Riyadh – Badr Al‑Khuraif
The name Al‑Nasiriyah—today one of the most prominent districts in the Saudi capital—became closely associated with King Saud, the second monarch of the modern Saudi state (1953–1964). The King chose the district as the site of his official residence, and with him the new Al‑Nasiriyah was built atop the old one in 1956. The district was named Al‑Nasiriyah and, at the time, rivaled the Swiss city of Geneva, then a magnet for tourists and a symbol of urban beauty.
For more than six decades, Al‑Nasiriyah has witnessed events and stories that shaped its identity. King Saud’s palace marked the true beginning of the district’s emergence within the capital—almost a city within a city—expanding in size, architectural character, and political significance both locally and internationally. The palace stood as a testament to Riyadh’s urban renaissance and the historical role it played during the eleven years of King Saud’s reign. It was, in essence, a small city inside the capital and a window into an era that remains vivid in the national memory.
The name Al‑Nasiriyah echoed frequently across the Kingdom, appearing in news agencies and radio broadcasts as the official residence of King Saud, who assumed power in 1953 following the death of his father, the Founder. The palace welcomed state guests, princes, and citizens alike. Decades later, the district evolved into a well‑known neighborhood, though many of its original features gradually faded despite efforts to preserve them. The area came to host numerous government and private institutions serving thousands daily, in addition to the Capital Model Institute—formerly Ma‘had Al‑Anjal—where princes and citizens once studied side by side.
The establishment of Al‑Nasiriyah followed a long and unexpected story. Originally a suburban retreat for King Saud, the area consisted of the orchards of “Ibn Nasser,” which the King purchased to build a residence. He renamed it Al‑Nasiriyah and commissioned Mohammed bin Laden to construct his palace there, as the land was larger than the Red Palace—built by King Abdulaziz as a gift to his son Saud after his home burned down on July 22, 1943.
Dr. Abdulatif bin Mohammed Al‑Humaid, historian and researcher, reconstructed the district’s past—its architectural, political, and social dimensions—in a study he is preparing for publication to document this important phase of national history and the evolution of royal palaces and Riyadh’s urban development during King Saud’s early reign.
Based on archival sources and contemporary accounts, Al‑Nasiriyah was originally one of Riyadh’s old suburbs and has since become one of its most distinguished districts. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khamis, in his book Mu‘jam Al‑Yamamah (published 31 years ago), described the area as formerly known as Al‑Fuwarah, a winter agricultural zone dotted with wells on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh. It was bordered by Dhahr Al‑Wisham to the south, Al‑Ma‘athar to the north, Wadi Al‑Yasin to the west, and the eastern ridge draining into Abu Rafee‘. King Saud was the first to develop it, building a palace he named Al‑Nasiriyah. Residential neighborhoods then emerged around it in all directions, becoming among the city’s most notable areas. Nearby stood the palaces of King Faisal, King Khalid, and several princes.
Al‑Nasiriyah’s precise location corresponds to the farm King Saud purchased while Crown Prince from a citizen known as Ibn Nasser. The farm lay 1.5 km west of the Murabba‘ Palace complex. By the late 1350s AH, it became clear that the Crown Prince’s residence near Murabba‘ was insufficient for his large family and his mother, Princess Wadha bint Mohammed Al‑Burghush Al‑Khalidiyah. He sought his father’s permission to develop a residential district around his farm, and King Abdulaziz approved the initiative.
As Crown Prince, Saud launched Riyadh’s first true modernization experiment by planning a complex befitting his position and forward‑looking vision. The construction of Al‑Nasiriyah Palace unfolded in two phases, each with its own architectural style and administrative and residential functions. In the first phase, he planned homes, schools, and mosques using a blend of traditional materials—mudbrick, clay, gypsum, and athl wood—and modern materials such as cement, imported timber, and woven mats brought from India via Kuwait and Bahrain.
To accelerate construction, he tasked his chief of staff, Sheikh Fahd bin Saleh bin Kuraidīs, with overseeing the project. Local designer Abdullah bin Kulaib supervised multiple work teams, combining master builders skilled in traditional techniques with craftsmen experienced in modern methods.
The palace was built in two stories by five construction groups led by Abdullah bin Kulaib, Abdulmohsin bin Yusuf, Abu Hamad bin Aqil, Hussein bin Saleh bin Sab‘an, and Abdullah bin Rashid bin Asaker. Although the exact start date is unclear, William Facey notes that Crown Prince Saud began the project in 1951. King Abdulaziz frequently visited the area, making it a favored retreat after Asr prayer until sunset, before returning to Murabba‘. He admired the palace’s gardens, water features, and imported fruit trees and ornamentals planted by expert gardeners from India and Bukhara.
After the palace’s completion, Crown Prince Saud visited Damascus, where he was captivated by neon lights. Upon returning, he commissioned a man named Al‑Maidani to illuminate the palace with neon lighting. When he invited King Abdulaziz to a nighttime banquet, the King expressed great admiration for the innovation.
A Western writer described the first palace—later demolished—as follows:
“Saud built for himself in the desert outside Riyadh the Nasiriyah Palace, behind whose gates lay a courtyard of tamarisk trees, gardens, lawns, bird cages, and a pool fed by deep wells. At night, the palace and mosque were lit by 25,000 colored bulbs, and the light orange walls glowed against the dark desert.”
Archival photos show inscriptions on the gates reading: “Saray Al‑Nasiriyah — Long live His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince” above crossed swords and a palm tree, and “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah.”
The second phase of Al‑Nasiriyah’s construction began in 1953 after King Saud assumed the throne. He ordered the demolition of the first palace, which had stood only briefly. Historian Abdulrahman Al‑Ruwayshid attributes this to Riyadh’s rapid expansion, the introduction of new building materials, and the shift toward modern architectural styles. Streets were cut through old neighborhoods, buildings were demolished, and ministries were relocated from the western region to Riyadh. The royal residences in Al‑Nasiriyah were redesigned accordingly. Additional reasons included the growing royal family and King Saud’s exposure to international palace architecture during his travels.
Mohammed bin Laden was commissioned to design and execute the new palace without a public tender. He brought in contractors from inside and outside the Kingdom, including Hassan Abu Al‑Futouh, Osman Ahmed Osman, Atlas Company, and Al‑Amir Company. The seven‑mile, fifteen‑foot‑high perimeter wall was built by Egyptian contractor Shafiq Al‑Sayyid Faraj, with three gates: the eastern gate on King Saud Street, the northern gate facing Al‑Ma‘athar, and the western gate.
The district bordered the Fakhriyah farm to the south, home to Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz and his family. The palace complex included the King’s private residence, a guest palace, thirty‑five family villas, a grand mosque, and Al‑Nasiriyah Hospital, staffed by physicians led by Dr. Rubhi Hamadeh. A power station in the northwest supplied electricity to Al‑Nasiriyah, Al‑Ma‘athar, and western Riyadh. The northeast housed the Capital Model Institute, built by engineers Ali Hafiz Wahbi and Zaki Ibrahim.
Over time, Al‑Nasiriyah evolved into a full district with wide streets. Some original landmarks remained, while many buildings became government facilities, including the Public Security headquarters, Riyadh Traffic Department, and the Birth Registration Office. The district also hosted residential villas, commercial centers, the Capital Model Institute, and the headquarters of Al‑Jazirah newspaper before its relocation to the Press District. Today, Al‑Nasiriyah Street is home to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Guard headquarters, and the well‑known Saudi Arabia Hotel, alongside residential buildings housing citizens and expatriates—particularly from Sudan and Ethiopia.