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Helen Betts | profile | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> Riyadh Architecture tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Riyadh Architecture

In an abrupt departure from shopping, I’m going to post some pictures of mainly downtown Riyadh architecture. There really is a lot more of interest to photograph, but we’re usually driving by, and I just can’t get the right shot from the car. Maybe now that we’re enjoying beautiful weather, with temperatures in the 70s in the daytime (!), we should walk around more, something that’s impossible in the summer.

I decided maybe a sub-gallery is best for these pictures, which I’ll add to as I can with new captures as well as some old ones. It may not all be exactly downtown Riyadh, but to me, pretty much everything outside the Diplomatic Quarter is!
Catching some rays
Catching some rays		 Al Faisaliyah Center
Al Faisaliyah Center		 Optical illusion, Olaya Towers
Optical illusion, Olaya Towers		 Hyatt Regency under construction
Hyatt Regency under construction
Abraj Atta'Awuneya
Abraj Atta'Awuneya		 Hamad Tower
Hamad Tower		 National Creativity Investment Co.
National Creativity Investment Co.		 Al Faisaliyah Center in reflection
Al Faisaliyah Center in reflection
Angled building
Angled building		 King Fahd National Library
King Fahd National Library		 Tamkeen Tower
Tamkeen Tower		 Exotic architecture
Exotic architecture
Majdoul Tower
Majdoul Tower		 Majdoul Tower
Majdoul Tower		 Reflective
Reflective		 Is that a boat up there?
Is that a boat up there?
Elegant design
Elegant design		 Grand Tower
Grand Tower		 The Chinese influence
The Chinese influence		 Like a spaceship
Like a spaceship
Lacy
Lacy		 Cut out
Cut out		 The iconic Al Faisaliyah
The iconic Al Faisaliyah		 Abraj Atta'Awuneya
Abraj Atta'Awuneya
Abraj Atta'Awuneya
Abraj Atta'Awuneya		 Impressive creation
Impressive creation		 Shot on the fly
Shot on the fly		 Sky Towers
Sky Towers
Burj Al Anoud
Burj Al Anoud		 Communication and IT Commission
Communication and IT Commission		 Space age
Space age		 Majdoul Tower
Majdoul Tower
KAFD, Villas in the Sky
KAFD, Villas in the Sky		 King Fahd National Library
King Fahd National Library		 Narcissus Hotel
Narcissus Hotel		 The big boat building
The big boat building
Straightforward
Straightforward		 Compact
Compact		 Mobily offices
Mobily offices		 King Fahd National Library
King Fahd National Library
Gaudí in Riyadh?
Gaudí in Riyadh?		 Nakheel Tower
Nakheel Tower		 The blue neighbor
The blue neighbor		 Saudi Electricity Company
Saudi Electricity Company
Palm view
Palm view		 Conventional
Conventional		 Reflections in construction
Reflections in construction		 The reflected mosque
The reflected mosque
Lined
Lined		 Olaya Towers
Olaya Towers		 Scales of justice
Scales of justice		 National Water Company
National Water Company
Gleaming
Gleaming		 Geometric, late afternoon light (1)
Geometric, late afternoon light (1)		 Geometric details (2)
Geometric details (2)		 Geometric angles (3)
Geometric angles (3)
Geometric side (4)
Geometric side (4)		 Geometric closeup (5)
Geometric closeup (5)		 Geometric, in morning light (6)
Geometric, in morning light (6)		 Al-Nakhlah
Al-Nakhlah
Fantastical
Fantastical		 Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski
Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski		 Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski
Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski		 In the shadow of the hotel
In the shadow of the hotel
Tamkeen Tower
Tamkeen Tower		 Tamkeen Tower, closer view
Tamkeen Tower, closer view		 The giant globe
The giant globe		 Building with gigantic globe
Building with gigantic globe
Saudi Journalists Association
Saudi Journalists Association		 An Egyptian look
An Egyptian look		 Just another glass building
Just another glass building		 Colorful
Colorful
Council of Cooperative Health Insurance Sec. Gen.
