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Al Masmak Palace, in the heart of the old town
Al Masmak Palace stands in the Al-Thumairi neighbourhood, in the centre of Riyadh. This mud-brick fortress is bound up with the recapture of the city by King Abdulaziz in 1902, which set the stage for the modern Saudi state; according to Visit Saudi, the tip of a spear thrown during the fighting is still lodged in its gate.
Now a museum, the palace displays photographs, maps and documents on the unification of the kingdom, proclaimed in 1932.
Al Murabba Palace and the National Museum
In 1936, King Abdulaziz ordered the building of Al Murabba Palace outside the old city walls; he moved there in 1938. Its mud-brick walls, towers and large courtyard follow the Najdi style, and the palace still receives official delegations. It is part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, which also includes the National Museum.
The National Museum traces the history of the Arabian Peninsula from prehistory to the modern era, in galleries such as “Man and Universe” and “Islam and the Arabian Peninsula”.
Souq Al Zal
In the Al-Dirah neighbourhood, in the heart of Riyadh, Souq Al Zal is one of the city’s oldest traditional markets. It sells antiques, incense, oud, oriental perfumes and the mishlah, the traditional men’s cloak, and you can hear the auctions as you walk.
According to Visit Saudi, the souq opens every day from 3.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Your chauffeur drops you at the nearest entrance and agrees a pick-up point with you.
Opening hours, Fridays and local customs
The palaces and the museum do not keep the same hours every day. According to Visit Saudi, Al Masmak Palace closes earlier on Fridays, while Al Murabba Palace only opens in the late afternoon that day and the National Museum only in the early afternoon. Hours can also change during holidays and events: we check them before fixing the programme.
On Fridays, we plan the stops around the midday prayer; during Ramadan, tell us your constraints and we adjust the timings.
Planning your visit
Historic Riyadh can be seen in half a day or a full day, depending on the number of stops. A few combinations:
- Al Masmak Palace in the morning, lunch, then Souq Al Zal when it opens.
- Al Murabba Palace and the National Museum, neighbours within the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.
- The palaces and the museum during the day, then Diriyah in the evening.
For a few hours or the whole day, see chauffeur by the hour. For a delegation or an official visit, see also diplomatic protocol. Tell us the date, the pick-up address, the number of passengers and when you would like to be back, and we will reply with a personal quote. Vehicles are provided by the Federation’s members according to their availability. Let’s talk about your visit.