Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s capital is one of the world’s fast-growing cities, a haven of shopping, entertainment and business set in the heart of the Nafud desert. Riyadh was a small, fortified desert village in the 17^th century, becoming capital in 1932 at the same time as the founding of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

While at first glance the city may appear to be modern through and through, there are plenty of buildings remaining here that witnessed the birth of the kingdom and lots of history and tradition to be found among them. The Masmak Fortress for example, built in 1865, has some fascinating exhibits on the history of the city and exudes an old-world charm, especially if you pop up to the top to view the roof paintings.

For bastions of tradition head to one of the city’s many colourful souks – Al Zal is the oldest - to lose yourself to a timeless world of exotic sights and smells. The National Museum is the perfect juxtaposition of old and new, and one of the Middle East’s best museums. State-of-the-art and housed within Modernist architecture, it is the best place to learn about Saudi Arabia’s history, culture and art.