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138-589: Several tombs, remnants, artifacts and historical references suggest that the area was inhabited more than two thousand years ago. However, most vestiges of human habitation were buried by the encroaching desert sands and the area had been largely deserted for centuries. Modern history The area was first inhabited by a clan of Al Dossary tribe and a number of the Al Howela families in early 1923. The families led by Sheikh Ahmed ibn Abdullah Al Dossary migrated from Bahrain and were offered to choose land to settle in

276-471: A caravan of Egyptian pilgrims on the way to Mecca were beaten by his forces for playing bugles, he was impelled to issue a conciliatory statement to the Egyptian government. In fact, several such statements were issued to Muslim governments around the world as a result of beatings suffered by the pilgrims visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. With the uprising and subsequent suppression thereafter of

414-663: A charming, and charismatic personality that earned him respect among his people and some foreign diplomats. His family and others described Ibn Saud as an affectionate and caring man. Ibn Saud had twenty-two consorts. Many of his marriages were contracted in order to cement alliances with other clans, during the period when the Saudi state was founded and stabilized. Aside from his legal wives, he also had concubines in his harem among them Baraka Al Yamaniyah , who by definition were slaves, slavery in Saudi Arabia being legal. He

552-651: A clear violation of Islamic principles. On the other hand he often expressed his dislike for the Jews by referring to the Quran and the Hadith . In 1937 he called them "a race accursed by God" who are "destined to final destruction and eternal damnation". For him they were "enemies of Islam and prophet Muhammad" and "enemies of the Muslims until the end of the world." In some instances he made use of antisemitic tropes , calling

690-526: A commercial spine with and most importantly, that it will be divided into neighborhoods of 2 x 2 km blocks, thus solidifying the grid pattern to be the defining feature of Riyadh's layout. It also maintains the style of housing that was prominent in Malaz, detached houses with setbacks, designed in what Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul identifies as an 'international Mediterranean' style i.e. crimson colors. However, DA's shortcomings lay in their inability to accurately predict

828-513: A continuous approach instead of a one-off plan was adopted. The MEDSTAR was not a long term plan but an ongoing strategy on managing urban growth and economic development in the city. It was initiated after comprehensive studies by the Arriyadh Development Authority (the high commission's research wing) on demographics, land use, transportation, security, environment, and traffic safety. In 2007, MEDSTAR won second place in

966-463: A cost of $ 70 million, drawn from the King's oil royalties. It was completed in 1951 and was used commercially after the King's death. It enabled Riyadh to grow into a relatively modern city. But when a paved road was built in 1962, the railway lost its traffic. Ibn Saud was very tall for a Saudi man of his time, his height reported as between 1.67 (5 ft 6 in) and 1.69 (5 ft 7 in). He was known to have

1104-853: A cultural and tourist destination. Many roads and streets, such as the Olaya street and the Imam Saud road, are being refurbished. Fewer malls are opening and squares (or plazas) are taking over in popularity, the most popular having been the Riyadh Boulevard on the Prince Turki Al Awwal Road. A new downtown called 'New Murabba' at the intersection of the King Salman and King Khaled roads is planned. New fully residential suburbs, unlike regular neighborhoods that have storefront-lined main streets, are under construction in

1242-481: A decrease in the number of Ibn Saud's raiders, and his father also asked him to cancel his plans to capture Riyadh. However, Ibn Saud did not cancel the raid and managed to reach Riyadh. On the night of 15 January 1902, he led 40 men over the city walls on tilted palm trees and took the city. The Rashidi governor of the city, Ajlan, was killed by Abdullah bin Jiluwi in front of his own fortress. The Saudi recapture of

1380-488: A fair amount of rain in March and April. It is also known to have dust storms during which the dust can be so thick that visibility is under 10 m (33 ft). On 1 and 2 April 2015, a massive dust storm hit Riyadh, causing the suspension of classes in many schools in the area and the cancellation of hundreds of flights, both domestic and international. Riyadh is divided into fourteen branch municipalities, in addition to

1518-522: A great deal of power and influence that he would use to advantage in the Hejaz. He forced many nomadic tribes to settle down and abandon "petty wars" and vendettas. He began widespread enforcement of the new kingdom's ideology, based on the teachings of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab . This included an end to traditionally sanctioned rites of pilgrimage, recognized by the orthodox schools of jurisprudence, but at odds with those sanctioned by al-Wahhab. In 1926, after

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1656-416: A group of his followers chose to move to Saudi Arabia where Prince Rashed lived for several years under Ibn Saud's hospitality. Ibn Saud's charity earned him respect among his people. The King would direct money to be handed to the impoverished whenever he saw them. This is why the poor would eagerly anticipate his appearance in villages, towns, and even the desert. "O Abdul-Aziz, may Allah give you in

1794-517: A legendary monarch. Ibn Saud had a kennel for salukis , a dog breed originated in the Middle East. He gave two of his salukis, a male and a mate, to British Field Marshal Sir Henry Maitland Wilson who brought them to Washington D.C., USA. Of them, the male named Ch Abdul Farouk won a championship in the USA. Ibn Saud was said to be very close to his paternal aunt, Jawhara bint Faisal. From

1932-424: A much faster rate than Doxiadis Associates had projected and very soon, their plan became obsolete. DA predicted that Riyadh's urban area would be 304 km in 30 years when it reached 400 km just four years after the plan was authorized. Therefore, SCET International was assigned to revise and update the original plan to reflect the drastic growth and offer adaptive measures, which were approved in 1982. While keeping

2070-589: A number of half-siblings from his father's other marriages, including Muhammad , Abdullah , Ahmed, and Musaid , who all had roles in the Saudi government. Ibn Saud was taught Quran by Abdullah Al Kharji in Riyadh. In 1891, the House of Saud's long-term regional rivals led by Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid conquered Riyadh . Ibn Saud was 15 at the time. He and his family initially took refuge with

2208-738: A raiding expedition into the Nejd, targeting mainly tribes associated with the Rashidis. On 12 December they reached Al Ahsa and then proceeded south towards the Empty Quarter with the support from various tribes. Upon this Abdulaziz Al Rashid sent messages to Qatari ruler Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani and to the Ottoman governor of Baghdad asking their help to stop Ibn Saud's raids on the tribes loyal to Al Rashid. These events led to

2346-695: A result of a missile attack. The number of missiles which targeted Riyadh are a small portion of the dozens of missiles fired from Yemen at Saudi Arabia due to the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen . In April 2018, heavy gunfire was heard in Khozama; this led to rumors of a coup attempt. A restoration of heritage buildings of historical significance was launched in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 13 September 2020. Historical Riyadh

