History of Riyadh in Timeline

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, also serving as the capital of the Riyadh Province and the center of the Riyadh Governorate. Situated on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the modern city's development largely began in the 1950s after the original walled town's defensive structures were removed. It emerged as an offshoot of this 18th-century settlement.

January 1902: Ibn Saud captures Musmak Palace

In January 1902, Ibn Saud successfully captured the Musmak Palace from its Rashid garrison, restoring Saudi control over Riyadh. This event is celebrated as a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabian history.

1902: Ibn Saud retrieves Najd in 1902

In 1902, Ibn Saud retrieved his ancestral kingdom of Najd.

1926: Consolidation of Rule

By 1926, Ibn Saud consolidated his rule with the final Saudi conquest of Hejaz.

1926: Rule Consolidated in 1926

By 1926, Ibn Saud consolidated his rule, expanding his kingdom.

September 1932: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Established

In September 1932, Ibn Saud named his kingdom 'Saudi Arabia' with Riyadh as the capital.

September 1932: Saudi Arabia Named

In September 1932, Ibn Saud named his kingdom as Saudi Arabia with Riyadh as the capital.

1935: Riyadh Population in 1935

In 1935, the city of Riyadh had a population of 40,000 inhabitants.

1936: Construction of Murabba Palace Begins

In 1936, the construction of King Abdulaziz's Murabba Palace began.

1938: Ibn Saud Moves to Murabba Palace

In 1938, Ibn Saud moved to the Murabba Palace, making it the new administrative center.

1938: Murabba Palace Completed

In 1938, Murabba Palace was completed, and a household of 800 people moved into it.

1947: Establishment of Al-Shabab football club

In 1947, Al-Shabab football club was established. The club holds 6 championships.

1949: Riyadh Population in 1949

In 1949, Riyadh's population reached 83,000 inhabitants.

1950: Development of Annasriyyah

In 1950, King Saud began developing Annasriyyah, the royal residential district, aiming to modernize Riyadh.

1953: King Saud Takes Control

In 1953, King Saud took control after the death of King Ibn Saud.

1953: Introduction of Grid Pattern

In 1953, the grid pattern in the city was introduced.

1954: Establishment of Al-Riyadh Club football club

In 1954, Al-Riyadh Club football club was established.

1955: Establishment of Al-Nassr football club

In 1955, the Al-Nassr football club was established. It has been named champion of the Saudi professional League 9 times.

1957: Establishment of Al-Hilal football club

In 1957, Al-Hilal football club was established in Riyadh. The club has since won 19 championships in the Saudi Pro League.

1964: King Faisal Succeeds King Saud

In 1964, King Faisal succeeded his brother King Saud, breaking the established line of succession.

1966: Recovery of the "Camel's Hump" meteorite

In 1966, the meteorite fragment known as the "Camel's Hump" was recovered from the Wabar site.

1968: Doxiadis Associates Selected to Prepare Masterplan

In 1968, the Department of Municipal Affairs selected Doxiadis Associates to prepare a masterplan for Riyadh.

1972: Masterplan Approved

In 1972, after preliminary studies, the Doxiadis Associates plan was approved.

1974: Population Growth Begins

In 1974 the population growth of the town from 1974 to 1992 averaged 8.2 percent per year.

1974: High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh Founded

In 1974, the government founded the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, headed by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz.

1975: King Khalid Succeeds King Faisal

In 1975, King Khalid succeeded his brother King Faisal.

1978: Construction of Riyadh TV Tower begins

Construction of the Riyadh TV Tower began in 1978. It is a 170-meter-high television tower located inside the premises of the Saudi Ministry of Information.

1981: Construction of Riyadh TV Tower completed

In 1981, the 170-meter-high Riyadh TV Tower's construction was completed. It is a vertical cantilever structure located inside the premises of the Saudi Ministry of Information.

1982: King Fahd Takes Reins

In 1982, King Fahd succeeded his brother King Khalid.

1982: SCET International Assigned to Revise Plan

In 1982, SCET International was assigned to revise and update the original master plan to reflect the drastic growth of Riyadh and offer adaptive measures, which were approved.

