World Heritage Identification Number: 1329
World Heritage since: 2010
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah: A Historical Testimony of the Saudi Dynasty
The At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, situated north-west of Riyadh, stands as a significant historical landmark that offers a glimpse into the rich heritage of the Saudi dynasty. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, this property serves as a testament to the unique Najdi architectural style prevalent in the center of the Arabian Peninsula.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
This property was the first capital of the Saudi Dynasty, in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, north-west of Riyadh. Founded in the 15th century, it bears witness to the Najdi architectural style, which is specific to the centre of the Arabian peninsula. In the 18th and early 19th century, its political and religious role increased, and the citadel at at-Turaif became the centre of the temporal power of the House of Saud and the spread of the Salafiyya reform inside the Muslim religion. The property includes the remains of many palaces and an urban ensemble built on the edge of the ad-Dir’iyah oasis.
Encyclopedia Record: At-Turaif District
At-Turaif is a historic district located in Diriyah, north-west of Riyadh. It is regarded as one of the more important political and historical sites in Saudi Arabia, as it represented the capital of the early Saudi kingdom. It was the original home of the House of Saud and was the country's first capital from 1727 until Ottoman conquest of the area in 1818.Additional Site Details
Area: 28.78 hectares
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 24.7341333333 , 46.5724666667
