attractions REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Riyadh
Te capital and commercial heart of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is the main entry point for business travellers and also the epicentre of the country’s meetings industry
At the nerve centre of Saudi Arabia, politically, culturally as well as geographically, is its capital and largest city, Riyadh – a bustling metropolis of more than 5.2 million people and one of the biggest urban centres in the Arab World. Although it traces its origins back to ancient times, modern Riyadh came into being in the last century when King Abdulaziz bin Saud (also known as Ibn Saud) created the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with what was then a relatively small and isolated town as its capital. Since then, Riyadh has been transformed into a modern metropolis with large city blocks and highways. Riyadh is divided into 15 branch
municipalities comprising several districts of which the Al Olaya area is the city’s commercial heart, containing most of the entertainment, shopping, dining
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and hospitality options, as well as the most prominent and iconic landmarks of the Saudi capital – the towering Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah buildings. Most visitors to Riyadh
1 Riyadh at night 2 Masmak Fort
make their first acquaintance with the city through King Khalid International Airport, 35 kilometres north of the city centre. The airport serves around 17 million passengers annually and is one of the hubs of the national flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, or Saudia, which connects it to more than 45 destinations across four continents. With a number of airlines from all over the world operating flights to Riyadh, such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific, the Saudi capital enjoys great global air connectivity.
The city is an economic
powerhouse, home to 19 companies with annual revenues of more than US$1 billion, according to a recent report by management consultancy McKinsey and Company. These include some of the most respected names in the business world, such as Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp, Samba Financial Group, Kingdom Holding and Saudi Telecom. As a venue for meetings
and conferences, Riyadh offers a complete package of first- rate facilities and recreational opportunities in a vibrant business setting. The Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center has a year-round calendar of large exhibitions and events, such as the Saudi Agro Foods Exhibition, the Saudi Print and Pack Exhibition,
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