"home sweet home" a Riyadh Travel Page by TomorrowsAngel

I arrived in Riyadh on the 11th June 2002. My job is based in Riyadh for most of the year, but I've been lucky and got to spend the last 2 summers in Jeddah.

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Riyadh, today’s capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emerged from the ruins of Hajr Al-Yamama city (ancient city dating back to the time of the Tasm and Judais tribes). The fortresses and castles built by these tribes were said to have existed until the beginning of the fourth Hijra (Islamic) century.
The name Ar-Riyadh (a plural of Rawdah in Arabic means orchard or green garden) hmmm.

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old Riyadh (from Arriyadh.com)

Today, Riyadh is one of the fastest growing and most prosperous cities in the world. In less than half a century, its residents increased from 20,000 to approximately four million. (As in the WHOLE population of New Zealand).
Riyadh has an increasing number of high-tech glass, steel and concrete buildings, but ugly apartment buildings built in the 60s and 70s still feature heavily downtown.
Riyadh has all the standard chain hotels, large modern hospitals, plus the biggest airport in the world.
The centre of Riyadh - Al-Bathaa - is the oldest part of the city. Al Bathaa is home to the bus station, post office and batha souk.
Most of Riyadh's places to stay are near the bus station, as are the coffee shops and shwarma stands.