Al-Dirʿiyyah

Overview

Al-Dirʿiyyah stands on Wādī Ḥanīfah a short way from Riyadh. Its Ṭurayf quarter is a dense mud-brick townscape in the Najdī style — thick walls, small openings, decorated parapets — and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

History

Settled from the ninth century AH, it became the seat of the first Saudi state in the twelfth century AH before being destroyed in 1233 AH; the capital afterwards moved to Riyadh.

For family research

Dirʿiyyah is one of the better-documented Najdī towns, and the local chronicle tradition of Najd records its families and events in more detail than is usual for the interior.