Editing Riyadh (section)

==Landmarks and architecture==

===Vernacular architecture of Old Riyadh===
The old town of Riyadh within the [[Riyadh city wall|city walls]] did not exceed an area of 1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, and therefore very few significant architectural remnants of the original walled oasis town of Riyadh exist today. The most prominent is the [[Masmak fort]] and some parts of the original wall structure with its gate which have been restored and reconstructed. There are also a number of traditional mud-brick houses within these old limits, but they are for the most part dilapidated.

Expansion outside the [[Riyadh city wall|city walls]] was slow to begin with, although there were some smaller oases and settlements surrounding Riyadh. The first major construction beyond the walls was King Abdulaziz's [[Murabba Palace]]. It was constructed in 1936, completed in 1938, and a household of 800 people moved into it in 1938. The palace is now part of a bigger complex called [[King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre|The King Abdulaziz Historical Centre]].

There are other traditional villages and towns in the area around traditional Riyadh which the [[urban sprawl]] reached and encompasses. These include [[Diriyah]], Manfuha and Wadi Laban. Unlike in the early days of development in Riyadh during which vernacular structures were razed to the ground without consideration, there is a new-found appreciation for traditional architecture. The [[Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage]] is making efforts to revitalize the historic architecture in Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scta.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx|title=SCTH - default|work=scta.gov.sa|access-date=16 January 2014|archive-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227085905/https://www.scta.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;Ain Heet Cave

[[Ein Heet Cave|Ain Heet cave]] has an underground lake (150 meters deep) situated at the face of Mount Al Jubayl in Wadi As Sulay in a small village called Heet in Riyadh. Between Riyadh and Al Kharj road, it is one of the easily accessible caves in the area of Riyadh.

===Archeological sites===
[[File:Murabba Palace.jpg|left|thumb|267x267px|A courtyard in the Murabba Palace]]
The archeological sites at Riyadh which are of historical importance, in which the Municipality of Riyadh is involved, are the five old gates on the old walls of Riyadh. These are the eastern gate of Thumaira, the northern gate of Al-Suwailen, the southern gate of Dukhna, the western gate of Al-Madhbah, and the south-western gate of Shumaisi. There are also four historic palaces: [[Masmak Castle|Musmak Palace]], [[Murabba Palace]] (palace of King Abdul Aziz), Atiqah Palace (belongs to Prince [[Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman|Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman]]) and Al Shamsiah Palace (belongs to [[Saud Al Kabeer bin Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Faisal Al Saud|Saud Al Kabeer]]).{{sfn|Farsy|1990|p=22}}

====Turaif district====
{{Main|Al-Turaif District}}

The [[Turaif district]], is another important archeological site inscribed in [[UNESCO World Heritage List]] on 31 July 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1329/|title=At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sauditourism.sa/en/ExploreKSA/AttractionSites/Diriyah/Pages/TuraifDistrict.aspx|title=Turaif District|website=www.sauditourism.sa|language=en-us|access-date=5 May 2019|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505120257/https://www.sauditourism.sa/en/ExploreKSA/AttractionSites/Diriyah/Pages/TuraifDistrict.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was founded in the 15th century bearing an architectural style of Najdi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1418806/saudi-arabia|title=Al-Turaif: How Saudi Arabia is bolstering future tourism by reviving past treasures|date=11 December 2018|website=Arab News|language=en|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> There are some Historic palaces and monuments in Al-Turaif district include: Salwa Palace, Saad bin Saud Palace, The Guest House and At-Turaif Bath House, and Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldheritagesite.org/list/Turaif+Quarter|title=Turaif Quarter - World Heritage Site - Pictures, Info and Travel Reports|website=www.worldheritagesite.org|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref>[[File:Masmak Fort (12753717253).jpg|left|thumb|267x267px|The Masmak Fortress in 2014]]

====Masmak Fortress====
{{Main|Masmak fort}}
This fortress was built around 1865 under the reign of [[Mohammed ibn Abdullah ibn Rasheed]] (1289-1315 AH), the ruler of [[Ha'il]] to the north, who had wrested control of the city from the rival clan of [[Al Saud]]. In January 1902 [[Ibn Saud]], who was at the time living in exile in [[Kuwait]], succeeded in capturing the Masmak fortress from its Rashid garrison. The event, which restored Saudi control over Riyadh, has acquired an almost mythical status in the history of Saudi Arabia. The story of the event is often retold and has as its central theme the heroism and bravery of King Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Masmak Fortress is now a museum and is in close proximity to the Clock Tower Square, also known to English-speaking residents as [[Chop Chop Square]], referring to the capital punishment that takes place there.

