Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. Correctly called Al-Riyad, the name derives from the Arabic word ‘rawdah’ meaning trees and gardens; and therefore, the name means ‘the garden’. From antiquity, Riyadh has been known as a fertile area located at the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
Saudi Arabia had two capitals from the late 1920s: Riyadh and Al-Hijaz. The king was in Riyadh and most of his government ministries and head offices were in Al-Hijaz. However, gradually, as the city progressed and expanded, Riyadh became the sole capital. The city is the economic heartland of the country. The oil boom that started in 1974 dramatically transformed the city. As the city grew, so did the population along with it. From a total population of 169,000 in 1962, it became 4.5 million in 2003. Riyadh is one of the leading havens of job hunters today. While the government is the largest employer in Riyadh, light industry and retail firms provide employment to people. The chief industry in the city is oil refining.
The native architecture, various archaeological sites, Masmak Fortress, Kingdom Tower, Burj Rafal and Burj Al Faisaliyah are some of the monuments in Riyadh.
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