A Tour of Riyadh
- Pipeline
- Saudi Aramco News
- Sponsored Tours
Author: Aramco ExPats
Released 18 June 2005
Riyadh
Kingdom Centre
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
On the next part of the tour, guests flew to Riyadh.
Riyadh lies in the Central Region and is the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Transformed from a fertile area in the heartland of the Arabian peninsula into a modern city boasting impressive architecture and a network of highways, Riyadh is a beautiful city to behold.
Kingdom Shopping Mall
While in Riyadh, guests visited the Kingdom Centre.
The Kingdom Centre encompasses the Four Seasons and the Kingdom Shopping Mall. It is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia and the tallest skyscraper in the world below 50 floors. The architectural design was planned to be an "iconic symbol" of Saudi Arabia. The selection process for the design took three years and over 100 submissions by major architectural firms. The winning design included a tower culminating in a triangular opening spanned by a 56 meter skybridge and public observation deck. The building won the "Skyscrapers.com" Award in 2002, selected the "best new skyscraper of the year for design and functionality".
Ladies on the tour experienced the "Ladies Kingdom" at the Kingdom Shopping Mall, a floor catering strictly to women only.
Riyadh Museum
Riyadh Museum
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
The Riyadh Museum, to the west of Al-Bathaa, covers the history and archaeology of Saudi Arabia from the Stone Age to early Islam. Islamic architecture is explored, while a separate Ethnographic Hall exhibits clothes, musical instruments, weapons and jewelry.
The museum is divided into eight sections: Man and the Universe, Arabian Kingdoms, Jahiliyyah (Ignorance), The Prophet's Mission, Islam and the Arabian Peninsula, 1st and 2nd Saudi States, Unification, and Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques.
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
Kelly Convery, Khieta Davis and Jeanne Lohfink
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
Next, guests were taken on a tour of King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST).
KACST was established in 1977 as an independent scientific organization of the Saudi Arabian Government under the name of Saudi Arabian National Center for Science ý& Technology. Later, in 1985, it was renamed King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology.
KACST is governed by a Supreme Committee of ministers to which science and technology is of greatest relevance.
The vision of KACST is, "To be a world-class research organization vital to Saudi Arabia's future and a vital source of science and technology for national societal mission which combines technology with human touch."
KACST promotes science and technology through coordination and cooperation with various universities, agencies and institutions dedicated to research and technology. KACST has formed cooperative agreements with international science and technology institutions and organizations promoting friendly international ties, and has established several national research institutes including the Institute for Petroleum and Petrochemicals Research, the Institute of Energy Research, the Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Research, the Institute of Arid Lands Research, the Institute of Astronomy and the Institute of Atomic Energy Research.
Prince Sultan City for Humanitarian Science
Prince Sultan City for Humanitarian Science
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
No visit to Riyadh would be complete without a visit to Prince Sultan City for Humanitarian Science.
Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz has established a foundation in support of the sick, the elderly, the handicap and children in need of special care during childhood. In order to provide this support, The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City was established by Royal Decree on September 15, 1996. The focus of the City is to provide healthcare and rehabilitative service "at the highest level of professionalism and craftsmanship".
Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City is one of the world's largest medical rehabilitation facilities. It encompasses:
- both in-patient and outpatient facilities
- an extensive range of rehabilitation programs including services for pediatric, neurological, brain injury and spinal cord injury
- a child development center which provides an integrated educational and therapeutic program for 150 children who have special educational needs resulting from physical handicaps, developmental disabilities or complex health problems
- outpatient clinics encompass 13 clinics with 55 examination rooms and eight operating rooms
A conference hall, sports hall, staff housing and an administration building, supplement the city's facilities. The foundation runs a number of projects within and outside the Kingdom. They include the Sultan Science and Technology Center in Al Khobar, an innovative project under development that will provide opportunities for youth to learn about science and technology.
The humanitarian city has also combined medicine, science and technology to form Medunet, Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Medical and Educational Telecommunications Program. The program utilizes the latest state of the art telecommunications facilities to provide access to medical research resources in cooperation with major universities and research centers around the world.
In addition, the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Continuing Education Program at the Gulf University in Bahrain and the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Arab & Islamic Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley were established to provide education and further understanding of the Arab and Islamic culture.
All of these aspirations are made possible by the generous support and continued direction of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al- Saud.
Guests were later treated to a dinner hosted by Kussay Al-Ramah, Manager, SAA-CA and began the next day of the tour with a visit to the Kingdom Schools.
Dinner hosted by H.E. Dr. Ghazi Al-Ghosaibi, Minister of Labor
Dr. Al-Ghosaibi, Minister of Labor
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
The kind hospitality of H.E. Dr. Al-Ghosaibi, Minister of Labor, was accompanied by a banquet at the “Arabian Oasis”. I was intrigued by the breath taking view surrounded by rush palm trees overlooking hilltops, the vastness under the full moon, gentle greeting by a silent white camel. Remembering Arabian tales like, Aladdin, Ali Baba and Arabian Nights, I imagined that I was flying on a magic carpet until the rain forced us to go inside. Yes, it was rain!
Moreover, as the rest of the educators in the group, I felt honored and privileged to have the opportunity to be with H.E. Dr. Al-Ghosaibi to discuss different concerns that we considered important to both Saudi Arabia and the United States. Dr. Al-Ghosaibi’s brief history, culture and religious value of Saudi Arabia was followed by many questions on topics including unemployment situations, visa restrictions, public schools, age limit of sixty for retirement, world demand for oil, teacher certification, women driving, fast food, vision for the future and more. Dr. Al-Ghosaibi graciously answered each questions with honesty based on his diplomatic and personal view which reflected Saudi Arabia’s unique religious value and culture.
I have gained a better understanding and respect for Saudi Arabia’s religious conviction and their challenge in dealing with modernization of nationhood.
Young C. Jackson, Librarian