While visiting family in Oman, I decided to do a quick trip to Riyadh, Saudi to see for myself what the hype is all about (besides tourism chatter, my brother had also talked up Saudi). 

First impressions, Riyadh is sprawling, like Houston. It's dusty (not like Houston), but has insane traffic (like Houston) lol. Besides the futuristic looking skyscrapers, it also has gorgeous contemporary architecture that melts into the landscape. I didn't have the opportunity to take photos, but I saw the monumental KAPSARC project by Zaha Hadid Architects and intriguing bowl Metro station Qasr al-Hokm.

But what really got me was the heritage town of Diriyah, about 40 mins away from Riyadh. It's where the story of Saudi Arabia begins. At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the original mud house(s) where the Al Saud family lived from the early 1700s to early 1800s. It features exceptional Najdi tribal architecture and sits nestled in a wadi (river bed or valley) called Wadi Hanifah, which was blooming beautifully when I was there. 

I loved how the whole site is turned into a walkable museum in a contemporary style creating a lovely juxtaposition.

The terraced landscaping and native plants make it feel like a true oasis, which it is!

Finally, no Saudi experience is complete with a bit of luxury. Diriyah has its own high-end shopping enclave with exceptional boutiques, cafes and even a Maison Assouline, which shall I argue is better than the one in London! It could be because I skew towards Eastern heritage and aesthetic sensibilities.