Two Decisions That Led to the Expansion of Riyadh
- Relocating the seat of government from Mecca to Riyadh.
- Rebuilding the al‑Nasiriyyah district as a royal residential area.
Impacts of the First Decision
1. Government Buildings Along the King Abdulaziz Road
Government ministries were constructed along the road linking the new district of al‑Malaz with the airport, forming the backbone of “New Riyadh.”
2. Egyptian Engineers Commissioned for Housing Projects
Egyptian engineers were assigned to design and supervise the housing built for government employees transferred from Mecca to Riyadh.
- Designer: Engineer Saeed Karim
- Contractor: Arab Contractors Company
3. New Residential Typologies in Riyadh
The new Riyadh featured villas and apartment buildings over an area of approximately 500 hectares (5 million m²), including 750 villas and three apartment blocks—a very low‑density pattern unfamiliar to residents of old Riyadh.
4. The Grid‑Planning Model of al‑Malaz
The grid layout implemented in al‑Malaz became a template replicated across Saudi cities for decades, despite the fact that different environments may require different planning models.
5. Influence on Housing Patterns and Land Prices
The shift from attached courtyard houses in old Riyadh to detached homes in the new districts contributed to a sharp rise in land prices between 1960 and 1970.
6. Adoption of Urban Regulations
Urban planning regulations for residential construction were formalized and applied across the Kingdom.
Some of these regulations—such as setback requirements—remain in effect today.
7. Rise of Multi‑Story Residential Buildings
By the late 1950s, apartment buildings began to appear in Riyadh, creating demand for specialized construction professionals.
- The Fahd bin Mohammed Building (1959), near al‑‘Adl Square, was the first six‑story residential building.
- It was followed by the Riyadh Building, a ten‑story structure on al‑Wazir Street.