Riyadh

MonsterCookie

I've a business trip to Riyadh coming up - it will afford me a day to myself when over there.

Anyone been? Any tips/ advice on how to spend my spare time?

darragh o meara

MonsterCookie wrote: »

I've a business trip to Riyadh coming up - it will afford me a day to myself when over there.

Anyone been? Any tips/ advice on how to spend my spare time?

Haven't been there personally but know people that have lived there for a while. Just make sure and do your research, there are certain Holy areas that foreigners are not welcome.

First Up

MonsterCookie wrote:

Anyone been? Any tips/ advice on how to spend my spare time?

The most interesting thing in Riyadh is the desert outside it. Well worth an excursion to get a feel for the old Arabia - camping overnight even better.

Not much to see in the city apart from the old fort and watching the religious police beating people out of shops at prayer time.

MonsterCookie

darragh o meara wrote: »

Haven't been there personally but know people that have lived there for a while. Just make sure and do your research, there are certain Holy areas that foreigners are not welcome.

Will have to research that. I'm staying in the business district and hoping that will be safe enough.

I read that prayer times vary by day so it's not a case of avoiding a fixed time. Easy option would be to stay in my hotel room watching TV but not much fun in that.

First Up

MonsterCookie wrote:

Will have to research that. I'm staying in the business district and hoping that will be safe enough.

No real problems on that score. You would have to make a serious effort to stumble into somewhere you shouldn't.

MonsterCookie wrote:

I read that prayer times vary by day so it's not a case of avoiding a fixed time. Easy option would be to stay in my hotel room watching TV but not much fun in that.

They are governed by sunrise and sunset so the variation is small. Its no big deal; any business premises will tell you when they are closing. It only lasts a few minutes so you just shuffle out and shuffle back in.

coylemj

Just be aware that temperatures will be in the mid 30s in the daytime and the sun will be belting down so if you're walking outdoors, you need to watch your sunscreen and hydration - the air will be very dry and you need lots of water.

It probably won't be a good idea for you to rent a car if you're not familiar with the driving style in Saudi Arabia which could at best be descried as cavalier. So you may be severely restricted in what you'll be able to do without another ex-pat or a local to drive you around. I've been to Jeddah on business and in several respects it's like a big Texas city like Heuston i.e. dry and hot and you can't go anywhere unless you have a car. In Riyadh there may be a downtown market (souk) that you can walk around in the cool of the evening but during the rest of the day you really will need a friend with a car.

I'd strongly advise you to talk to the people you'll be visiting, tell them what you're thinking of doing in the spare time you've set aside and see what they think of your plans. If you've never been to an Arab country, you may find Saudi Arabia a bit of a culture shock.

First Up

I would strongly advise against driving. Apart from the erratic local style, finding your way around is a nightmare.

As the OP is there on business, in all probability his company has drivers so I suggest asking one of them if he wants to earn a bit extra and take him where he wants to go on the weekend.

For local travel in the city, Riyadh has a cheap and efficient bus service that goes everywhere that matters. Much easier than negotiating with some Bedu in a clapped out taxi.

MonsterCookie

got back from Riyadh Tuesday.

Have to say I liked it for the few days I was there but won't be exactly relishing going back which is likely in the new year.

Good things:

• Stayed in the business district which is modern
• Food/ restaurants all very good
• Kingdom Tower and Skybridge well worth a visit

Bad things:

• Mosque right beside hotel which meant I woke at c04.30 to the sound of the call to prayer.
• Women are treated as second class citizens - very off-putting seeing it first hand
• Traffic is shyte and walking along main streets the paths are crap with all the roadworks,