Council of Cooperative Health Insurance Sec. Gen.		 'Blue' Olaya series (1)
'Blue' Olaya series (1)		 'Blue' Olaya series (2)
'Blue' Olaya series (2)		 'Blue' Olaya series (3)
'Blue' Olaya series (3)
'Blue' Olaya series (4)
'Blue' Olaya series (4)		 'Blue' Olaya series (5)
'Blue' Olaya series (5)		 'Blue' Olaya series (6)
'Blue' Olaya series (6)		 'Blue' Olaya series (7)
'Blue' Olaya series (7)
'Blue' Olaya series (8)
'Blue' Olaya series (8)		 'Blue' Olaya series (9)
'Blue' Olaya series (9)		 'Blue' Olaya series (10)
'Blue' Olaya series (10)		 'Blue' Olaya series (11)
'Blue' Olaya series (11)
'Blue' Olaya series (12)
'Blue' Olaya series (12)		 Jonquil
Jonquil		 Columned
Columned		 Winged
Winged
A bit of flair
A bit of flair		 Topping it off
Topping it off		 A big departure
A big departure		 Huge
Huge
Colorful education building
Colorful education building		 3 glass buildings
3 glass buildings 		Skewed
Skewed		 Interior reflections
Interior reflections
STC building
STC building		 Apparition
Apparition		 Exotic
Exotic		 Wooden Bakery
Wooden Bakery
A different perspective
A different perspective		 Hamad Tower, again
Hamad Tower, again		 The trio
The trio		 Modern with a traditional touch
Modern with a traditional touch
The not-so-traditional entry
The not-so-traditional entry		 Sky and windows
Sky and windows		 Bull's eye
Bull's eye		 Graduated
Graduated
American Express Saudi Arabia
American Express Saudi Arabia		 Nice touch
Nice touch		 Underground things
Underground things		 Regal
Regal
Pyramid
Pyramid		 Another regal building
Another regal building		 Burj Al Anoud
Burj Al Anoud		 Burj Al Anoud reflection
Burj Al Anoud reflection
Kingdom Centre
Kingdom Centre		 Three, but not of a kind
Three, but not of a kind		 Shadowy
Shadowy		 Seen in the distance
Seen in the distance
Blend
Blend		 Work in progress
Work in progress		 The Saudi Investment Bank
The Saudi Investment Bank		 Silvery
Silvery
The usual colors
The usual colors		 Unusual lineup
Unusual lineup		 Another perspective
Another perspective		 Grand Tower
Grand Tower
Taj Center
Taj Center		 Dar Al-Arkan
Dar Al-Arkan		 Al Rajhi Bank headquarters
Al Rajhi Bank headquarters		 Final try
Final try
Promise of things to come
Promise of things to come		 The promise
The promise		 Mobily
Mobily		 Old and new
Old and new
Al Barajon amusement center (1)
Al Barajon amusement center (1)		 Al Barajon amusement center (2)
Al Barajon amusement center (2)		 Al Barajon amusement center (3)
Al Barajon amusement center (3)		 Whimsical
Whimsical
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (1)
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (1)		 Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (2)
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (2)		 All about housing
All about housing		 Headquarters
Headquarters
Tawuniya Insurance building (1)
Tawuniya Insurance building (1)		 Tawuniya Insurance building (2)
Tawuniya Insurance building (2)		 Al Oula building
Al Oula building		 Saud Center
Saud Center
Across the street
Across the street		 Around back
Around back		 Majdoul Tower
Majdoul Tower		 Sahara Mall (1)
Sahara Mall (1)
Sahara Mall (2)
Sahara Mall (2)		 Sahara Mall (3)
Sahara Mall (3)		 Grand Tower
Grand Tower		 Twisted reflections
Twisted reflections
Riyadh's KAFD
:: Riyadh's KAFD :: 		Variety
Variety		 Bubble building
Bubble building		 Sunny spot
Sunny spot
Prince Sultan Cardiac Center
Prince Sultan Cardiac Center		 Curved
Curved		 A place for work
A place for work		 Al-Nakhlah, again
Al-Nakhlah, again
Municipal parks and landscape center
Municipal parks and landscape center		 Municipal parks and landscape center
Municipal parks and landscape center		 Education building, again
