Diplomatic Quarter (Riyadh) Explained

Official Name:Diplomatic Quarter
Established Title:Established
Governing Body:Royal Commission for Riyadh City
Native Name Lang:ar
Pushpin Map:Saudi Arabia
Demographics1 Info1:Arabic
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics Type1:Language
Founder:Salman bin Abdulaziz
Native Name:حي السفارات
Subdivision Name2:Riyadh
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name: Saudi Arabia
Subdivision Type:Country
Settlement Type:Neighbourhood
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:12511-4

The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ), also known by its Arabic name as-Safarat, is a diplomatic enclave and an affluent residential district in northwestern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, situated in close proximity to Irqah. Established in 1978, it covers an area of 800 hectares and hosts most of the foreign embassies and some of the government departments in the city besides being a popular tourist attraction.[1] It was administered as part of the Irqah Sub-Municipality until 2018 when the district's responsibility was placed under the newly created Diplomatic Quarter General Authority (DQGA).[2] In 2021, the authority was dissolved and subsequently Diplomatic Quarter became an independent neighbourhood.

History

The Diplomatic Quarter was established on November 25, 1975, through a Council of Ministers resolution during the reign of King Khalid upon the relocation of the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Jeddah to Riyadh. It was the brainchild of Riyadh's then governor Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.[3] It was built between 1978 and 1982. On 27 November 2018, a royal decree issued by King Salman instructed the creation of the Diplomatic Quarter Authority[4] which would be independent of Riyadh Municipality's Irqah Sub-Municipality and would be responsible for the administration of the district. In February 2021, the authority was abolished and its administration was transferred to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.[5]

Landmarks

Schools

Parks

Hotels

Marketplaces

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014-03-30 . Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter: Where peace reigns . 2022-07-05 . Arab News . en.
  2. Web site: 2019-05-08 . السعودية.. ماذا يعني فصل حي السفارات عن مدينة الرياض؟ (فيديو وصور) إرم نيوز . 2022-07-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190508004452/https://www.eremnews.com/news/arab-world/saudi-arabia/1584955 . 2019-05-08 .
  3. Web site: 2012-06-20 . "حي السفارات".. تحفة معمارية من صناعة الأمير سلمان . 2022-07-05 . جريدة المدينة . ar.
  4. Web site: 2018-11-27 . تحويل إدارة حي السفارات إلى هيئة عامة باسم "هيئة حي السفارات" . 2022-07-06 . www.alriyadh.com.
  5. Web site: إلغاء هيئة حي السفارات وترتيباتها التنظيمية جريدة أم القرى . 2022-07-05 . ar.
  6. Web site: 2020-11-16 . Saudi Ministry of Culture releases mini-documentary on Tuwaiq Palace . 2022-07-06 . Arab News . en.