A town beside the wadi
Mani al-Muraydi founded Diriyah in 1446 in Wadi Hanifah, northwest of present-day Riyadh. Deposits left by the wadi provided agricultural soil, while water close to the surface supplied wells. The oasis, with its gardens and date palms, helped support settlement.
Diriyah as a seat of government
Imam Muhammad bin Saud made Diriyah the capital of the First Saudi State, which he established in 1727. Its political and religious role grew during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. At-Turaif was a centre of government and contains Salwa Palace.
What At-Turaif preserves
At-Turaif was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2010, with the designation limited to the district within Diriyah. Its palaces, surviving buildings and street network illustrate Najdi construction, particularly adobe and geometric decoration. The site contains surviving historic elements and later restoration work.
