Can you imagine living 600 years ago? We are standing in Ad Diriyah Heritage site. It is a beautifully preserved mud-brick city. This was the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was also the original home of House Al Saud.
Ad Diriyah, also known as Diriyah, holds a special place in Saudi history. It served as the capital of the Emirate of Diriyah. This was under the first Saudi dynasty from 1727 to 1818. Today, it is the seat of the Diriyah Governorate.
The Turaif district in Ad Diriyah was the first Saudi capital. It earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. You can explore the city’s layout at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. A large-scale model is on display.
The ruins of old Diriyah lie on both sides of Wadi Hanifa valley. They consist of mud-brick structures. These ruins divide into three districts. They are Ghussaibah, Al-Mulaybeed, and Turaif. Turaif sits atop hills overlooking the valley. It is easily accessible to tourists. Parts of the city wall remain. They run along the wadi edges. High observation towers still stand.
Diriyah’s history dates back to the 15th century. Chroniclers say that the city was founded in 1446 or 1447. Mani Al-Muraydi founded it. He was an ancestor of the Saudi royal family. Mani and his clan came from Al-Qatif in eastern Arabia. Ibn Dir invited them. Ibn Dir ruled settlements that now make up Riyadh.
Initially, Mani and his clan settled in Ghusaybah and Al-Mulaybeed. The settlement was named Al-Diriyah. This was after Mani’s benefactor Ibn Dir. Later, the Turaif district was settled. By the 18th century, Diriyah was well-known in Nejd.
Muhammad ibn Saud became the emir of Al-Diriyah. In 1744, he allied with religious scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. They established the First Saudi State with Diriyah as its capital. Ibn Saud and his descendants conquered Nejd. They also took eastern and western Arabia. They even raided Iraq. Diriyah grew in size and wealth. It became the largest town in Nejd.
The Saudi capture of Mecca and Medina angered the Ottoman Empire. This led to the Ottoman-Saudi War from 1811 to 1818. Egyptian forces invaded Arabia. In 1818, Diriyah surrendered after a long siege. Ibrahim Pasha, the invasion leader, ordered Diriyah’s destruction.
The town’s original inhabitants left Diriyah after 1818. Most moved to Riyadh. British author Robert Lacey compared old Diriyah to a “sand-blown Pompeii”. However, the area was resettled in the late 20th century. A new city was founded in the 1970s.
The Saudi government is renovating Ad Diriyah Heritage site. The Diriyah Gate Development Authority oversees preservation and development. The goal is to turn it into a major tourist attraction.
Among the rebuilt structures are the bath and guest house. Also Qasr Nasr and the Saad bin Saud Palace have been rebuilt. The Burj Faysal was renovated. Major sections of the wall surrounding Turaif have been restored.
The “Turaif District Development Plan” aims to make the district a major center. The plan includes investigations and excavations. These will be at sites like Al-Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque and Salwa Palace.
Once finished, there will be a new visitors center. There will also be a documentation center. Four new museums are planned. They are a museum of war and defense. Also there will be a museum of horses. There will be a museum of social life. Finally there will be a museum of commerce and finance.
Ad Diriyah Heritage site’s historic structures include Salwa Palace. It was the residence of the Saudi Amirs and Imams. It is the largest palace on the site. Also there is Sa’ad bin Sa’ud Palace. It is famous for its courtyard.
Another important site is the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mosque. It was built during the reign of Imam Mohammad bin Saud. Al-Bujairi was the religious center of the historical settlement. Sheikh Mohammad ibn Abdulwahab taught in this mosque.
Ad Diriyah Heritage site blends history and modernity. It offers visitors a glimpse into Saudi Arabia’s past. It also showcases its ambitious future. Take your time to explore the wonders of Ad Diriyah.