2484-549: A young age, she ingrained in him a strong sense of family destiny and motivated him to regain the lost glory of the House of Saud. During the years when the Al Saud family were living almost as refugees in Kuwait, Jawhara bint Faisal frequently recounted the deeds of his ancestors to Ibn Saud and exhorted him not to be content with the existing situation. She was instrumental in making him decide to return to Nejd from Kuwait and regain

2622-811: Is also part of Mashreq M5. Named bridges and tunnels The King Fahd Causeway (Mashreq M80) connects Khobar to Bahrain . The causeway is popularly known as the Bahrain Bridge. Ibn Saud Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud ( Arabic : عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن بن فيصل بن ترکي بن عبدالله بن محمد بن سعود ; 15 January 1875 – 9 November 1953), known in

2760-667: Is another important archeological site inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List on 31 July 2010. It was founded in the 15th century bearing an architectural style of Najdi. There are some Historic palaces and monuments in Al-Turaif district include: Salwa Palace, Saad bin Saud Palace, The Guest House and At-Turaif Bath House, and Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque. This fortress was built around 1865 under

2898-680: Is served by the King Fahd International Airport , the largest airport in the world by land area (~780 km), about 20 km northwest of Dammam. The airport serves an estimated 9.8 million people annually (2017). By sea Dammam's King Abdul Aziz Sea Port is the largest on the Persian Gulf, with import-export traffic in the country second only to the Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea near

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3036-613: Is the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula , and is situated in the center of the an-Nafud desert, on the eastern part of the Najd plateau . The city sits at an average of 600 meters (2,000 ft) above sea level, and receives around 5 million tourists each year, making it the forty-ninth most visited city in the world and the 6th in the Middle East . Riyadh had a population of 7.0 million people in 2022, making it

3174-538: Is the commercial heart of the city, with accommodation, entertainment, dining and shopping options. The Kingdom Centre , Al Faisalyah , and Al-Tahlya Street are the area's most prominent landmarks. The center of the city, Al-Bathaa and Al-Deerah, is also its oldest part. Some of the main districts of Riyadh are: In 2022, the city had over 7 million people. The city had a population of 40,000 inhabitants in 1935 and 83,000 in 1949. The city has experienced very high rates of population growth, from 150,000 inhabitants in

3312-580: 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. In the 14th century, North African traveler 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

3450-841: The Al Murrah , a Bedouin tribe in the southern desert of Arabia. Later, the Al Sauds moved to Qatar and stayed there for two months. Their next stop was Bahrain where they stayed briefly. The Ottoman State allowed them to settle in Kuwait where they settled and lived for nearly a decade. Ibn Saud developed a rapport with the Kuwaiti ruler Mubarak Al Sabah and frequently visited his majlis . His father, Abdul Rahman, did not endorse these visits, perceiving Mubarak's lifestyle as immoral and unorthodox. On 14 November 1901 Ibn Saud and some relatives, including his half-brother Muhammad and several cousins (amongst them Abdullah bin Jiluwi ), set out on

3588-546: The Bani Hanifa , and reports that he continued on with their leader to Mecca to perform the Hajj . 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 Riyadh comes from a 17th-century chronicler reporting on an event from

3726-550: The Global Financial Centres Index , Riyadh ranked at 77 in 2016–2017. Though the rank moved up to 69 in 2018, diversification in the economy of the capital is required in order to avoid what the World Bank called a "looming poverty crisis" brought on by lingering low oil prices and rich state benefits. Since 2017, Riyadh has been the target of missiles from Yemen. In March 2018, one person died as

3864-636: The King and the Supreme Judicial Council are all situated in the city. Alongside these four bodies that form the core of the legal system of Saudi Arabia , the headquarters of other major and minor governmental bodies are also located in Riyadh. The city hosts 114 foreign embassies , most of which are located in the Diplomatic Quarter in the western reaches of the city. Riyadh also holds economic significance , as it contains

4002-818: The King Khalid International Airport , King Fahd Stadium , Television tower, King Saud University new campus, the King Faisal Foundation, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOMRA, and Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud university . And the historical district was rebuilt with the National Museum, Qasr AlHukm district , and the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque . Numerous health facilities were founded as well. Other developments in this period included

4140-975: The Kingdom Center . Riyadh is one of the world's fastest-growing cities in population and is home to many expatriates . The city is divided into 15 municipal districts, which are overseen by the Municipality of Riyadh headed by the mayor; and the Royal Commission for Riyadh , which is chaired by the Governor of the Province, Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud . As of July 2020, the mayor is Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin. Riyadh will host Expo 2030 , becoming

4278-519: The Saudi-Yemeni War . This was the first modern war – the Saudis had British Rolls-Royce armoured cars and French Renault FT-17 tanks – between Arab states. In 1935 Prince Rashed supported Izz ad-Din al-Qassam 's defiance, which led him and his followers into rebellion against Abdullah I of Jordan. In 1937, when they were forced to leave Jordan, Prince Rashed Al Khuzai, his family, and

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4416-557: The United Arab Emirates , Qatar , to the south & Jubail and Khafji to the north. [REDACTED] Route 605 connecting Khobar , Dammam and the King Fahd International Airport . [REDACTED] Route 613 to Qatif , Ra's Tanura , Jubail and Ra's Al Khair Route 610 Route 615 Route 617 Mashreq network The Mashreq network uses Highway 40 and Highway 95 to complete Mashreq M80 to Bahrain, while Highway 95, which continues northward toward Kuwait,

4554-463: The city walls did not exceed an area of 1 km , and therefore very few significant architectural remnants of the original walled oasis town of Riyadh exist today. The most prominent is the Masmak fort and some parts of the original wall structure with its gate which have been restored and reconstructed. There are also a number of traditional mud-brick houses within these old limits, but they are for

4692-520: The most-populous city in Saudi Arabia , 3rd most populous in the Middle East, and the 38th most populous in Asia . The first mention of the city by the name Riyadh was in 1590, by an Arab chronicler. In 1745, Dahham ibn Dawwas , who was from the neighboring Manfuha , seized control of the town . Dahham built a mudbrick palace and a wall around the town , and the best-known source of