Education building, again		 HQ again
HQ again
Low-rise commercial district
Low-rise commercial district		 Low-rise commercial district
Low-rise commercial district		 Streamlined
Streamlined		 Mystery building
Mystery building
Fancy hotel
Fancy hotel		 SABIC headquarters
SABIC headquarters		 Odd
Odd		 Not so odd
Not so odd
Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University
Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University		 Riyadh Lit Up
:: Riyadh Lit Up :: 		Big top
Big top		 Under the big top
Under the big top
Al Othaim Mall
Al Othaim Mall		 Interestingly shaped
Interestingly shaped		 Not a common style
Not a common style		 Communication and IT Commission
Communication and IT Commission
New complex
New complex		 Closer view
Closer view		 Hilton-to-be
Hilton-to-be		 For rent
For rent
Red Crescent
Red Crescent		 Desert contemporary
Desert contemporary		 The textured building
The textured building		 Lined
Lined
Nakheel Tower and clouds
Nakheel Tower and clouds		 Gulf Cooperation Council HQ
Gulf Cooperation Council HQ		 Cloudy building
Cloudy building		 Interesting entry
Interesting entry
Still under construction
Still under construction		 Hovering
Hovering		 Snapshots from the car (1)
Snapshots from the car (1)		 Snapshots from the car (2)
Snapshots from the car (2)
Snapshots from the car (3)
Snapshots from the car (3)		 Snapshots from the car (4)
Snapshots from the car (4)		 Snapshots from the car (5)
Snapshots from the car (5)		 Snapshots from the car (6)
Snapshots from the car (6)
Sleek
Sleek		 Ministry under construction
Ministry under construction		 Ministry windows
Ministry windows		 Bizarre window
Bizarre window
Prosecutors' building
Prosecutors' building		 Previously unnoticed
Previously unnoticed		 The green building
The green building 		The 'hidden' Marriott
The 'hidden' Marriott
Blocked
Blocked		 Convergence
Convergence		 Stark
Stark		 Angular
Angular
Communication and IT Commission
Communication and IT Commission		 Unusual architecture
Unusual architecture		 Faisaliyah reflections
Faisaliyah reflections		 Bizarre
Bizarre
Blue cubes
Blue cubes		 Sky blue
Sky blue		 On the Makkah Road
On the Makkah Road		 Men at work
Men at work
It's all in the windows
It's all in the windows		 Glassed in
Glassed in		 Space tower
Space tower		 Under construction
Under construction
A room for 'rest'
A room for 'rest'		 International school
International school		 Desert colors
Desert colors		 'Saturn' building
'Saturn' building
Ladies only mall
Ladies only mall		 Traditional desert architecture
Traditional desert architecture		 Interesting roof
Interesting roof		 Not attractive but imposing
Not attractive but imposing
Desert mosque
Desert mosque		 Sky Towers
Sky Towers		 Lines and curves
Lines and curves		 Hidden away
Hidden away
Last chance
Last chance		 Straight arrow
Straight arrow
Jimmy the Pea 07-Jan-2017 16:56
Ah, yes! Another example of using oil money to purchase the appearance of civilization. Wonderful.
Marwan Habib06-Jan-2017 19:34
I love all this creazy architecture. Nice photo to depict it.
Jean D20-Nov-2016 01:15
A collection of very interesting architecture which you captured well.
Being Me20-Sep-2016 01:27
What an awesome gallery! V
Tom LeRoy04-May-2016 08:05
Probably one of the best galleries of this type. A superb collection and top notch images. V
Sandy Rich28-Apr-2016 03:33
Some amazing, creative architecture.
Sam Rua18-Apr-2016 00:59
Super gallery of some bold and forward-thinking architecture.
joseantonio17-Apr-2016 17:38
You have found a lot of lovely material for this gallery.V
Michael Tauber16-Apr-2016 12:28
Great photographic tour.
Lance B04-Mar-2016 23:41
Amazing buildings, excellent gallery!
