This is Riyadh - The Desert Metropolis! (A Cultural Tour of Saudi Arabia's Capital City)
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- Saudi Arabia's vast capital city has remained off the tourist circuit for decades, preferring to restrict visitors to those wishing to do business. However, that situation is changing rapidly as Saudi Arabia opens to the world and Riyadh steps into the limelight as a global sporting, cultural and business hub.
I arrived in Riyadh with an image of a dusty city of busy highways and vast shopping malls. But as I soon found out, there’s much more to the city than those stereotypes. During my short visit I sampled the cultural life, went walking in the air (via a skybridge), stepped into the future and the past, experienced the Noor festival of light, and bought lot of dates!
Is there any history in Riyadh? Yes...
Al masmak fortress (palace) is now a museum that details how the the army of King Abdul Aziz retook the fort in the 1902 battle of riyadh. The restoration of Saudi control over the capital was a key event in the unification of the entire country and the establishment of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Models and old photographs show clearly how even into the 50s Riyadh extended little beyond the fort’s walls. Nearby you'll find Justice Square, once violent but now an oasis for coffee lovers.
Is there any culture in Riyadh? Yes....
The national museum of Saudi Arabia is the jewel in Riyadh’s cultural crown. With a rich collection of artefacts It studies The history of the Arabian peninsula over the centuries from pre-islamic times to the modern Saudi state. You’ll find priceless examples of rock art, these standing stones are some of the earliest monuments of arabia and date from the 4th millennium bc. Curious how there’s an element of pop art in these ancient symbols. The hall dedicated to the Nabateans and their city at Hegra includes a recreation of one of the famous rock tombs. The story of the prophet Muhammed is, of course, given great prominence and I learnt a huge amount about his legendary flight to Medina to avoid his circling enemies in Mecca, a story that is close to the heart of all muslims but less well known in the wider world.
The halls dedicated to the two holy mosques at Mecca and Medina are a must see. For a non muslim this is as close to experiencing Mecca as I will ever get. The scale models are simply stunning.
The natural world is not forgotten, from stunning desert roses to a meteorite from the empty quarter.
In short, this is a world class museum.
What is the tallest building in Riyadh?
Kingdom tower sits above a shopping mall and its lobby has an art deco vibe. The 99 storeys include offices, a hotel and luxury apartments, all with incredible views over the city, but none that beat those of the skybridge 300m above the city streets.
What is the KAFD?
A host of world famous architects have been brought in to give shape to the KAFD (The King Abdullah Financial District). This city within a city feels to me a little like London’s Barbican centre, albeit updated for the 21st century in Arabia.
Whilst there I was lucky to catch the 3rd edition of Noor Riyadh, the largest light festival in the world.
I really enjoyed my short time (just 2 days) in Riyadh and hope to visit again.
Filmed November 2023
Jonathan Wheeler
@TravelObscurer
www.travelobscurer.com
#riyadh #riyadh_today #visitsaudi
Loved Riyadh! Was very surprised to find out how secured it was. No thefts, no shootings opposite of how it is like in Chicago, where I am from.
Thanks!!!😊
Btw here in Saudi the driver are Ngl CRAZY well some of them
Welcome to Riyadh, I hope you enjoy; Thank you for your beautiful words. Riyadh is indeed very beautiful❤❤
It is a beautiful city, Riyadh
thanks I live there
Concise and informative from a severely underrated channel!
Thanks Hamza. Spread the word!
Excellent video, you have clearly put a lot of effort into this! Keep it up!
Thank you. Yes, lots of research, lots of editing, and plenty of walking. That's how I like to make travel films. Enjoy the channel!
Beautiful Muslim country
Just what I needed today. Tysm!
The most underrated travel vlog, Keep it up man. Love from Pakistan ❤.
Thank you! Pakistan films coming soon!
Your channel is severely underrated
Thanks. Yes I agree! Just need that RUclips algorithm to find the channel!!
@@TravelObscurerRUclips algorithm led me to you! Keep going man
The cinema was located in the headquarters of Al-Nasr Club since 1968, but it was restricted to the members and fans of Al-Nasr Club.