4830-796: The shahada several times, which were his last words. He died in his sleep of a heart attack in Shubra Palace in Ta'if on 9 November 1953 at the age of 78, and Prince Faisal was at his side. The funeral prayer was performed at Al Hawiyah in Ta'if. Ibn Saud's body was brought to Riyadh where he was buried in Al Oud cemetery next to his sister Noura. Riyadh Riyadh ( / r iː ˈ j ɑː d / ree- YAHD ; Arabic : الرياض , romanized :  ar-Riyāḍ , standard pronunciation: [ar.riˈjaːdˤ] , Najdi pronunciation: [er.rɪˈjɑːðˤ] ; lit.   '

4968-404: The "best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality". A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. The shopping center has a separate floor for women only to shop where men are not allowed to enter. The Kingdom Tower has 99 stories and is the fifth tallest structure in

5106-528: The (now-defunct) first airport of Riyadh. Government departments were relocated from Jeddah to Riyadh and new ministry buildings were built. To accommodate the government employees who had moved in from Jeddah, the government developed the Malaz housing block. This block's layout was influenced by the layouts of Dammam and Khobar , which in turn were influenced by the Aramco-built Dhahran . Malaz, with its street grid and detached house type,

5244-445: The 1960s to over seven million, according to the most recent sources. As of 2017, the population of Riyadh is composed of 64.19% Saudis, while non-Saudis account for 35.81% of the population. Indians are the largest minority population at 13.7%, followed by Pakistanis at 12.4%. The population is so high due to the doubled birth rates and the high economic growth. There was also an influx of immigrants. The old town of Riyadh within

5382-465: The 1st Industrial City of Dammam, was established in the open space between the three cities. This industrial complex was swiftly engulfed by the urban mass. As a result, the 2nd Industrial City of Dammam was established further away from the metropolitan area along the highway to Abqaiq and Hofuf . Together, these two industrial cities house more than 300 factories which manufacture a variety of consumer and industrial products that are marketed throughout

5520-462: The 2km x 2km block, they expanded it in all directions unlike DA's linear expansion. They also added the radial ring roads and altered the DA conception of how commercial and other zones should be distributed. It was in the 80s and 90s that most of the buildings that defined Riyadh's urban identity were constructed. Built in styles contemporary of that time, marble with a hint of desert beige, these included

5658-559: The Arabian Peninsula." He named his kingdom as Saudi Arabia in September 1932 with Riyadh as the capital. King Abdul Aziz died in 1953 and his son Saud took control as per the established succession rule of father to son from the time Muhammad bin Saud had established the Saud rule in 1744. However, this established line of succession was broken when King Saud was succeeded by his brother King Faisal in 1964. In 1975, Faisal

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5796-727: The British. However, due to the outbreak of World War I , this agreement which made Ibn Saud the wali or governor of Najd was not materialized, and because of the Ottomans' attempt to develop a connection with Ibn Saud the British government soon established diplomatic relations with him. The British agent, Captain William Shakespear , was well received by the Bedouin. Similar diplomatic missions were established with any Arabian power who might have been able to unify and stabilize

5934-547: The Dhahran International Airport. The new King Fahd International Airport serves not just the Dammam metropolitan area, but the entire Eastern Province. Having been built from the ground up, the area was designed from the outset on the principles of modern urban planning. Residential areas are separate from commercial sections, roads are broad and straight and buildings conform to a master plan. One of

6072-541: The Diplomatic Quarter. Each branch municipality in turn contains several districts, amounting to over 130 in total, though some districts are divided between more than one branch municipality. The branch municipalities are Al-Shemaysi, Irqah , Al-Ma'athar, Al-Olayya, Al-Aziziyya, Al-Malaz, Al-Selayy, Nemar, Al-Neseem, Al-Shifa, Al-'Urayja, Al-Bat'ha, Al-Ha'ir, Al-Rawdha, and Al-Shimal ("the North"). Olaya District

6210-539: The Hejaz, by sending T. E. Lawrence to him in 1915. The Saudi Ikhwan began to conflict with Hussein in 1917, just as his sons Abdullah and Faisal entered Damascus. The Treaty of Darin remained in effect until superseded by the Jeddah conference of 1927 and the Dammam conference of 1952, during both of which Ibn Saud extended his boundaries past the Anglo-Ottoman Blue Line. After Darin, he stockpiled

6348-473: The Hereafter as He has given you in the world!" an elderly woman once said to Ibn Saud's procession. The King ordered that she be given ten bags of money from his car. Ibn Saud noticed the old woman having trouble bringing the money back to her home, so he had his aid service deliver the money and accompany her back to her home. Ibn Saud was on a picnic outside of Riyadh when he came across an elderly man dressed in rags. The old man proceeded to stand up in front of

6486-410: The Ikhwan and the Al Saud collapsed when Ibn Saud forbade further raiding. The few portions of central Arabia that had not been overrun by the Saudi-Ikhwan forces had treaties with London, and Ibn Saud was sober enough to see the folly of provoking the British by pushing into these areas. This did not sit well with the Ikhwan, who had been taught that all non-Wahhabis were infidels. In order to settle down

6624-452: The Ikhwan in 1929, the 1930s marked a turning point. With his rivals eliminated, Ibn Saud's ideology was in full force, ending nearly 1,400 years of accepted religious practices surrounding the Hajj , the majority of which were sanctioned by a millennium of scholarship. Ibn Saud established a Shura Council of the Hejaz as early as 1927. This council was later expanded to 20 members and was chaired by Ibn Saud's son Prince Faisal . Ibn Saud

6762-402: The Jews a "dangerous and hostile race" with an "exaggerated love of money", accusing them of "making trouble wherever they exist" or igniting conflicts between Muslims and Christians. Ibn Saud experienced heart disease in his final years and also, was half blind and racked by arthritis . In October 1953, his illness became serious. Before Ibn Saud slept on the night of 8 November, he recited

6900-455: The King Fahd Road starting in the 2000s. Significant construction projects like the Riyadh metro and the Princess Noura University , the world's largest women's university, were undertaken. Most malls and hypermarkets opened in this era and became a feature of city life. The municipality added wide sidewalks to a number of streets which became popular spots for walking, and parks were built in many neighborhoods. Major roads were redesigned, such as

7038-417: The King Fahd road, King Abdullah Road, Abu Bakr Al Siddiq road, and Oruba road, transforming the look of the city. In addition, the Royal Commission rehabilitated the Wadi Hanifa wetlands. At the onset of the 2020s, Riyadh's expansion had gone further ahead of the King Salman Road in the north and had reached the Janadriyah road in the east. Vision 2030 has stated its objective for Saudi cities to reach

