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Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 4,854,000 people, and the urban center of a region with a population of close to 7 million people. The city is divided into 15 municipal districts, managed by Riyadh Municipality headed by the mayor of Riyadh, and the Riyadh Development Authority.

The centre of the city, Al-Bathaa and Al-Dirah, is also its oldest part. At its heart lies the 19th-century Al Masmak fort, which is one of the city's major attractions; to the west lies the Riyadh Museum of History and Archeology and the Murabba' Palace, an old residence of the first Saudi king, Ibn Saud, now a museum.

 

Geography
Most of Saudi Arabia is desert. The central region consists of an eroded plateau, mostly arid and hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The western region is mountainous except on the coastal plain bordering the Red Sea, which includes the Jeddah area.

Riyadh is located slightly east of the center of the country in the heart of the Tuwaig escarpment. Riyadh is divided into 15 branch municipalities, in addition to the Diplomatic Quarter. Each branch municipality contains several districts, though some districts are divided between more than one branch municipality.
 

Climate
Summer temperatures are very hot, approaching 50 degrees Celsius. The average high temperature in July is 44°C. Winters are mild with cold, windy nights. The overall climate is arid, receiving very little rainfall. Riyadh is also known to have many dust storms.
 

Economy

Once a small walled city, Riyadh has developed into a dynamic metropolis over the years. Along with the urban areas of Dhahran, Dammam, Khobar and Jeddah, Riyadh has become a focal point for both travel and trade.

In addition to being the center of power, the city is also a commercial hub. Numerous educational, financial, agricultural, cultural, technical, and social organizations have set up base here. The architecture is mostly modern, including contemporary high-rise towers, but the Al-Dira district, the nucleus of the city, has been rebuilt in a style meant to evoke the old mud-brick buildings of pre-20th century Nejd.

 

Local Time
Riyadh is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
 

 

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