302 metres A large number of modern
shopping malls have also sprung up outside the city centre. Heading north from the city centre, the options include the 180-unit Sahara Mall, the more modern 500-unit Deira Shopping Centre and the Al Bathaa Souk – a contemporary take on the traditional Arabic marketplace.
The Kingdom Tower also
boasts a 56-metre-long Sky Bridge connecting its east and west prongs at the top of the skyscraper. Situated at a height of 270 metres, it has a public observation deck and the best views of the city. The 267-metre-high Faisaliah
Tower was Saudi Arabia’s first skyscraper when it was opened in 2000. Designed by British architect Buro Happold, it resembles the nib of a fountain pen and is almost totally transparent from both inside and out. Just below the summit there is a huge golden globe – an observation deck over the villas, streets and marketplaces of Riyadh. The Faisaliah Shopping Center lies beneath the tower, housing 108 outlets of top brands from around the world, including Harvey Nichols, while a large food court takes up most of the second floor. For a more traditional shopping
experience, the old souks can be found in the historic quarter around the Qasr Al Hokm district. The oldest of these, the Antique Souk, is still a maze of narrow, labyrinthine passageways with an atmosphere full of character. Other souks in the area include the gold souk and the women’s souk.
1 Museum of Riyadh 2 Te Kingdom Centre 3 Te desert, Al Tumamah
NATURAL DELIGHTS Salam Park Salam Park is to Riyadh what Central Park is to New York. Located in downtown Riyadh is an oasis in the urban jungle of the capital, providing an escape from the frenetic pace of the city. With sections set aside for sports and recreational activities, it is ideal for recharging the batteries without leaving the city. A huge artificial lake is the focal point of the park and with fishing a popular pastime in Riyadh, it is an anglers’ paradise.
Wadi Hanifa A protected nature reserve, Wadi Hanifa is a long valley that runs parallel to the capital. It covers an area of 120 square kilometres and is one of the most unique natural features of the Riyadh area, containing a lake that benefits the area’s agricultural industry.
Te height of the Kingdom Centre Tower, the
tallest building in Saudi Arabia. It has 99 floors and includes a shopping mall, hotel, luxury apartments and the iconic Sky Bridge
Desert safari The pristine Arabian Desert surrounds Riyadh and is a great place for camel or horse riding, desert driving, motocross or quad-biking. Among the key attractions are desert camps – tented accommodation pitched in the middle of the dunes which hark back to the old ways of the Bedouin, but where visitors can enjoy modern-day amenities and luxuries. The desert can be experienced at Al Thumamah, Rawdat Khraim, Rawdat Al Tanhat, Al Kharrarah and Rawdat Al Mahaiyah, all close to Riyadh.
SPECIAL INTEREST Saqr Al Jazeera Aviation Museum A hidden gem in Riyadh, this small museum is dedicated to the history of aviation in Saudi Arabia. Among its prime exhibits is a Boeing DC3 Dakota that was presented to King Abdulaziz bin Saud in 1945 by US President Franklin D Roosevelt. The museum offers the opportunity to board the fully restored aircraft and see how the Saudi royals travelled in the middle of the last century. The museum also has a collection of old fighter aircraft as well as equipment that tells the story of more than 80 years of Saudi aviation.
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