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7176-440: The King's horse and said, "O Abdul-Aziz, it is terribly cold, and I have no clothes to protect me". Ibn Saud, saddened by the man's condition, removed his cloak and gave it to him. He also offered the elderly man a stipend to help him with his everyday costs. Due to the abundance of the poor, Ibn Saud established a guest house known as the " Thulaim " or "The Host", where rice, meat, and several types of porridge were distributed to

7314-421: The Kingdom and exported to other countries around the world. Handling such exports as well as imports from abroad, is the domain of shipping agents and commercial companies located in Dammam and Khobar, making the area not only a major oil producing and exporting area, but also a commercial and shipping center. The swift growth of the region necessitated the construction of a larger and more modern airport to replace

7452-414: The Kingdom of Egypt and the United Kingdom in the early 1952 and developed a proposal for a settlement between two countries. While most of the royal family desired luxuries such as gardens, splendid cars, and palaces, Ibn Saud wanted a royal railway from the Persian Gulf to Riyadh and then an extension to Jeddah. His advisors regarded this as an old man's folly. Eventually, ARAMCO built the railway, at

7590-505: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Ibn Saud's victory and his support for Islamic revivalists would greatly bolster pan-Islamism across the Islamic world . Concording with Wahhabi beliefs, he ordered the demolition of several shrines, the Al-Baqi Cemetery and the Jannat al-Mu'alla . As King, he presided over the discovery of petroleum in Saudi Arabia in 1938 and the beginning of large-scale oil production after World War II . He fathered many children , including 45 sons, and all of

7728-435: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with himself as its king. He transferred his court to Murabba Palace from the Masmak Fort in 1938 and the palace remained his residence and the seat of government until his death in 1953. Ibn Saud had to first eliminate the right of his own father in order to rule, and then distance and contain the ambitions of his five brothers, particularly his brother Muhammad, who had fought with him during

7866-538: The Kingdom possessed a large supply of hydrocarbons. Over the span of a little more than half a century, the area has developed into a thriving hub of industry, commerce and science, and home to around two million people. New oil fields discovered during the 1940s and 1950s, now account for a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves. Experts and technicians from the Kingdom and from around the world gathered to help search for new oil fields and bring them on-stream. The growing number of expatriates working in Dhahran required

8004-408: The Kingdom, Dammam forms a single administrative entity. The growth of the Saudi Arabian oil industry brought about rapid development in the region. As oil production increased, so did the number of people required to run the industry. The growing population needed more housing and services. First-rate hospitals and schools were built, service industries sprouted up to support the oil industry and meet

8142-405: The Meadows ' ) is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia . It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate . The current form of the metropolis emerged as an offshoot of the eponymous walled town following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications in the 1950s, after which the city underwent several phases of expansion and urbanization. It

8280-509: The Municipality of Riyadh is involved, are the five old gates on the old walls of Riyadh. These are the eastern gate of Thumaira, the northern gate of Al-Suwailen, the southern gate of Dukhna, the western gate of Al-Madhbah, and the south-western gate of Shumaisi. There are also four historic palaces: Musmak Palace , Murabba Palace (palace of King Abdul Aziz), Atiqah Palace (belongs to Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman ) and Al Shamsiah Palace (belongs to Saud Al Kabeer ). The Turaif district ,

8418-402: The Ottoman presence in Nejd and Qassim by the end of October 1906. This victory also weakened the alliance between Mubarak Al Sabah, ruler of Kuwait, and Ibn Saud due to the former's concerns about the increase of Saudi power in the region. Ibn Saud completed his conquest of the Nejd and the eastern coast of Arabia in 1912. He then founded the Ikhwan , a military-religious brotherhood, which

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8556-417: The Saudi Arabia's oil fields occurred between 21 and 29 January 1947 which was organized by the Arabian American Oil Company. Ibn Saud participated in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War , but Saudi Arabia's contribution was generally considered token. The Saudis deployed 800 to 1,200 troops against Israel, including volunteers, who were attached to the Egyptians. He actively attempted to resolve the dispute between

8694-428: The Sheikh Ahmed's brother resulted in a population boost for Khobar and closer ties with the bigger city of Dammam. When the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, the area was the site of several small settlements that depended on fishing and pearls for their survival. The area's transformation was launched with the discovery of oil in commercial quantities. The Dammam No. 7 well proved beyond doubt that

8832-402: The Western world mononymously as Ibn Saud ( Arabic : ابن سعود ; Ibn Suʿūd ), was an Arab political and religious leader who founded Saudi Arabia – the third Saudi state – and reigned as its first king from 23 September 1932 until his death in 1953. He had ruled parts of the kingdom since 1902, having previously been Emir , Sultan , and King of Nejd , and King of Hejaz . Ibn Saud was

8970-419: The area around traditional Riyadh which the urban sprawl reached and encompasses. These include Diriyah , Manfuha and Wadi Laban. Unlike in the early days of development in Riyadh during which vernacular structures were razed to the ground without consideration, there is a new-found appreciation for traditional architecture. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage is making efforts to revitalize

9108-405: The area by King Abdul Aziz Ibn Sa'ud Al Sa'ud . Dammam was immediately chosen for its vicinity to the island of Bahrain as the clan hoped to head back there soon, but the British rule in the region made it very hard for them to move so they finally settled in Dammam. Years later, Sheikh Ahmed's brother and his family moved south to Al Khobar, which by that time was already inhabited. The arrival of

9246-415: The area, particularly along the Persian Gulf coast and in Iraq. The former of these were vital to the British, as merchant traffic between British India and the United Kingdom depended upon coaling stations on the approach to the Suez Canal . In 1925, Ibn Saud's forces captured the holy city of Mecca from Sharif Hussein, ending 700 years of Hashemite rule. Following this he issued the first decree which

9384-402: The army led by Eqab bin Mohaya , the head of the Talhah tribe. This allowed Ibn Saud the leverage to negotiate a new and more favorable treaty with the British in 1922, signed at Uqair. He met Percy Cox , British High Commissioner in Iraq, to draw boundaries and the treaty saw Britain recognize many of Ibn Saud's territorial gains. In exchange, Ibn Saud agreed to recognize British territories in

9522-560: The battles and conquests that gave birth to the state. Petroleum was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938 by SoCal , after Ibn Saud granted a concession in 1933. Through his advisers St John Philby and Ameen Rihani , Ibn Saud granted substantial authority over Saudi oil fields to American oil companies in 1944. Beginning in 1915, he signed a "friendship and cooperation" pact with Britain to keep his militia in line and cease any further attacks against their protectorates for whom they were responsible. Ibn Saud's newly found oil wealth brought

