Riyadh Region

Riyadh Region is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Saudi Arabia and contains the capital, Riyadh, seat of government bodies and international organizations in the Kingdom. It is the second-largest region by area and the first by population. [1]

The region was formed administratively in 1412 AH/1992 CE and contains two historic capitals: Diriyah, capital of the First Saudi State, and Riyadh, capital of the Second Saudi State and of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]

The region comprises 22 governorates in addition to the city of Riyadh, the seat of the emirate, making it the region with the most governorates; around 504 administrative centres report to them. [1][2]

The governorates are Diriyah, Al-Kharj, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Majmaah, Al-Quwayiyah, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Al-Aflaj, Al-Zulfi, Shaqra, Hawtat Bani Tamim, Afif, Al-Ghat, Al-Sulayyil, Dhurma, Al-Muzahmiyah, Rumah, Thadiq, Huraymila, Al-Hariq, Marat, Al-Dilam and Al-Rayn. [2]

The region lies in central Saudi Arabia on the Najd plateau. It borders the Eastern Province to the east and north-east, Al-Qassim to the north, Najran and Asir to the south, and Makkah and part of Madinah to the west. [1]

The Tuwaiq escarpment runs along the eastern edge of the plateau from north of Al-Zulfi to the Rub al Khali, and many towns and villages sit along the valleys that branch from it. The climate is broadly dry and continental, hot in summer and cold in winter, with sparse, mostly winter rainfall that varies with terrain across the governorates. [1]

Diriyah was the seat of the First Saudi State, founded by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1139 AH/1727 CE; Riyadh later became the capital of the Second Saudi State. [1]

The unification of the Kingdom began from Riyadh: King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman recovered the city in 1319 AH/1902 CE through Masmak Palace, and thirty years later the Kingdom's unification was proclaimed in 1351 AH/1932 CE, as part of the Third Saudi State. [1][4]

At-Turaif District in Diriyah is among the region's most important sites. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1431 AH/2010 CE as Saudi Arabia's second site after Hegra, and contains Salwa Palace, seat of the First Saudi State. [3]

In central Riyadh, Masmak Palace has changed from a fortress into a museum documenting the founding of the Kingdom, and older archaeological sites exist in governorates such as Al-Kharj. [4]

The region preserves examples of historic Najdi architecture, most notably At-Turaif, described as one of the largest earthen cities in the world. [1][3]

Masmak Palace represents this style: it was built of mud mixed with straw on stone foundations, and its walls carry triangular and rectangular openings and motifs inspired by palms, stars and crescents. [4]

The region has eight public universities, the most of any region, including King Saud University and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh and Majmaah University in Al-Majmaah. [1]

The region combines historic landmarks that now attract visitors, such as At-Turaif, Masmak Palace and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, with natural settings such as Wadi Hanifah, the springs of Al-Kharj and the rawdahs of Al-Majmaah. [1]