Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — When King Abdulaziz chose Riyadh as the capital of his newly unified state, his vision was to transform the modest walled town into a modern city worthy of the Kingdom’s ambitions. In 1946, he appointed Prince Sultan as governor of Riyadh, initiating projects that would lay the foundation for the city’s expansion, including its first census and the division of the capital into ten administrative districts by 1952.
By 1954, a royal order appointed Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, then a young leader, as governor of Riyadh, a role he would hold for nearly six decades.
His tenure marked the beginning of Riyadh’s extraordinary journey from a town of mud-brick houses to one of the fastest-growing capitals in the world.
As governor, King Salman guided Riyadh through an era of transformation, overseeing its planning, infrastructure, and expansion.
He described his deep attachment to the city in a rare reflection more than 40 years ago: “Riyadh to me is the homeland, the past, the present, and the future... Every corner of it lives with me, and I live with it.”
From a population of only 8,000 in the mid-19th century, Riyadh swelled to 19,000 by the early 20th century.
Today, the capital is home to nearly 10 million residents and sprawls across more than 2,000 square kilometers.
Once encircled by defensive walls and gates, it is now an international hub for commerce, culture, and diplomacy.
Riyadh’s origins run deep into the Arabian Peninsula’s history.
Archaeological evidence shows human settlement in the region for more than 250,000 years.
The area once bore the name “Hajr,” capital of Al-Yamamah, and flourished under tribes such as Banu Hanifa, becoming a center for agriculture and trade.
Its fertile Wadi Hanifah sustained generations and drew caravans moving between Basra, Kufa, Bahrain, Hijaz, and Yemen.
By the 17th century, the name Riyadh — meaning “gardens” — became common for the cluster of villages around Hajr.
The city gained political prominence under Imam Turki bin Abdullah, who rebuilt it as the capital of the Second Saudi State.
In 1902, King Abdulaziz retook Riyadh, making it the launch point for unifying the Arabian Peninsula.
Riyadh’s early modern era was marked by fortifications. Under King Abdulaziz, the city’s walls were rebuilt with towers and six gates, while Al-Masmak Fortress became a key administrative site.
Within the walls stood Qasr Al-Hukm (the Governor’s Palace), the Grand Mosque, and central markets.
The decision to remove the city walls in the 1950s symbolized Riyadh’s expansion.
New districts such as Al-Futah, Al-Murabba, and Al-Shumaisi sprang up beyond the old town, while the construction of Al-Murabba Palace set the direction of growth northward.
By the late 1950s, the city covered 13 square kilometers with more than 83,000 residents, a dramatic expansion from its one-square-kilometer core.
As Riyadh modernized, King Salman oversaw projects that reshaped its urban identity: highways, residential neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals.
Government ministries and businesses consolidated in the city, making it the political, commercial, and financial center of the Kingdom. Its strategic location in the heart of the Peninsula reinforced its role as a hub linking regional and global markets.
The capital’s scale now rivals entire nations. Global corporations have chosen Riyadh for regional headquarters, while international events and summits have made it a stage for diplomacy and commerce.
The city’s skyline reflects a blend of heritage and ambition, from restored palaces in Qasr Al-Hukm to futuristic towers on King Fahd Road.
Today, Riyadh embodies the transformation of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. It hosts some of the Kingdom’s largest development projects, new cultural districts, parks, and advanced transport networks.
With mega-events, entertainment venues, and global sports hosted in its arenas, Riyadh mirrors the Kingdom’s ambition to combine tradition with modernity.
From Hajr of the ancients to the Riyadh of Vision 2030, the Saudi capital tells the story of the nation itself resilience, transformation, and an enduring belief in the future.
