Edge of the World Tour
Stand on Tuwaiq's cliffs above the endless desert plain.
Overview
Why visit Riyadh
Riyadh began as an oasis town on the Najd plateau — its name comes from the Arabic for 'gardens'. The story of modern Saudi Arabia started next door at Diriyah, seat of the first Saudi state in 1744, whose mud-brick At-Turaif quarter is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After oil transformed the kingdom, Riyadh became its political and financial heart. The Kingdom Centre tower, with its inverted arch and sky bridge 99 floors up, and the glass-and-steel King Abdullah Financial District define the new skyline, while the 1902 capture of Masmak Fortress remains the founding legend of the modern state.
The desert is the city's playground: the Tuwaiq escarpment, nicknamed the Edge of the World, drops sheer cliffs over an ancient seabed about 90 minutes away. In winter, the Riyadh Season festival fills Boulevard Riyadh City with concerts, food and shows, and a brand-new metro system is reshaping how the city moves.
Things to do
Top things to book in Riyadh
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Diriyah & At-Turaif
Explore the UNESCO mud-brick birthplace of Saudi Arabia.
Kingdom Centre & City Tour
Sky bridge views, Masmak Fortress and the old town.
Desert Safari & Dinner
Dunes, camels, quad bikes and a desert camp dinner.
Plan your trip
Compare prices for Riyadh
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Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Riyadh
- 01
Where Saudi Arabia Began
Diriyah's At-Turaif district was the capital of the first Saudi state from 1744 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 02
A Name That Means Gardens
Riyadh comes from 'riyad', the plural of 'rawda', meaning gardens or meadows — after the oasis greenery.
- 03
The Bottle Opener
The 302-metre Kingdom Centre tower is topped by an inverted arch with a glass sky bridge on the 99th floor.
- 04
The Edge Of The World
The Tuwaiq escarpment's cliffs overlook an endless desert plain that was once the floor of an ocean.
- 05
A New Metro
The Riyadh Metro, opened in 2024, is one of the largest metro systems ever built in a single phase.
- 06
The Fortress Raid
In 1902 Abdulaziz ibn Saud recaptured Masmak Fortress, the daring raid that began the unification of Saudi Arabia.
- 07
One Of The Fastest-Growing
Riyadh has grown from a town of under 200,000 in the 1950s to a metropolis of over 7 million.
- 08
A Winter Festival
Riyadh Season, launched in 2019, turns the city into months of concerts, boxing, food festivals and pop-ups.
- 09
First Sunday
Saudi Arabia's weekend runs Friday–Saturday, since Friday is the holy day.
- 10
Camel Markets
Just outside the city, one of the Arabian Peninsula's largest camel markets still trades daily.
Random Riyadh fact
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FAQ
Quick answers about Riyadh
Where is Riyadh located?
Riyadh is in Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East.
What is the population of Riyadh?
The greater Riyadh area is home to about 7,700,000 people.
What is Riyadh famous for?
Saudi Arabia's capital blends the mud-brick birthplace of the kingdom at Diriyah with the glass towers of the King Abdullah Financial District, ringed by desert cliffs at the Edge of the World.
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