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Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Riyadh is the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is located in the central-eastern part of the Arabian peninsula, almost at the geographical center of the Kingdom. This strategic location made Riyadh a natural choice for the establishment of the seat of government, and it has operated as such since the unification of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud in 1932.

Within the Riyadh region a number of special areas are identified, each one with its own characteristics:

• Al Dariya with its rich history and ruins, its pleasant gardens and the characteristic local architecture of the existing site. 
• Al-Kharj with its gardens, farms, agricultural experimental fields and water resources. 
• The depression to the west from Al-Muzahimiyah to Marat, with its impressive hilly landscapes and green areas. 
• The raised plateau on the road to Khurais. 

Newcomers to Riyadh will find virtually all the services and shopping facilities that are to be expected in any modern capital city throughout the world. In addition, Riyadh’s rich cultural heritage permeates every aspect of domestic, religious, social and commercial life from the traditional "souks" to the most modern office complexes.

CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE 

The whole of the Central Region of the Kingdom has more or less uniform climatic characteristics. In common with its surrounding areas, Riyadh experiences typical continental type climatic conditions, dry and hot, with wide daily temperature variations. In general terms it can be said that the weather is pleasant from November to April, and for the remaining six months in the year the high temperatures are made bearable by the low relative humidity. The hot period is from May to September, while the cool period is from December to February. 

Rainfall in Riyadh is very slight. There is a clearly marked dry period from June to October. The wettest months are March and April, with average falls of 33.5 and 44.2mm respectively. 

There are several major shopping malls in Riyadh that rival those in any major U.S. city, and many local "souks" (market areas) where you can do your best bargaining. There are several stores you’ll find familiar such as Next, Liz Claiborn, Sears and True Value. There are great buys on jewelry and watches; and you can buy clothing from furs (yes, furs!) and haute couture to bargain basement, or you can purchase fabric at one of the many material souks and have ladies and men’s clothes made by one of the local tailors. 

A good variety of restaurants exists in Riyadh offering a wide range of international options including French, Italian, Mexican, Filipino, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian and many Arabic selections. All of the major hotels have excellent restaurants. 

For informal dining, there is Wimpy, Hardee’s, Burger King, Fuddrucker’s, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Dominoes Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Popeye’s Chicken, Baskin & Robbins, and Dairy Queen, in various locations around the city. The numerous sidewalk vendors offer a good selection of Arabic foods and sandwiches, whose quality varies from vendor to vendor. 

Children of expatriate employees attend two main schools within Riyadh. 

Saudi Arabian International School Riyadh (American Section) licensed by the Ministry of Education and accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. The school enrolls over 2,000 students; 50% are American, and 50% represent British and a mix of different nationalities. 

The British School, who has British-trained teachers, accommodates approximately 400 students; 50% are British, and 50% represent a mix of different nationalities. 

King Khalid International Airport

Arriving in Riyadh at the KKIA Airport (photos!) will create quite an impression. The grand ambiance will give the new arrival an excellent preview of this thriving modern metropolis in the dessert.