9660-414: The building of housing, hospitals, schools for their children and other amenities. Before long, Dhahran , the corporate headquarters of Saudi Aramco, was growing in all directions. The growth of the oil industry in the region had a similar impact on the small fishing villages of Dammam and Khobar . Within two decades of the discovery of oil, the huts of the fishermen that crowded the shore, which constituted

9798-489: The c City of Jeddah . It is one of the most important ports in the country and is under the supervision of the Saudi Ports Authority . By rail The area is connected to the cities of Abqaiq , Hofuf and the capital, Riyadh by two railway lines maintained by the Saudi Railways Organization . Major highways Greater Dammam is served by the following highways: [REDACTED] Route 40 to Riyadh , Makkah , Ta'if and Jeddah . [REDACTED] Route 95 to

9936-571: The capital, and refused to be controlled by the Viceroy of Egypt . Najd was then invaded, and Faisal was taken captive and held in Cairo . However, as Egypt became independent of the Ottoman Empire, Faisal escaped after five years of incarceration, returned to Najd, and resumed his reign, ruling until 1865 and consolidating the reign of the House of Saud. Following the death of Faisal, there

10074-579: The capital. The town was the administrative center of the government until 1938, when Ibn Saud moved to the Murabba Palace . In the 1950s, the walls were dismantled and Riyadh metropolis outgrew as an offshoot of the walled town . Riyadh is the political and administrative center of Saudi Arabia. The Consultative Assembly (also known as the Shura Council ), the Council of Ministers ,

10212-434: The city marked the beginning of the third Saudi State. Following Ibn Saud's victory the Kuwaiti ruler Mubarak Al Sabah sent him an additional seventy warriors commanded by Ibn Saud's younger brother Saad. Upon settling in Riyadh, Ibn Saud took up residence in the palace of his grandfather, Faisal bin Turki . Following the capture of Riyadh, many former supporters of the House of Saud rallied to Ibn Saud's call to arms. He

10350-576: The combined Ottoman and Rashidi forces. His forces regrouped and began to wage guerrilla warfare against the Ottomans. Over the next two years, he was able to disrupt their supply routes, forcing them to retreat. However, in February 1905 Ibn Saud was named qaimmaqam of southern Nejd by the Ottomans which he held until 1913 when an Anglo-Ottoman agreement was signed. Ibn Saud's victory in Rawdat Muhanna , in which Abdulaziz Al Rashid died, ended

10488-526: The commercial center for the entire region. In the early 1980s, Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province, was a separate city but so close to Khobar and Dhahran that one could pass from one to the other in a few minutes. The discovery of oil in Dhahran and nearby fields and the growing importance of the entire region affected Dammam more than any other city in Saudi Arabia. Within three decades,

10626-496: The country established either sole headquarters or a large office in the city. For this reason, there has been significant growth in high-rise developments in all areas of the city. Most notable among these is King Abdullah Financial District which is fast becoming the key business hub in the city. Riyadh also has the largest all-female university in the world, the Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University . According to

10764-486: The crown prince. Instead, Ibn Saud appointed his second son, Prince Saud , heir to the Saudi throne in 1933. He had many quarrels with his brother Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman as to who should be appointed heir. Muhammad wanted his son Khalid to be designated the heir. When the King discussed succession before his death, he favoured Prince Faisal as a possible successor over Crown Prince Saud due to Faisal's extensive knowledge, as well as his years of experience. Since Faisal

10902-586: The declaration of the First Saudi State , with Diriyah as its capital. The First Saudi State was destroyed by forces sent by Muhammad Ali of Egypt , acting on behalf of the Ottoman Empire . Ottoman forces razed the Saudi capital Diriyah in 1818. They had maintained a garrison at Najd . This marked the decline of the House of Saud for a short time. Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad became

11040-455: The early 19th century and made Riyadh his capital in 1825. However, his reign over the city was disrupted by a joint Ottoman– Rashidi alliance. Finally, in the early 20th century, ' Abdulaziz ibn Saud , known in the west simply as Ibn Saud, retrieved his ancestral kingdom of Najd in 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926 with the final Saudi conquest of Hejaz , subsequently naming his kingdom 'Saudi Arabia' in September 1932 with Riyadh as

11178-654: The early nineteenth century. Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman, also known as Ibn Saud, was born on 15 January 1875 in Riyadh. He was the fourth child and third son of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal, one of the last rulers of the Emirate of Nejd, the Second Saudi State, a tribal sheikhdom centered on Riyadh. Ibn Saud's mother was Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi of the Sudairi family. She died in 1910. His full-siblings were Faisal, Noura , Bazza, Haya and Saad . He also had

11316-464: The evolution of Greater Dammam. New roads and highways connected the area to other urban and industrial centers in the Kingdom. A railway line was built to connect the area to the capital, Riyadh . The Dhahran International Airport was established between Dhahran and Khobar to connect the region to other parts of the Kingdom and beyond. To encourage the growth of non-oil industries, an industrial city,

11454-674: The extent of Riyadh's future growth. At the start of the 70s, Riyadh did not go much beyond what is today the Khurais road. But nearing the 80s, Riyadh's expansion had already reached the Northern Ring Road in the north and had made considerable progress in the eastern part of the city. In 1974, the government founded the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (later Royal Commission for Riyadh City ) which

11592-507: The fall of the Second Saudi State in 1891 at the hand of the rival Al Rashid clan, which ruled from the northern city of Ha'il . The al-Masmak fort dates from that period. Abdul Rahman bin Faisal al-Saud had sought refuge among a tribal community on the outskirts of Najd and then went to Kuwait with his family and stayed in exile. However, his son Abdul Aziz retrieved his ancestral kingdom of Najd in 1902 and consolidated his rule by 1926, and further expanded his kingdom to cover "most of

11730-466: The far north and far east of the city. Riyadh has a hot desert climate ( Köppen Climate Classification BWh ), with long, extremely hot summers and short, very mild winters. The average high temperature in July is 43.9 °C (111.0 °F). If not for its elevation Riyadh would experience an even hotter climate. The city experiences very little precipitation, especially during the summer, but receives

