Hotels in Riyadh

Riyadh is a business capital first and a leisure destination second, but it is opening up fast and there is more here than sceptics expect. At-Turaif in Diriyah, the UNESCO-listed mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state, is the essential sight; the Sky Bridge atop Kingdom Centre gives the city view; the Edge of the World escarpment makes a dramatic desert day trip; and Boulevard's entertainment zones show the new social loosening.

Be clear-eyed: no alcohol anywhere, modest dress expected, summer heat extreme, and the city is built entirely around cars, though the new metro helps. Stay in Olaya along the King Fahd Road spine, which puts offices, malls, restaurants and metro stations closest to hand.