As the capital of Saudi Arabia and the largest city in the country, Riyadh is one of the most historic places in the world. The city is located in the Riyadh province, roughly in the center of the Arabian Peninsula. As home to over five million people, the city is situated on a large plateau and divided into 15 distinct municipal districts. The mayor of Riyadh, Abdul Aziz ibn Ayyaf Al Migrin was appointed in 1998 and manages the Riyadh Municipality. The Riyadh Development Authority also has much control over the city, which is run by Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the province.
The name for the city stems from the Arabic word for “garden.” It is named this due to the fertility of the area and the vast vegetation that develops after rainfall. Originally, most of the vegetation was palm trees, orchards and dates.
It is believed that the city was founded by the Banu Hanifa tribe. Before Islam, the settlement was known as Hajr and served as the capital to the province of Al Yamamah. In 866, the region broke away from the Abbasid Empire and the Ukhaydhirites took over the rule of the city. The capital was moved to Al Kharj. The city’s population dwindled and the local economy collapsed. In the 14th century, new interest in the settlement spawned continued growth. It was noted by travelers for its long canals and lush trees. The city became a great site for visiting pilgrims on their way to or coming from Mecca.
The city ultimately broke up into different estates including Migrin and Mi’kal in 1590. This regional control continued for over a century until Deham ibn Dawwas took control of the city in 1737 and renamed it Riyadh. Ibn Dawwas was a refugee from Manfuha and built a wall that encircled the city, uniting each estate into a single powerful community.
In 1744, an alliance was formed between Muhammad ibn Abdel Wahhab and Muhammed ibn Saud fro the town of Diriyah. Ibn Saud led a force with the goal of conquering the regions surrounding the area and uniting it into a single Islamic state. Ibn Dawwas led a resistance force against Ibn Saud and Ibn Abdel Wahhab. He allied with the Banu Yam clan and forces from Al Kharj and Al Ahsa. Decades later, in 1774, the Saudis finally conquered Riyadh and brought about the First Saudi State.
The Ottoman Empire then launched a campaign to destroy Saudi control. It used Egyptian forces led by Muhammad Ali. The capital, Diriyah, was razed in 1818. After five years of Ottoman control, Turki ibn Abdallah reestablished the Saudi State with Riyadh as the new capital. However, upon his death, his grandsons fought for power and the Al Rashid clan capitalized on the disarray and launched an attack from the northern city of Ha’il. Riyadh was conquered in 1865 with the overthrow of the al-Masmak fort.
In 1902, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud recaptured the city from the Al Rashid family, establishing the basis for the ultimate founding of the nation of Saudi Arabia in 1932.