November 1983: King Khalid International Airport Opens

On November 16, 1983, King Khalid International Airport was officially opened by King Fahd.

1983: "1,000 Nights and Night" movie released

In 1983, the first movie made by the TV tower group and named "1,000 Nights and Night" had Mohammed Abdu and Talal Mmdah as the main characters.

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1989: King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup

In 1989, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

1992: Population Growth Ends

In 1992 the population growth of the town from 1974 to 1992 averaged 8.2 percent per year.

1992: King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup

In 1992, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup.

1995: King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup

In 1995, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup.

1997: Riyadh's GPYW Indoor Stadium hosted the ABC Championship

In 1997, Riyadh's GPYW Indoor Stadium served as host arena for the ABC Championship, where the Saudi Arabia men's national basketball team reached the Final Four.

1997: King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup

In 1997, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup.

1999: The National Museum of Saudi Arabia was built

In 1999, a new central museum was built in Riyadh at the eastern side of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center. This became the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

2002: Kingdom Centre wins Emporis Skyscraper Award

In 2002, the Kingdom Centre was awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award as the "best new skyscraper of the year" for its design and functionality. The building also includes a three-level shopping center.

May 2003: Al-Qaeda Attacks in Riyadh

In May 2003, Al-Qaeda launched coordinated attacks on compounds in Riyadh, resulting in 39 deaths.

2007: MEDSTAR Wins Award

In 2007, MEDSTAR won second place in the international award for liveable communities.

July 2010: Turaif District Inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List

The Turaif district was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 31, 2010.

2010: Construction of Burj Rafal begins

In 2010, construction began on Burj Rafal, which is located on King Fahd Road. At 307.9 meters tall, it is the tallest skyscraper in Riyadh.

2010: Diriyah Inscribed as UNESCO Site

In 2010, the first Saudi capital Diriyah was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

2010: Literacy rate in Riyadh

In 2010, the literacy rate in Riyadh was 98.10%.

2013: King Khalid International Airport served over 20 million passengers

In 2013, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) served over 20 million passengers.

2014: Burj Rafal Construction Completed

In 2014, the construction of Burj Rafal was completed. The tower contained 474 residential condominium units and a 349-room 5-star Kempinski hotel.

April 2015: Massive Dust Storm Hits Riyadh

On April 1 and 2, 2015, a massive dust storm hit Riyadh, causing the suspension of classes in many schools and the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

2016: Riyadh's Ranking in Global Financial Centres Index

In 2016, Riyadh ranked at 77 in the Global Financial Centres Index.

2017: Population Composition in 2017

As of 2017, the population of Riyadh was composed of 64.19% Saudis and 35.81% non-Saudis, with Indians being the largest minority population at 13.7%, followed by Pakistanis at 12.4%.

2017: Riyadh's Ranking in Global Financial Centres Index

In 2017, Riyadh ranked at 77 in the Global Financial Centres Index.

2017: Riyadh Targeted by Missiles

Since 2017, Riyadh has been the target of missiles from Yemen.

March 2018: Missile Attack in Riyadh

In March 2018, a missile attack in Riyadh resulted in one death.

April 2018: Gunfire Heard in Khozama

In April 2018, heavy gunfire was heard in Khozama, leading to rumors of a coup attempt.

2018: First major esports tournament in Riyadh

In 2018, Riyadh hosted its first major esports tournament, the GSA E-Sports Cup.

2018: Riyadh's Ranking in Global Financial Centres Index

In 2018, Riyadh's rank moved up to 69 in the Global Financial Centres Index.

March 2019: Launch of Riyadh Art project

In March 2019, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City launched Riyadh Art, a public art project aimed at transforming Riyadh into an art hub by giving artists the chance to display and implement their talent in public spaces.

December 2019: Riyadh Season concluded

Riyadh Season, an initiative to promote tourism, took place from October to December 2019. It included a wide range of entertainment activities.

