Riyadh is the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Word “El riyad” means the rich orchards and gardens. Riyadh obtained its name due to being long ago one of the few regions amidst the desert that was distinguished for its fertile and green lands. The city was established in the Yamamah region on the ruins of the old city of Ḥajr, which long served as a centre for the trading caravans that traversed the various parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Riyadh became the part of the First Saudi State and the capital of Diriya, at the end of the 18th century. The city was made the capital of Saudi Arabia when the country in 1932.
Riyadh climate is characterized by harsh, dry and arid conditions. Because of the distance from major bodies of water and the general scarcity of precipitation in the city, humidity in Riyadh remains low throughout the year, especially during the summer. Summers bring extreme heat and dryness; hot winds can send temperatures soaring up to 45°C (113°F). In the winter months, day time temperature averages around 14°C (57.2°F). City receives about four inches (102 mm) of rain a year, most of it falling between January and May.
The economy of Riyadh is connected to national administration, financial activities and other services. The economy and politics of Riyadh depends on natural gas has not been an export good for Saudi Arabia. The government employs more than one-third of the city’s workforce and is the source of approximately half of Riyadh’s total production of goods and services. Industries include construction materials, machinery, metallurgical goods, equipment, chemicals, food processing, an oil refinery and chemical and plastics factories. Numerous financial, technical, educational, agricultural, cultural and social organizations have set up base here. The main business and residential areas are the Olaya and the Sulaymaniya.
The Riyadh Airport is also known by the name of King Khaled Airport and it is about 35 kilometers away from the center of the city and it hosts the majority of international flights and connections to all other airports in the country. Although the railway system in Saudi Arabia is not well-developed, the Riyadh Railway Station offers trips to different parts of the country as well as local train service within the city. The Saudi Public Transport Company runs the inner city buses here with modern, comfortable vehicles. Most of the taxis in the city are white and are almost always driven by nationals of India and Pakistan that make up the large contingent of cheap migrant labour in the city.
Saudi Arabia's educational system was designed to observe the teachings of Islam, disseminate knowledge, and construct schools. The school system in Jeddah has many public and private schools for both males and females. While the study of Islam remains at its core, the modern educational system also provides quality instruction in diverse fields of arts and sciences. Riyadh’s numerous educational institutions accommodate students at all levels of learning.
Riyadh is one of the most popular and colorful city in Saudi Arabia. Everyday a large number of tourists come to visit it, but visitors should respect the Islamic moral rules, women have restricted access to certain attractions and sites.
The Kingdom Centre rises above the city of Riyadh and gets the tag of being the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. The building is 302 meters high and has a total of 41 floors; the construction of this huge building was completed in the year 2002. The tower's unique shape culminates in a triangular opening spanned by a 56 meter sky bridge with a public observation deck (360 degree panorama of Riyadh). Kingdom Centre includes the Al Mamlaka shopping mall containing 161 stores and total leasable area of 38,543 square metres over three levels.
The National Museum was founded to be a national distinguishing mark on an equal level with the Saudi Arabia Kingdom to participate in enriching the educational course, intellectual consciousness, and develop the noble belonging, and to act as an immortal epistle. This museum boasts of eight exhibition halls. These halls cover the following themes - Man and Universe, The Arabian Kingdoms, The Pre-Islamic Era, Prophet Mohammad's Mission, Islam and the Arab Peninsula, The First and Second Saudi State, The Unification of the Kingdom, The Hajj and Two Holy Mosques. There are various types of manuscripts, documents, antiques and display boards, which present a remarkable site of an erstwhile era. Other city museums worth visiting are the National Museum, which contains ancient documents and furniture; the King Abdul Aziz Military Museum; and the Museum of Antiquities and Folklore.
The Riyadh National Zoo was established in the year 1957 and after refurbishing in the year 1987, was opened to the general public. Riyadh Zoo also houses the magnificent Riyadh Zoological Gardens that has exhibits on zoology and varied forms of flora and fauna. The zoo initially comprised animals, which were gifted by members of the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia. More than 40 species of animals and birds inhabit this place - griffon vultures, kangaroos, tapirs, monkeys, hyenas, leopards, lions, tigers, rhinoceros, elephants, reptiles, seals, gazelles, camels and others.