===Contemporary architecture===

====Kingdom Centre====
{{Main|Kingdom Centre}}
Designed by the team of [[Ellerbe Becket]] and [[Omrania and Associates|Omrania]], the tower is built on 94,230&nbsp;square meters of land. The Kingdom Centre is owned by a group of companies including [[Kingdom Holding Company]], headed by [[Al-Waleed bin Talal]], a prince of the Saudi royal family, and is the headquarters of the holding company. The project cost 2&nbsp;billion Saudi Arabian Riyals and the contract was undertaken by El-Seif. The Kingdom Centre is the winner of the 2002 [[Emporis Skyscraper Award]], selected as the "best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality". A three-level shopping center, which also won a major design award, fills the east wing. The large opening is illuminated at night in continuously changing colors. The shopping center has a separate floor for women only to shop where men are not allowed to enter.

The Kingdom Tower has 99 stories and is the fifth tallest structure in the country, rising to 300 m. A special aspect of the tower is that it is divided into two parts in the last one-third of its height and is linked by a sky-bridge walkway, which provides extensive views of Riyadh.{{sfn|Jordan|2011|p=98}}

====Burj Rafal ====
{{Main|Burj Rafal}}

Burj Rafal, located on King Fahd Road, is the tallest skyscraper in Riyadh at 307.9 meters (1,010 feet) tall. The tower was designed and engineered by P & T Group. Construction began in 2010 and was completed in 2014. The project was considered a success, with 70% of the residential units already sold by the time the skyscraper was topped out. The tower contained 474 residential condominium units and a 349-room 5-star Kempinski hotel. Since then the hotel has been operated under the JW Mariott brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/riyadh/burj-rafal/9554/ |title=Burj Rafal |publisher=The Skyscraper Center |access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref>

====Burj Al Faisaliyah====

{{Main|Al Faisaliyah Center}}
Al Faisaliyah Centre (Arabic: برج الفيصلية) is the first skyscraper constructed in Saudi Arabia and is the third tallest building in Riyadh after the Burj Rafal and the [[Kingdom Centre]]. The golden ball that lies atop the tower is said to be inspired by a ballpoint pen, and contains a restaurant; immediately below this is an outside viewing deck. There is a shopping center with major world brands at ground level. Al Faisaliyah Centre also has a hotel on both sides of the tower while the main building is occupied by office. The Al Faisaliyah Tower has 44 stories.{{sfn|Jordan|2011|p=98}} It was designed by [[Foster and Partners]].

====Riyadh TV Tower====
{{Main|Riyadh TV Tower}}
[[File:Pergamon-Museum - Anthropomorphe Stele 2.jpg|thumb|190px|Anthropomorphic stela from the [[4th millennium BC]] at the [[National Museum of Saudi Arabia]], Riyadh]]
The Riyadh TV Tower is a 170&nbsp;meter high television tower located inside the premises of the Saudi Ministry of Information. It is a vertical cantilever structure which was built between 1978 and 1981. The first movie made in 1983 by the TV tower group and named "1,000 Nights and Night" had Mohammed Abdu and Talal Mmdah as the main characters. At that time, there were no women on TV because of religious restrictions. Three years later, Abdul Khaliq Al-Ghanim produced a TV series called "Tash Ma Tash," which earned a good reaction from audiences in [[Eastern Arabia]]. This series created a media revolution back in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0000282|title=Riyadh Television Tower|access-date=19 January 2014|publisher=Structurae.net}}</ref>

===Museums and collections===
{{main|Museums in Riyadh}}
In 1999, a new central museum was built in Riyadh, at the eastern side of the [[King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre]]. The [[National Museum of Saudi Arabia]] combined several collections and pieces that had up until then been scattered over several institutions and other places in Riyadh and the Kingdom. For example, the meteorite fragment is known as the "Camel's Hump", recovered in 1966 from the [[Wabar craters|Wabar site]], that was on display at the [[King Saud University]] in Riyadh became the new entry piece of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

The [[Royal Saudi Air Force Museum]], or Saqr Al-Jazira, is located on the East Ring Road of Riyadh between exits 10 and 11. It contains a collection of aircraft and aviation-related items used by the [[Royal Saudi Air Force]] and [[Saudia]] (Saudi Arabian Airlines).