11868-522: The first Amir of the Second Saudi State ; the cousin of Saud bin Saud, he ruled for 19 years till 1834, leading to the consolidation of the area though they were notionally under the control of Muhammad Ali, the Viceroy of Egypt. In 1823, Turki ibn Abdallah chose Riyadh as the new capital. Following the assassination of Turki in 1834, his eldest son Faisal killed the assassin, took control of

12006-588: The first Saudi capital Diriyah , on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . The mayor is Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Muqrin. Al-Muqrin was appointed in 2019 by royal decree and succeeds Tariq bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faris. Riyadh is now the administrative and to a great extent the commercial hub of the Kingdom. According to the Saudi Real Estate Companion, most large companies in

12144-489: The fishing village, now a city, had become the capital of the largest province of Saudi Arabia. The simultaneous growth of the "Triplet Cities" brought the three jurisdictions into physical contact, the three towns inevitably merged into one, creating a single municipality known as the Dammam metropolitan area, referred to simply as Dammam or Greater Dammam. Each of the three towns still retains its own character and some local administrative functions but, in terms of their place in

12282-505: The future King Saud and the next in line Prince Faisal, who were already battling each other, were "You are brothers, unite!" A staunch opponent of Zionism , Ibn Saud had a highly ambivalent opinion of the Jews. On the one hand he thought of the Jews, at least those who were not Zionists, as "[g]ood friends of the Arabs", opposed declaring an anti-Jewish jihad and fiercely condemned the anti-Jewish 1929 Hebron massacre , which he considered

12420-688: The headquarters of many banks and major companies, such as the Saudi National Bank (SNB), Al-Rajhi Bank , SABIC , Almarai , STC , and Samba Financial Group . Highway 65 , known locally as the King Fahd Road, runs through some of these important centers in the city, including the King Abdullah Financial District , one of the world's largest financial districts, the Faisaliyah Center and

12558-520: The historic architecture in Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom. Ain Heet cave has an underground lake (150 meters deep) situated at the face of Mount Al Jubayl in Wadi As Sulay in a small village called Heet in Riyadh. Between Riyadh and Al Kharj road, it is one of the easily accessible caves in the area of Riyadh. The archeological sites at Riyadh which are of historical importance, in which

12696-487: The history of Saudi Arabia. The story of the event is often retold and has as its central theme the heroism and bravery of King Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Masmak Fortress is now a museum and is in close proximity to the Clock Tower Square, also known to English-speaking residents as Chop Chop Square , referring to the capital punishment that takes place there. Designed by the team of Ellerbe Becket and Omrania ,

12834-413: The independence of the Hejaz and Nejd, with Ibn Saud as their ruler. For the next five years, Ibn Saud administered the two parts of his dual kingdom as separate units. He also succeeded his father, Abdul Rahman, as Imam. With international recognition and support, Ibn Saud continued to consolidate his power. By 1927, his forces had overrun most of the central Arabian Peninsula , but the alliance between

12972-513: The international award for liveable communities. One of the MEDSTAR strategies was balanced development by turning Riyadh into a polycentric city rather than having one single downtown. [Riyadh: The Metamorphosis of a City From Centerless to Polycentric Fernando Perez,] This has resulted in there being multiple hubs scattered around the city such as Olaya, KAFD , Sahafa, Granada, Business Gate, Digital City, and Hittin. Riyadh's skyline arose along

13110-521: The list of top 100 cities of the world in quality of life and the city is working towards this goal through new development investments. Every year, the number of tourists visiting Saudi Arabia and Riyadh increases. In the large empty area where the old airport once was, the world's largest urban park, King Salman Park is being constructed, with leisure, residential, office, hospitality, and retail spaces. The historical city of Diriyah , now encompassed by Riyadh, has been restored and developed into

13248-404: The main features of the development of the area is land reclamation. Vast stretches of the shallow Persian Gulf have been filled, with hotels and office buildings occupying what were once marshes. Water for household, urban and industrial use is provided by desalination plants that supply approximately seven million cubic feet of treated water to the area each day. The availability of water underpins

13386-574: The meeting heavily focused on the Palestine problem and was unproductive in terms of its outcomes, in contrast to that with Roosevelt. After naming his son Saud as crown prince , the King left most of his duties to him, and he spent most of his time in Taif . His first flight was between Afif and Taif in September 1945. Ibn Saud met with King Farouk during his ten-day state visit to Egypt from 10 to 22 January 1946. Ibn Saud's first official visit to

13524-489: The most part dilapidated. Expansion outside the city walls was slow to begin with, although there were some smaller oases and settlements surrounding Riyadh. The first major construction beyond the walls was King Abdulaziz's Murabba Palace . It was constructed in 1936, completed in 1938, and a household of 800 people moved into it in 1938. The palace is now part of a bigger complex called The King Abdulaziz Historical Centre . There are other traditional villages and towns in

13662-600: The name Riyadh is from this period, thought to be referring to the earlier oasis towns that predated the wall built by Ibn Dawwas . In 1744, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab formed an alliance with the Emir of Diriyah , Muhammad bin Saud , and they took Riyadh from Deham. However their state, now known as the First Saudi State , collapsed in 1818. Turki ibn Abdullah founded the Second Saudi State in

13800-515: The needs of people living in the area. As a result, a region which had several hundred inhabitants some sixty years ago now boasts a population of well over 1.5 million, growing at a pace of over five percent a year. The area did not just develop a booming oil industry, it developed in all spheres. It is now a modern urban and industrial center. As oil production was growing in the early years, the Saudi Arabian government took steps to facilitate

13938-408: The oil was sent by small tankers to Bahrain. With the construction of a pipeline to Bahrain and the subsequent expansion of the oil industry in the post-war years, the focus of the shipping and oil industries shifted from Khobar to Dammam and Ra's Tanura, one of the largest oil storage and shipping centers in the world, located 25 km north of Dammam. As a result, Khobar gradually found a new role as

14076-481: The only permanent dwellings in the area, had given way to concrete buildings and modern housing, highways and streets. Located on the Persian Gulf coast east of Dhahran, Khobar briefly became the shipping point for Saudi Arabian crude oil to the refinery in Bahrain. In the years leading up to and during World War II, Saudi Arabian oil production was very limited, and since the company had no refinery of its own, most of

14214-518: The opening of the first shopping centers and supermarkets. Approaching the 2000s, Riyadh had expanded well beyond the Northern Ring Road in the north and had reached the Second Ring Road in the east. The MEDSTAR (metropolitan development strategy for Arriyadh) was the strategy that directed urban development in this era. Since the SCET plan also turned out to underestimate the rate of growth,

