Seat of government
The imams of the First Saudi State lived in At-Turaif from Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad bin Saud onwards. The district grew under Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, and late in the reign of Imam Abdullah bin Saud, Ottoman forces besieged Diriyah for six months in 1233 AH/1818 CE. [1]
Related people
- PersonImam Muhammad bin SaudFounder and first imam of the First Saudi State in 1139 AH/1727 CE, who made Diriyah its capital and ruled for forty years, uniting most of Najd.
- PersonImam Saud bin Abdulaziz Al SaudImam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the third imam of the First Saudi State, which took Diriyah as its capital. He led the Saudi forces at the First Battle of Al-Hanakiyah in 1228 AH/1813 CE, was described as close to his people and humble in his dealings, and his era saw the scholarly councils of Diriyah flourish.
- PersonPrince Sultan bin SalmanPrince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the first Muslim Arab astronaut, having taken part in the scientific mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.[1] He is a Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the rank of minister, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit King Salman Foundation, and founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Non-Profit Heritage Foundation; he chaired the Saudi Space Agency and headed the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and then the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.[2][4][5][6][13]
- PersonImam Abdullah bin SaudImam Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the last imam of the First Saudi State, ruling after the death of his father over the period 1229–1233 AH/1814–1818. During his reign the siege of Diriyah took place; he then surrendered and was transferred to Egypt and then to Constantinople.
- PersonImam Muhammad bin Abdul WahhabImam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab was a Saudi reformer who lived and taught in Diriyah and called for the oneness of God and a return to what the Prophet, peace be upon him, brought; his call became tied to the Saudi family, and from Diriyah the influence of the First Saudi State spread.
Architecture and galleries
The district is described as one of the largest earthen districts in the world and contains Salwa Palace, the seat of government, and the At-Turaif Mosque. Today it hosts galleries including the Diriyah Gallery at Salwa Palace and galleries on social life, Arabian horses, and trade and finance. [1]
World Heritage
Related topics
- Saudi statesThe First Saudi StateA state centred on Diriyah under Imam Muhammad bin Saud, officially dated in Saudi chronology to 1727. It expanded across Najd and other regions before its capital fell in 1818.
- Urban historyHistory of DiriyahDiriyah developed beside Wadi Hanifah and became the First Saudi State's capital. At-Turaif preserves evidence of its political history and Najdi architecture.
- HistoricRock Art of HailThe Rock Art of Hail is a World Heritage property in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia, inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2015, comprising the largest rock art complexes in the Arabian Peninsula with engravings spanning about 10,000 years.
- HistoricDiriyah GateDiriyah Gate is a development, cultural, and tourism project in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh. It comprises At-Turaif, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List, and presents more than 600 years of the history and culture of Saudi Arabia.
- HistoricAl-Janadriyah FestivalAl-Janadriyah Festival is the National Festival for Heritage and Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its beginnings go back to 1405 AH, corresponding to 1985, and it is held at the Heritage Village in Al-Janadriyah to showcase heritage, culture and the arts with international participation. The Ministry of the National Guard organised it over the past decades, and the task of holding and organising it later passed to the Ministry of Culture.
- HistoricDiriyah SeasonDiriyah Season is a cultural and entertainment season held in Diriyah Governorate in the Riyadh region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, part of the Saudi Seasons initiative, whose first edition launched in 2019.
- HistoricAshayqer Heritage VillageAshayqer Heritage Village is a historic village in Shaqra Governorate in the Riyadh Region, about 200 km north-west of the capital, Riyadh. It is known for its mud-brick buildings and palm oases; its history goes back more than 600 years as recorded in documents kept by residents, and it contains more than 500 buildings that residents are working to restore.
- HistoricNajdi ArchitectureNajdi Architecture is a Saudi architectural style that expresses the urban identity of the Najd region, and it draws on local construction materials in a design adapted to the desert climate. Its applications continue in modern urban projects, competitions and cultural events inside the Kingdom and abroad.
- RegionNajran CityNajran City is a Saudi city in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the banks of Wadi Najran. It contains the Hima Cultural Area inscribed on the World Heritage List, the Al-Ukhdood archaeological site, and the Wadi Najran Dam, the largest dam in the Kingdom.