I wondered if there were any private cinemas during that period. Thanks for the information.
first video i watched of youm saw it in my recommendation. great video and i love the editing, it's very similar to a news report editing style which you dont see too often in YT!
Thank you so much. I spend a lot of time getting the editing right so it's great to hear such positive feedback. Hope you enjoy other films on the channel.
I live there lol thanks it makes feel me feel like my country is special
Great city - great country!
Thanks for visiting my city. Loved your video ❤
Thank you too! 😀
Wow so beautiful Amazing❤❤❤
Thanks!!
Fantastic video, I’m going to Saudi Arabia as a solo tourist this year and this has been very useful for letting me know what to see! 🎉
Thank you. Have a great time. Films about Al Ula and Jeddah will be coming shortly.
Wow what amazing video I've just seen it😍
Keep going, you are most welcome here
Thanks for the feedback. Really appreciated!
Loved the documentary style of the video! I hope to see one about AlUla, I think you’d like it.
I visited Al Ula too. Incredible destination. The film is coming very soon.
I live There Welcome to Saudi Arabia Riyadh The Future!
Incredible vid. A real experience is better than a thousand stories
Thanks. I agree!
Amazing video about my city!
Thanks! 😃
Well done, thank you.
Thanks!
Welcome from Saudi Arabia ❤❤
Very good documentary
Thank you!
What a lovely vlog
Thank you 😊
underrated channel !
Thanks for the feedback. 😀
Welcome to Saudia Arabia 🇸🇦❤️
Amazing video
Thank you so much!!!
Hi! I never miss a video from you. You seem to travel quite a lot, and to many different places. Is that because of your job, or just a leisure thing? If I may, what kind of job takes you so far and wide? Anyway, lovely video as always.
Thanks for the great feedback. Unfortunately I don't (yet) have a job that takes me to these amazing places. I travel as a tourist, using the savings from my legal career before I got burn out.
One of the best travel channels
Thanks for the great feedback!
Hope you visit us in Jeddah you are welcome there are plenty of sites to film the old town and the Red Sea also the southern region like abha city in the mountains but is very cold now ❤
Yes, I had a great time in Jeddah. The film is coming soon!!
you should definitely visit al bujairi terrace in riyadh
Yes, I really wanted to visit but ran out of time.
As a person who lives in Riyadh, I recommend you try to go to some of the seasons tourist destinations.
Unfortunately I'm now back in Scotland. It was a short visit but I hope to return.
@@TravelObscurer That's ok! Have fun in Scottland!
Im just watching this because I miss Saudi 😭
Same
منور❤
Great show about Riyadh From Ras Al Khaimah 🇦🇪👍🏻 Thank you
Thank you too
2:49 We were in the right direction and we still in the right. we know what is right and what is wrong. 👍
that was miraculous i wish your next destination is India Indianapolis...........
Thank you. I hope so too!
❤🇸🇦
Blessed land, it is the land of the prophets, the land of the Best of the best people who ever lived (in the eyes of the creator). These are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Think of Omar Ibn Khattab, Abou Bakr Siddiq, Uthman Ibn affan, Abou Ubayda ibn Jarrah, Talha ibn Ubaydilah, Hamza ibn Abdel Mutallib and so on. May Allah swt guide us to the pious predecessors 😢😞 🌺 ❤❤❤❤
You come in Islamabad city
Yes, I was in Islamabad in October. The film will come shortly. I hope you like it!
The city Riyadh is a beautiful arab city! But I like places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi more because they re more liberal and are welcoming everybody! Im a christian man and I never would enter the arab islamic world. Im afraid to it. Because I never know whether I would get problems there... I would like it much more travelling to Brazil. Places like Rio de Janeiro, Recife, aso... are better. They have also the same weather.
But they have forests. And its beautiful green there.😊
I can only lament on all this, being a simple Muslim
Brother your sweeting too hard
Watch out for yourself
In this dystopia they live like in medieval era. 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎 `Battle of riyadh`? That`s a clear indication that this country was conquered by the sword 🥶🥶
i hope you enjoy to drink latte in My job (Elixir Bunn)
Great coffee.