14352-557: The poor. As the economy deteriorated, Ibn Saud began to increase his aid to the needy. He gave them "royal kits" of bread and "waayid", which were monetary gifts given to them on an annual basis. The King said, "I haven't obtained all this wealth by myself. It is a blessing from Allah, and all of you have a share in it. So, I want you to guide me to whatever takes me nearer to my Lord and qualifies me for His forgiveness." Ibn Saud positioned Saudi Arabia as neutral in World War II, but

14490-694: The problems with the Ikhwan leaders, including Faisal Al Duwaish , Sultan bin Bajad and Dhaydan bin Hithlain , Ibn Saud organized a meeting in Riyadh in 1928, but none of them attended the meeting. Tensions finally boiled over when the Ikhwan rebelled . After two years of fighting, they were suppressed by Ibn Saud in the Battle of Sabilla in March 1929. On 23 September 1932, Ibn Saud formally united his realm into

14628-580: The region. The British entered into the Treaty of Darin in December 1915, which made the lands of the House of Saud a British protectorate and attempted to define the boundaries of the developing Saudi state. In exchange, Ibn Saud pledged to again make war against Ibn Rashid, who was an ally of the Ottomans. The British Foreign Office had previously begun to support Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca and Emir of

14766-515: The reign of Mohammed ibn Abdullah ibn Rasheed (1289-1315 AH), the ruler of Ha'il to the north, who had wrested control of the city from the rival clan of Al Saud . In January 1902 Ibn Saud , who was at the time living in exile in Kuwait , succeeded in capturing the Masmak fortress from its Rashid garrison. The event, which restored Saudi control over Riyadh, has acquired an almost mythical status in

14904-426: The rights inherited from our fathers." He also remarked, "We know what to avoid, and we know what to accept for our own benefit." Amani Hamdan argues that the King's attitude towards women's education was encouraging since he expressed his support in a conversation with St John Philby in which he stated, "It is permissible for women to read." Ibn Saud kept slaves, and regulated slavery in his kingdom in 1936. It

15042-411: The royal residential district, in 1950. Following the example of American cities, new settlements and entire neighborhoods were created on grid plans , and connected by high-capacity main roads to the inner areas. The grid pattern in the city was introduced in 1953. The population growth of the town from 1974 to 1992 averaged 8.2 percent per year. On 16 November 1983, King Khalid International Airport

15180-478: The ruler of the nearby town of Diriyah . 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 clan of Najran . However, Ibn Dawwas fled and Riyadh capitulated to the Saudis in 1774, ending long years of wars, and leading to

15318-539: The second Arab city to host after Dubai in 2020 . During the Pre-Islamic era , the city at the site of modern Riyadh 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-Yamamah broke away from

15456-541: The son of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal, Emir of Nejd , and Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi . The family were exiled from their residence in the city of Riyadh in 1890. Ibn Saud reconquered Riyadh in 1902, starting three decades of conquests that made him the ruler of nearly all of central and north Arabia. He consolidated his control over the Nejd in 1922, then conquered the Hejaz in 1925. He extended his dominions into what later became

15594-589: The source of development loans instead of the US Export-Import Bank , Ibn Saud reported that Saudi Arabia would do business with and be indebted to the United States instead of other countries and international agencies. Shortly before his death, the King stated, "Verily, my children and my possessions are my enemies." and "In my youth and manhood, I made a nation. Now, in my declining years, I make men for it." His last words to his two sons,

15732-585: The subsequent kings of Saudi Arabia as of 2024. The Al Saud family had been a power in central Arabia for the previous 130 years. Under the influence and inspiration of Wahhabism, the Saudis had previously attempted to control much of the Arabian Peninsula in the form of the Emirate of Diriyah , the First Saudi State, until its destruction by an Ottoman army in the Ottoman–Wahhabi War in

15870-552: The territories of his family. She was well educated in Islam, in Arab custom and in tribal and clan relationships. She remained among the King's most trusted and influential advisors all her life. Ibn Saud asked her about the experiences of past rulers and the historical allegiance and the roles of tribes and individuals. Jawhara was also deeply respected by the King's children. The King visited her daily until she died around 1930. Ibn Saud

16008-592: The three attackers were arrested. Another assassination attempt occurred in 1951 when Captain Abdullah Al Mandili, a member of Royal Saudi Air Force , tried to bomb the King's camp from an airplane. The attempt was unsuccessful, and Al Mandili escaped to Iraq with the help of tribes. Ibn Saud's eldest son Turki , who was the crown prince of the Kingdoms of Nejd and Hejaz, died at age 18, predeceasing his father. Had Turki not died, he would have been

16146-496: The tower is built on 94,230 square meters of land. The Kingdom Centre is owned by a group of companies including Kingdom Holding Company , headed by Al-Waleed bin Talal , a prince of the Saudi royal family, and is the headquarters of the holding company. The project cost 2 billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was undertaken by El-Seif. The Kingdom Centre is the winner of the 2002 Emporis Skyscraper Award , selected as

16284-415: The urban and industrial growth of the area and provisions have been made for expanding existing desalination facilities to meet future growth. In many ways, the Dammam metropolitan area has evolved as the link between Saudi Arabia and the outside world, exporting the Kingdom's products and importing its needs and thriving on the interaction between Saudi Arabia and other countries. By air Greater Dammam

16422-511: The weapons and supplies which the British provided him, including a 'tribute' of £5,000 per month. After World War I Ibn Saud received further support from the British, including a glut of surplus munitions. He launched his campaign against the Al Rashidi in 1920; by 1922 they had been all but destroyed. The defeat of the Al Rashidi doubled the size of Saudi territory because, after the war of Ha'il, Ibn Saud sent his army to occupy Al Jouf and

16560-479: The year 1590. In 1737, Deham ibn Dawwas, a refugee from neighboring Manfuha , took control of Riyadh. Ibn Dawwas built a single wall to encircle the various oasis towns in the area, making them effectively a single fortress city . The name "Riyadh", meaning "gardens" refers to these earlier oasis towns. The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, was initially known for its availability of water and fertile land which made it ideal for farming dates and other crops. Wheat

16698-470: Was a charismatic leader and kept his men supplied with arms. Over the next two years, he and his forces recaptured almost half of the Nejd from the Rashidis. In 1904, Abdulaziz bin Mutaib Al Rashid appealed to the Ottoman Empire for military protection and assistance. The Ottomans responded by sending troops into Arabia. On 15 June 1904, Ibn Saud's forces suffered a major defeat at the hands of

