- Address: Diriyah, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
- Working hours: daily, from 8:00 to 18:00, Fridays from 6:00 to 18:00
Ed-Diria is a suburb of Riyadh , the capital of Saudi Arabia .
Ed-Diria is a suburb of Riyadh , the capital of Saudi Arabia . This town, most of which today is ruins, at one time played a very important role in the history of the state, being the first of its capitals. In addition, the city is known for the fact that the dynasty of the Saudis, whose members have occupied the throne of the country since the formation of Saudi Arabia, originates from it.
A bit of history
The first mention of the city of Ed Dirie refers to the XV century; the date of his "birth" is 1446 or 1447. The founder of the city was Emir Mani el-Mreedi, whose descendants still rule the country. The settlement, founded by El-Mreedi, received its name in honor of Ibn Dir, the ruler of the neighboring region (today it is the territory of Riyadh), at the invitation of which El-Mreedi and his clan came to these lands.
By the XVIII century, Ed Diria became one of the most significant cities in this area. The struggle between the various clans ended in the victory of the descendant of El-Mreedi, Muhammad ibn Saud, who is considered the "official" founder of the ruling dynasty. In 1744, he founded the first Saudi state, and Ed Diria became his capital.
For several decades under the rule of the Saudis was almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. EdDiria became not only the largest city in the region, but also one of the largest in Arabia.
Ed-Diria today
In 1818, after the Osman-Saudi war, the city was destroyed by Ottoman troops, and today most of it lies in ruins. The adjoining territory was inhabited already in the second half of the 20th century, and in 1970 a new EdDiria appeared on the map.
sights
Today, in the territory of EdDiria, part of the old town's buildings has been restored:
- Burj-Faisal (its restoration was carried out in the 80s of the last century);
- the palace of Saad ibn Saud (restored in the 90's);
- part of the fortress wall of Thurairaf;
- baths and guest house Qasr-Nasr;
- mosque .
Restoration work is ongoing today. In general, it is planned to restore the city in its original form and to open on its territory 4 museums, telling about the history and culture of the region.
How to visit Ed Diria?
From Riyadh to the city museum can be reached by regular buses from the Central Bus Station, which is located in the old part of the Arabian capital. You can take a taxi or go in a rented car, but you should take into account that the entrance to a car in the city museum is prohibited. Another option is to purchase an excursion; this can be done at any travel agency.
Visit to Ed Diria is free; You can visit here any day of the week from 8:00 (Fridays - from 6:00) to 18:00.