The Demolition of Al‑Yamamah Hotel in Riyadh After 62 Years Since Its Inauguration by King Saud
Sixty‑two years ago, specifically in 1376 AH, King Saud—may God have mercy on him— inaugurated Al‑Yamamah Hotel on the outskirts of the Riyadh desert, after it was built by Sheikh ‘Eid bin Salem. At the time, Umm Al‑Qura newspaper described the opening ceremony as a “memorable event”, attended by national leaders, princes, dignitaries, and notable figures of the city.
Today, demolition work continues, and the autumn leaves of memory fall from the hotel that now stands in the heart of Riyadh—after once being on its far edges. Around it have sprung dozens of modern five‑star hotels. Elderly residents of Riyadh cannot hide their emotions as they drive along King Abdulaziz Road, watching the heavy machinery tear into the famed “Shahrazad” and “Shahryar” halls, which once hosted the elite weddings of Riyadh society.
A Hotel of Celebrities
During the 1370s and 1380s AH, Al‑Yamamah Hotel served as a residence for state guests. It was the dream of Riyadh’s youth to use its football fields, tennis courts, steam rooms, saunas, and swimming pools—and the dream of young women to hold their weddings in its luxurious halls.
The main lobby was a gathering place for writers, dignitaries, journalists, poets, and anyone seeking a quiet moment to enjoy tea beside the sound of cascading water. The weddings and celebrations of Riyadh’s wealthy families were often held there.
Guests of the Luxury Suites
According to journalist Mansour Al‑Assaf of Al‑Riyadh newspaper:
“Throughout the 1370s, 1380s, and even into the 1390s AH, Al‑Yamamah Hotel was the residence of high‑ranking guests who were welcomed with red carpets and official protocol. The suite that hosted U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973—by order of King Faisal, may God have mercy on him—remained intact, symbolizing Saudi Arabia’s clear stance on the Palestinian cause and the events of the October War.”
He adds:
“The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources had a dedicated suite for its guests in the late Hijri century. The hotel’s main lobby was a meeting place for princes, ministers, poets, and intellectuals. Its courtyards and outdoor spaces were a winter refuge for many writers and journalists.
The hotel also hosted renowned Qur’an reciters Abdulbasit Abdulsamad, Muhammad Khalil Al‑Husary, and Muhammad Mahmoud Al‑Tablawi—may God have mercy on them. People flocked to the hotel to listen to them and greet them.”
The Bahraini Poet and the Bulldozers of Demolition
During the golden age of Al‑Yamamah Hotel—when it remained a destination for the elite—it inspired lavish descriptions and emotional reflections from writers. Among them was a poem by the late Bahraini poet Abdulrahman Rafi‘, written after he repeatedly called Minister Ghazi Al‑Gosaibi—may God have mercy on him—only to find him occupied with meetings at the Ministry of Industry and Electricity. Rafi‘ then composed his famous poem titled “Al‑Yamamah Hotel.”
Today, Sabq documents the force of the bulldozers as they devour tons of steel and concrete—structures crafted with the finest architectural techniques more than six decades ago.