Riyadh, meaning 'gardens' in Arabic, has been the capital of Saudi Arabia since the establishment of the nation in 1932. The city also became the seat of government in the 1970s, taking over from Jeddah. The discovery of oil changed Riyadh dramatically. From being only 8.5 sq km in area in 1932, it expanded to over 1600 sq km in 1994. Most parts of the city are only 20 years old! This city and the nearby oasis town of Dir’aiyah are the ancestral home of the Al Sauds, the ruling family of Saudi Arabia.

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