As the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), of course Riyadh become a very attractive tourist destination, after the hajj or umrah. The city of Riyadh is located in the Nejd region, has a population of nearly 5.5 million people, with an area of approximately 1554 square kilometers.
Riyadh is divided into 15 districts / cities, led by Mayor of Riyadh, and Riyadh Development Authority, led by Governor of Riyadh Province.
In Pre-Islamic period, settlement in this location is called Hajr established by the tribe of Banu Hanifah. Hajr became the provincial capital of Al-Yamamah, which was led by a governor who is responsible for most of central and eastern Arabia during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasty era.
In Riyadh there is the walled old who does not exceed one square kilometer, which still hold remnants of the original architecture of Riyadh in the past. The most prominent is the Fortress of Al-Masmak and some parts of the structure of the original walls and gates that have been restored and reconstructed. There are also a number of houses of traditional mud-brick in this old town.
Riyadh which was originally an isolated oasis is the ancestral homelands of the family Al-Saud, the founder and ruler of Saudi Arabia, has become one of the cosmopolitan city. Since the capital of the kingdom was moved from Jeddah to Riyadh in the 1980s, the region began to develop with urban neat and well planned.
Riyadh now has been transformed into a modern city with its landmarks; Burj Al-Mamlakah and Burj Al-Faisaliyah. Burj Al-Yamamah is the skyscrapers as high as 300 meters with 99 floors and is included in the ranks of the world's 45 tallest buildings. The tower was built on a land area of 94,230 square meters. Burj Al-Yamamah is owned by a group of companies including Kingdom Holding Company, led the Al-Waleed bin Talal, one of the princes of the royal family and the Arab world's richest tycoon.
While the Burj Al-Faisaliyah is the first skyscraper built in Saudi Arabia, and is the second tallest building in Riyadh after the Burj Al-Yamamah. Gold ball that is placed on top of the tower reputedly inspired by a ballpoint pen. In it there is a restaurant with a deck that can be used to enjoy the scenery outside. While on the ground floor of the tower, there is a shopping center that sells a wide range of goods of international standard.
Apart from the two towers, another place that became a tourist destination is the Palace complex in Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter and Yamamah. Yamamah palace is one of the palace of the King of Saudi Arabia which is located in Riyadh. This palace is situated close to the Diplomatic Quarter and is often used to welcome guests or accept delivery of credentials of new ambassadors. In the summer, usually the Saudi king and other officials in Jeddah and Taif to avoid the hot temperatures in Riyadh.
Diplomatic Quarter or the As-Shafarat is a complex of foreign diplomats are located in the southwestern city of Riyadh. This area is specially designed by the government of Saudi Arabia since 1979 as the office of a foreign embassy, ambassador's residence and staff housing. Security at the entrance and in the As-Shafarat very tight as the security situation is quite vulnerable at this time.
Riyadh also has several other attractions such as the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center, which is a museum complex history of the establishment of Saudi Arabia. In this place there are also King Abdul Aziz Memorial Hall that hold relics first king of Saudi Arabia and Murabba Palace which is basically `one of the oldest buildings in Riyadh.
Al-Masmak fortress-an old fort that was established in 1865 in the old city-Dir'iyah also interesting places to visit, this place is also referred to as the origin of the House of Saud.
