explorer news december 2006
THE CONCIERGE DESK AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RIYADH HAS SOME TOP TIPS FOR VISITORS FIRST TIMER? It’s a must to visit the following in Riyadh: Musmak Fortress, the citadel that Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud captured to regain control of the city; Al Murabba Palace, which was built for King Abdul Aziz in [...]
THE CONCIERGE DESK AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RIYADH HAS SOME TOP TIPS FOR VISITORS
FIRST TIMER? It’s a must to visit the following in Riyadh: Musmak Fortress, the citadel that Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud captured to regain control of the city; Al Murabba Palace, which was built for King Abdul Aziz in 1934-8, and contains displays of handicrafts, weapons and furniture; and King Abdul Aziz Memorial Hall, the gallery where the former monarch’s vintage cars are on display. Also visit the King Saud University Museum, which houses archaeological finds from the pre-Islamic sites of Al Fau and Rabdhah.
BEEN BEFORE? The town of Sudus is a pleasant oasis town about half an hour north-west of Riyadh, where you can explore 16th-century fortifications including a fortress and a round tower. Ain Hit is a watering hole about 40km south-east of Riyadh, home to an attractive spring, fed by an underground aquifer, which attracts bathers in summer. POWER LUNCH: For business lunches, visit the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at the Kingdom Centre and dine in the Seasons Restaurant, which features a delightful Lebanese and Oriental buffet, as well as popular regional dishes.
OUT FOR AN EVENING: Entertainment is limited as there are no theatres, cinemas or nightspots. There are, however, shopping malls and coffee shops, where people chat and socialise. Sports activities are offered by various stadiums and there are also outdoor sports available, such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, hot-air ballooning, sailing, wind surfing, and horse or camel racing.
TOP DISH: Local specialities include barley, meat or chicken masloka soup; camel, lamb or chicken kabsah; chicken or lamb mandi; chicken or lamb mathlooth (village bowl); jareesh (barley cooked in laban); and qursan (a sort of bread and vegetable sauce).
TAKE HOME: Visit a traditional souk for incense-burners, coffee pots, pottery, antiques, metalwork, and a breathtaking range of gold and jewellery. International brands are available at the major shopping malls, such as the Kingdom Centre Mall (Al Mamlaka Mall), and most purchases are at competitive prices as there is no sales tax or VAT on retail items.
The Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh is a luxury four-star hotel located within the prestigious Kingdom Centre. It has a ballroom for 4,500 guests and a garden area, which can be used for receptions up to 700. Sports-lovers can enjoy the outdoor tennis courts, which are floodlit at night. +966 (1) 211 5000; www.fourseasons.com/riyadh
