Private Riyadh History and Saudi Arabia Nation Building

The magnificent Al Masmak Palace stands erected gracefully in the middle of Riyadh city as a tourist destination having silently witnessed great events in the history of KSA foundation. The palace was constructed in the hijri 14th century during the reign of Imam Abdullah bin Faisal as his residence and the center of power and money. The palace is a strong fort against enemies with its solid high walls. It has only two entrances and small openings in the walls for gun barrels at the time of battles. Today, the palace stands as a symbol of the history of regaining power and rule of the country displaying in its corridors the features of that era and its leaders after it had been turned into a museum in 1995/1416. The Arabic word Al Masmak means a strong thick building that had been once used as a depot for weapons and ammunitions until it was turned into a historic milestone then a museum.

The Murabba Palace was established by order of the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was built 2 km away from old Riyadh, in line with the city’s development and expansion at the time. The palace and its surroundings took the form of a mini city containing a few buildings. The king moved in with his family in 1939, making it their official home, the headquarters of management of state affairs, and a Diwan or a meeting center with the leaders of the world.

In there, you can learn about the origin of the universe and the solar system, and the natural factors that have been contributing to its development for millions of years. In the Ancient Arab Kingdoms Gallery, you will feel immersed in civilizations that existed from the 4th millennium BC to the 2nd century AD. You can also see the religious and social patterns of life before Islam in the Pre-Islamic Era Gallery. In the Prophet’s Mission Gallery, you can learn about the life of the Prophet PBUH, starting with the revelation until his hijrah to Madinah. You can watch a documentary about the history of unification of Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom Unification Gallery. The Hajj and Two Holy Mosques Gallery exhibits the urban development of Masjid Al-Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi.