TV tower group was known as “1000 Nights and Night” had Talal Mmdah and Mohammed Abdu as the main characters.
Sports and Riyadh: The city with several football clubs
Little sports lovers, if you are soccer fan like me, then you will surely love to explore this fact about Riyadh!
In Saudi Arabia as well as in Riyadh football is the most popular sport. The beautiful city of Riyadh hosts four major football ⚽clubs, that are Al-Nasr, Al Hilal, Al-Riyadh, and Al-Shabab.
Also, this Saudi Arabian city has multiple large stadiums, including King Fahd International Stadium that has a seating capacity of 70,000 people.
Riyadh City: The beautiful Murabba Palace
In Riyadh City, we can explore a beautiful historical palace. Isn’t it impressive??
Known as Murabba Palace, this beautiful monument used to be the residence of King Abdulaziz. It is now open to people and is definitely worth exploring.
Summing up
We hope! Exploring the above interesting facts about Riyadh will satisfy your curious soul!
As you already feel captivated to know about this wonderful smart city! From its rich culture and amazing parks 🌻 to its universities and diverse population, which do you like the most 🤔?
As we are enjoying this journey together, we would love to know your answer.
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)
