List of the Most Expensive Areas in Riyadh
- Pexels
VIVA – Saudi Arabia is a foreign and exotic place for most people, and it’s especially hard not to be taken aback by the wealth and splendor of that place. Mercer's 2019 Cost of Living Survey named Riyadh and Jeddah as the most expensive cities for ex-pats in the Middle East. The global career advancement consulting leader ranked Riyadh 35th and Jeddah 100th as the most expensive cities.
The oil money that has fueled the vast infrastructure expansion in the last few years doesn’t seem to be close to drying out, and Riyadh looks like a city from a sci-fi movie thanks to all of the development. However, some districts are better than others, and this is a list of the expensive areas of Riyadh.
1. Al-Safarat
Ibu Kota Arab Saudi Riyadh
- Aljazeera
Al-Safarat is the diplomatic district of Riyadh. Here you will find countless embassies and consulates, which makes the area very prominent and affluent. Rock Park, Khuzama Park, and a few other parks and gardens provide a nice place for a walk and some shade, as well as greenery. The Tuwaiq Palace is also located in this part of town and is well worth checking out, as it has an interesting composition and architecture.
2. Al-Murabba
Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
- Dailymail
Al-Murabba is mainly a residential neighborhood, that is dominated by the Murabba Palace complex. There you will find the Palace, built in the 1930s, as well as a few other landmarks of Riyadh. The King Abdulaziz Historical Center, which is Saudi Arabia’s national museum, is located in the complex and is well worth a visit for those interested in the nation’s history. Besides that, the Palace is surrounded by gardens and parks, which provide a great place for a picnic or an evening walk.
3. Al-Olaya
Olaya is Riyadh’s central business district and financial area. Most of the pictures you see on social media from the city are here. It looks a lot like Dubai, or any other modern and wealthy business area, mainly filled with skyscrapers and office buildings, as well as fancy shops and chain restaurants. The Kingdom Centre is the building that currently dominates the skyline and is in many ways to the symbol of the district and Riyad itself.