16836-521: Was a child, Ibn Saud recognised him as the most capable of his sons and often tasked him with responsibilities in war and diplomacy. In addition, Faisal was known to embrace a simple Bedouin lifestyle. "I only wish I had three Faisals", Ibn Saud once said when discussing who would succeed him. However, he made the decision to keep Prince Saud as crown prince for fear that doing otherwise would lead to decreased stability. Ibn Saud said, "Two things are essential to our state and our people ... religion and

16974-581: Was able to gain loyalty from tribes near Saudi Arabia, such as those in Jordan. For example, he built very strong ties with Rashed Al-Khuzai from the Al Fraihat tribe, one of the most influential and royally established families during the Ottoman Empire. Prince Rashed and his tribe had dominated eastern Jordan before the arrival of Sharif Hussein. Ibn Saud supported Rashed and his followers in rebellion against Hussein. In 1934 Saudi Arabia defeated Yemen in

17112-593: Was about the collection of zakat . On 8 January 1926, the leading figures in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah proclaimed Ibn Saud the King of Hejaz and the bayaa (oath of allegiance) ceremony was held in the Great Mosque of Mecca . Ibn Saud raised Nejd to a kingdom as well on 29 January 1927. On 20 May 1927, the British government signed the Treaty of Jeddah , which abolished the Darin protection agreement and recognized

17250-419: Was also very close to his sister Noura , who was one year older. On several occasions, he identified himself in public with the words: "I am the brother of Noura." Noura died a few years before her brother, and the King was deeply saddened by her death. On 15 March 1935, three armed men from Oman attacked and tried to assassinate Ibn Saud during his performance of Hajj . He survived the attack unhurt, and

17388-501: Was also widely grown until the crops were infested with insects and mites. After Riyadh was designated as the capital in the mid-1900s, Riyadh became a manufacturing hub. Almost one-third of Saudi Arabia's factories are located in Riyadh, producing a range of products including machinery, equipment, metallurgical goods, chemicals, construction materials, food, textiles, furniture, and numerous publications. In 1750, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab formed an alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud ,

17526-409: Was enclosed by walls. At its center was a town square and a market ( souq ), surrounded by residential quarters of mosques and adobe homes, each with an interior courtyard. Outside its walls were orchards of date trees , hence the name 'Riyadh' or 'gardens'. During the 1930s, there was an initial outward expansion because new administrative buildings were needed for the country and because the population

17664-612: Was generally considered to favor the Allies . However, in 1938, when an attack on a main British pipeline in the Kingdom of Iraq was found to be connected to the German Ambassador, Fritz Grobba , Ibn Saud provided Grobba with refuge. It was reported that he had been disfavoring the British as of 1937. In the last stage of the war, Ibn Saud met significant political figures. One of these meetings, which lasted for three days,

17802-413: Was growing. According to Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul, former deputy minister of town planning, this era coincided with the period of sedentarization as nomads settled in and around towns and cities such as Riyadh. When commercial oil production began, there was a rapid rise in the rate of urbanization and the city transitioned from traditional to newer houses and buildings. This included the railway station and

17940-457: Was headed by the then governor of Riyadh Province , King Salman Bin Abdulaziz , who oversaw Riyadh's development. With the economic growth and national development plans of the 70s, the national infrastructure consisting of electricity grids, telecommunications networks, water pipelines, and highways was laid down that made further urban growth possible. The old and new industrial cities of Riyadh were both founded in this period. The city grew at

18078-410: Was instrumental in shaping the master plans for Riyadh that followed, as per Dr. Saleh Al Hathloul. The Department of Municipal Affairs (later Ministry of Municipalities and Housing ) selected Doxiadis Associates (DA) in 1968 to prepare a masterplan for Riyadh. After preliminary studies, they submitted a plan that was approved in 1972. They proposed that Riyadh will expand in the north-south axis along

18216-457: Was officially opened by King Fahd , in memory to the late King Khalid . It remains the biggest airport in the world at nearly 300 sq miles to date. Al-Qaeda under Osama bin Laden launched coordinated attacks on compounds in Riyadh on 12 May 2003, resulting in the deaths of 39 people. The bombings were considered to be a terrorism campaign against Western influence in Saudi Arabia. In 2010,

18354-462: Was only his son, King Faisal, who abolished slavery in Saudi Arabia in 1967. Ibn Saud repeated the following views about the British authorities many times: "The English are my friends, but I will walk with them only so far as my religion and honor will allow." He had much more positive views about the United States, including finance, and in 1947 when the World Bank was suggested to him as

18492-514: Was rivalry among his sons which situation was exploited by Muhammad bin Rashid who took most of Najd, signed a treaty with the Ottomans, and also captured Hasa in 1871. In 1889, Abdul Rahman bin Faisal , the third son of Faisal again regained control over Najd and ruled till 1891, whereafter the control was regained by Muhammad bin Raschid. Internecine struggles between Turki's grandsons led to

18630-478: Was succeeded by his brother King Khalid. In 1982, King Fahd took the reins from his brother. This new line of succession is among the sons of King Abdul Aziz who has 35 sons; this large family of Ibn Saud hold all key positions in the large kingdom. From the 1940s, Riyadh mushroomed from a relatively narrow, spatially isolated town into a spacious metropolis. When King Saud came to power, he made it his objective to modernize Riyadh, and began developing Annasriyyah,

18768-588: Was the father of almost one hundred children, including 45 sons. Mohammed Leopold Weiss reported in 1929 that one of Ibn Saud's spouses had poisoned the King in 1924, causing him to have poor sight in one eye. He later forgave her, but divorced her. One of the significant publications about Ibn Saud in the Western media was a comprehensive article by Noel Busch published in Life magazine in May 1943 which introduced him as

18906-399: Was to assist in his later conquests, with the approval of local Salafi ulema . In the same year, he instituted an agrarian policy to settle the nomadic pastoralist bedouins into colonies and to replace their tribal organizations with allegiance to the Ikhwan. In May 1914, Ibn Saud made a secret agreement with the Ottomans as a result of his unproductive attempts to get protection from

19044-782: Was with U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt on 14 February 1945. The meeting took place on board USS  Quincy in the Great Bitter Lake segment of the Suez Canal. The meeting laid down the basis of the future relations between the two countries . The other meeting was with British prime minister Winston Churchill in the Grand Hotel du Lac on the shores of the Fayyoun Oasis, fifty miles south of Cairo , in February 1945. Saudis report that

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