A look at the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh (Riad)
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Riyadh (or Riad) is the capital of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. It is home to nearly 8 million people and receives nearly 5 millions tourists a year, though recent government efforts aim to dramatically increase that number. It is the largest city in the Arabian peninsula and the political and administrative center of Saudi.
The Saudi government intends to attract foreign investment and more tourism to Riyadh specifically, in an effort to rival that of Dubai (so I am told by my Saudi friends).
After arriving into Bahrain by plane, we took the King Fahd causeway to enter the Kingdom and stayed in the city of Al Khobar. From here we drove to Riyadh which took about 3-4 hours. The road to get here was well…a bit boring but pretty cool in a way.
The sand dunes and the hazy sun provided a really neat, Mars-like, Bladerunner 2049 feel to it. If you have never been in a desert, you may realize just how cool of a landscape it is. We even stopped along the road to take in the view because it was just so cool to see with the city backdrop in the distance.
The driving in Riyadh can be hectic but a keen sense of awareness and caution will get you through unscathed. We stayed a few kilometers south of the Kingdom Center (the most recognizable landmark in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and found it to be decently affordable.
My first experience impressions of the city were this:
The city itself is quite large and public transport is still being constructed, so a taxi or Uber is the most recommended way to get around.
Riyadh is very much a NIGHT city; there are many events that happen after the sun goes down into the early morning hours. This is also probably because due to the very high temperatures in the summer, no one goes outside during peak heat.
Riyadh is very similar to Dubai with regards to flashy brands and trendy shops. You can find luxury shopping malls everywhere, usually next to luxury car dealerships.
There are numerous historical sites in Riyadh which deserve to be seen, however the tourism sector in my opinion isn’t ready to well…accept tourists. Just the sight of my DSLR prohibited us entry into some of the historical areas. I am perhaps naïve with regards to privacy concerns Saudis must have.
With all the construction and investment actually pouring into the city, it could very well become the next Dubai. Everywhere you look there are grand plans in motion and I am curious to see how the city defines itself beyond 2022.