2019: King Salman launched a plan to implement development projects in Riyadh

In 2019, King Salman launched a plan to implement 1281 development projects in Riyadh, with a planned cost of around US$22 billion. The goal of the plan is to improve the infrastructure, transportation, environment and other facilities in the city and the surrounding area.

2019: Al-Muqrin Appointed Mayor

In 2019, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Muqrin was appointed mayor of Riyadh.

February 2020: The world's richest thoroughbred horse race takes place in Riyadh

On 29 February 2020, the world's richest thoroughbred horse race, The Saudi Cup, took place at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. The prize money was US$20m with a prize of US$10m to the winner.

April 2020: Saudi Arabia entered the bidding process for the 2030 Asian Games

On 26 April 2020, Saudi Arabia entered the bidding process for the 2030 Asian Games.

July 2020: Faisal bin Abdulaziz Appointed Mayor

As of July 2020, Faisal bin Abdulaziz became the mayor of Riyadh.

July 2020: Saudi Arabia allocates funds for Diriyah mega-project

On 3 July 2020, Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia has allocated $20 billion on the mega-project of tourism and culture in Riyadh, branded as Diriyah, while facing a double economic crisis after rise in coronavirus cases.

September 2020: Restoration of Heritage Buildings Launched

On September 13, 2020, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a restoration of heritage buildings of historical significance in Riyadh.

December 2020: Riyadh to host the 2034 Asian Games

On 16 December 2020, it was announced that Riyadh will host the 2034 Asian Games.

2020: Literacy rate in Riyadh

In 2020, the literacy rate in Riyadh was 99.36%.

July 2021: SEK International School Riyadh to open

On 13 July 2021, The Ministry of Investment and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced that they have partnered with SEK Education Group to open SEK International School Riyadh, its first campus in Saudi Arabia.

2021: Literacy rate in Riyadh

In 2021, the literacy rate in Riyadh was 99.38%.

2022: Riyadh's population in 2022

In 2022, Riyadh had a population of 7.0 million people, making it the most populous city in Saudi Arabia, the 3rd most populous in the Middle East, and the 38th most populous in Asia.

2022: Saudi Esports Federation organized Gamers8 festival

In 2022, the Saudi Esports Federation organized the Gamers8 festival.

2023: Gamers8 festival offered largest prize pool in esports history

In 2023, the Gamers8 festival offered a total prize pool of $45 million, which was the largest in the history of global competitive esports at the time. The Riyadh Masters, a Dota 2 tournament, boasted a prize pool of $15 million as part of the festival.

July 2024: Plan approved for Sports Boulevard

In July 2024 the plan to create the Sports Boulevard, which will include the world's tallest sports tower, was approved. This is part of a $23 billion project meant to enlarge green spaces within the city.

2024: Gamers8 will be replaced by the Esports World Cup

In 2024, Gamers8 would be replaced by the Esports World Cup, which boasts a total prize pool of over $60 million.

2024: Riyadh Bus network transported 50 million passengers

In 2024, Riyadh’s bus network transported 50 million passengers.

2030: 1000 pieces of art planned to be publicly displayed in Riyadh by the end of 2030

Alongside the development project and with the aim of enhancing the artistic landscape of the city, 1000 pieces of art are planned to be publicly displayed in the city by the end of 2030.

2030: Diriyah Part of Vision 2030

As of 2030, Diriyah is one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship Vision 2030 projects.

2030: Expansion plans for King Khalid International Airport

By 2030, King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) is planned to be expanded with six parallel runways and three or four large passenger terminals, with the ability to serve 120 million passengers per year.

2030: Vision 2030 and Saudi Cities Goal

In 2030, Vision 2030 has stated its objective for Saudi cities to reach the list of top 100 cities of the world in quality of life and the city is working towards this goal through new development investments.

2030: Saudi Arabia bid to host the 2030 Asian Games

In April 2020, Saudi Arabia entered the bidding process for the 2030 Asian Games.

2030: Development projects aligned with Saudi Vision 2030

In the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, a plan launched in 2019 aims to construct 15 housing projects, a huge museum, an environmental project, sports areas, medical cities, educational facilities, and infrastructure improvements.