Diriyah: World’s Biggest Heritage Project, First Capital of Saudi State

Diriyah: World’s Biggest Heritage Project, First Capital of Saudi State

Historical Diriyah is the pearl of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is around 20 kilometers from the center of Riyadh and is located in the fertile Wadi Hanifa in the northwest of Riyadh. Diriyah is the first capital of the Saudi State and is currently the biggest heritage project in the world.

Diriyah is around 700 meters above sea level and some old Najd towns in the north, such as Al-Jbeilah and Al-Ayniyyah, and Arqa in the south. During its peak, Diriyah extended over eight kilometers on both sides of the Wadi Hanifa from Al-Alab in the north to Al-Mleibid in the south, where Diriyah is considered an important strategic location for its being located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on the Peak of Tweiq Mountains.

Diriyah was established in 850 hijri/1446 Gregorian by Mani' ibn Rabi'a Al-Muraydi, the great grandfather of the Saudi Royal family, where he excelled in building Diriyah until it became one of the strongest emirates of Najd and assumed a prominent role in securing the roads of Hajj and trade between the eastern and western parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

During the bright reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin