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November 24, 2025

What was once a small town in the heart of the desert has, over the past few decades, transformed into a fully fledged metropolis, Riyadh, inclined toward modernity while still preserving its original charm.

If you would first like to delve deeper into the history of Riyadh and Arabia, you can read our insightful article Riyadh: The Birth of Saudi Arabia.

In this second part, we focus on the modern metropolis wrapped in its untamed desert. In recent decades, Riyadh has grown from 150,000 inhabitants to around 7.6 million, making it the most populous city in Saudi Arabia. The population is therefore rapidly expanding and, in addition to Saudis of Arab origin, includes a wide range of ethnic groups and descendants of immigrants from Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, India, and Africa.

A multi-ethnic country that deeply values its traditions, from clothing to a lifestyle aligned with Islamic principles. Consequently, it is customary to dress appropriately: no low necklines, no sheer fabrics, and knees should be covered. Also keep in mind that you will not find pork-based dishes or alcoholic beverages (at most, non-alcoholic beer).

A country still largely off the beaten path, yet one that is investing heavily in tourism as a driver of future economic growth. Hard to believe that, not long ago, it was a completely desert area. Everything has been built from scratch, including the first airport—later followed by several others, all named after Saudi princes and kings. The origins of Saudi aviation are well documented at the Saqr Al-Jazira Aviation Museum.

With a very affordable admission ticket, you can admire, in the outdoor park, various decommissioned aircraft from both the civilian and military fleets and more: C-130 Hercules, F-15 Eagle, Tornado, and, in particular, the Caproni CA-100, an Italian-made “Caproni” aircraft. The latter was donated by Dr. Caproni’s daughter during her visit to the museum in 1999. Another interesting detail is a photograph depicting the first ten Saudi aviation students who were sent to Italy in 1935 to learn how to fly.

In the spirit of adventure and of immersing yourself in the iconic landscape of Saudi Arabia, a visit to the Edge of the World is a must. This off-road excursion, about two hours from the city, takes you deep into the desert to a cliff rising 1,131 meters, once part of an ancient ocean floor. In fact, if you look closely, you can spot genuine marine fossils scattered here and there. The real spectacle, however, comes at sunset, which captures the true essence of this solitary, boundless place.

Another evening outing is a visit to Wadi Manar Coast, a park in the southern part of Riyadh set along the banks of a small river. Wadi in Arabic means the bed of a seasonal river dry or full depending on the time of year, where water flows only temporarily, usually after the rainy season. These natural channels carve into the land, creating valleys often marked by crystal-clear freshwater pools. Here, you can admire an artificial waterfall that is activated after 6:00 p.m. while strolling along a pleasant walkway.

The beauty of Riyadh lies in the fact that, despite being a large metropolis, most of the city has developed horizontally, with skyscrapers concentrated only in certain areas. Among these, a visit to the Kingdom Centre—one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, is a must. This 302-meter skyscraper, inaugurated in 2003, has 99 floors and has become a modern symbol of the city. It hosts a hotel, offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, a conference center, a swimming pool, and tennis courts, and on the 77th floor it houses one of the highest mosques in the world (the King Abdullah Mosque). The tower covers 300,000 square meters and won the International Design and Development Award in 2003. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Riyadh thanks to the Sky Bridge, a 65-meter-long steel structure weighing around 300 tons.

A symbol of modernity, Boulevard World is an amusement park located on Prince Turki Al-Awwal Road. It has several entrances, one of which is truly impressive, featuring a huge digital globe that changes appearance cyclically. Inaugurated in November 2022, it is essentially a grand promenade (a “boulevard”) filled with shops, restaurants, rides, and themed attractions that faithfully recreate the country you are “visiting.” So you might enjoy a traditional Japanese tea or sip a coffee in a classic Parisian café. It is, in fact, a luxurious miniature world, with replicas of iconic monuments from various countries, including the United States, France, Greece, Egypt, China, Japan, and Spain. It also features Lagoon Lake, the largest artificial lagoon in the world, where a remarkably accurate reproduction of Venice has been created. Covering about 12 hectares, the lagoon has earned a place in the Guinness World Records.

Don’t expect to find souvenir shops. The city is dotted with countless shopping malls featuring the world’s biggest retail chains, where you can pay by credit card or in the local currency, the SAR. Here and there you’ll also find a few souqs, the most traditional of which is Souq Al Zal, one of the oldest bazaars. It offers everything from spices, tea, and coffee to carpets and clothing, and is located in the picturesque Deera district.

Finally, let’s get ready to admire Riyadh in all its splendor when it hosts Expo 2030. The theme will be “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.” And who better than Saudi Arabia understands the need to progressively move away from fossil fuels and focus on international tourism? Cultural areas, daily showcases, and AI-based experiences will blend Saudi hospitality with cutting-edge technology. The event will take place over an area of 6 million square meters and is expected to attract around 42 million visitors, promoting innovation and global cooperation.

We can only conclude with “God bless you,” printed on all Saudi aircraft, a fitting wish for always traveling with the wind at your back.

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Lucia Angeli

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