Joe Bonello02-Feb-2016 10:57
Beautiful gallery!
Karen Moen01-Feb-2016 22:33
This looks like a wonderland for creative architects! All those engineering students are allowed to let their imaginations run wild!! Strange for a country that is so mired in the past . Voted for your excellent compositions.
Regine L.01-Feb-2016 04:24
S.A. appears to be a country with hardly any historic architecture. The new construction is beyond modern. In old European towns the church steeples used to be the highest points. Here the skyscrapers are obscuring the minarets. I am very happy with Helen's galleries and glimpses in the cultural life of this country. VVV
KAI-WING LEUNG30-Jan-2016 06:41
Excellent presentation of architecture in the desert! V
Patricia Kay26-Jan-2016 13:38
Wonderful gallery Helen...such amazing buildings....BV
Yohanan David26-Jan-2016 06:16
This excellent gallery shows the very creative modern architecture of this interesting city. Thank you for showing! V
barbarajoy25-Jan-2016 20:25
Looking back at your excellent work, Helen. What a wonderful documentary of life there through brilliant photography and informative captions! So good! V
frank_111211-Jan-2016 07:34
GREAT GALLERY!!
janescottcumming08-Jan-2016 20:18
I can't believe I haven't commented on this gallery yet. I came here thinking this was going to be my second comment here. Anyway, it a fine gallery! You have done a wonderful job showing us the uniqueness of this city.
Theo Bögels07-Jan-2016 07:39
A very interesting gallery, well shot! V
Alexander Kazakov03-Jan-2016 14:11
Excellent collection! V
Claude Gagnon29-Dec-2015 13:43
Bravo Helen for this gallery showing all these amazing buildings :)) V
Zoltán Balogh26-Dec-2015 08:05
This is a marvellous gallery here Helen! Diverse and really intriguing! V
Pierre25-Dec-2015 20:36
Une très belle galerie révélant les multiples architectures de ces édifices variés! BV
Gervan19-Dec-2015 17:08
What a marvellous archi gallery!. V.
marie-jose wolff18-Dec-2015 11:48
Thank you, Helen, for showing us this exceptional modern architecture of Saudi Arabia, a very traditionalist country! V
Raymond Ma15-Dec-2015 04:43
A fascinating set Helen. Amazing state of the art modern architecture arising
from some of the most inhospitable places on earth! ~V~
Carl H. Johnson09-Dec-2015 11:22
Such an amazing gallery!!!~V~
Adnan Masood09-Dec-2015 10:39
Hi Helen,
This is impressive collection of Riyadh building :).
carabias08-Dec-2015 18:20
Very excellent photography of modern architecture. Unique, beautiful and amazing collection, Helen! BV
victorswan06-Dec-2015 12:09
Very nice Gallery with lovely architectural images Helen Well done BV
The Ellisons03-Dec-2015 20:51
The architecture seems so much more modern than one would expect, great collection!
Richard Calmes03-Dec-2015 17:00
You have some excellent architectural images here! V
danad02-Dec-2015 17:22
A very fine series on these innovative architectures. V.
hamery01-Dec-2015 20:45
Beautiful images ; It must be great fun in Saudi Arabia if u are into capturing architecture ! V
Richard Chu01-Dec-2015 17:31
Thanks Helen for showing us the wonderful pictures of Riyadh. Amazing architecture beautifully captured. V
Roland29-Nov-2015 16:15
An architectural dream land you present Helen. Thank you very much for your wonderful quality of any image. BV
Chris Gibbins29-Nov-2015 13:03
Wow, this must be architectural paradise, such a plethora of fascinating structures. V.
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)26-Nov-2015 06:21
Wonderful work Helen,great imageg here! Vote
Paolo
Gerard Koehl24-Nov-2015 18:29
Cette série avec ces belles architectures est vraiment très réussie. V
Jeff Real24-Nov-2015 00:33
This gallery is really super, Helen ~V~
Stephanie21-Nov-2015 18:50
Riyadh is filled with some of the most interesting architecture! Wonderful lighting and compositions in every image! VVV
Patrick Goossens21-Nov-2015 18:06
Another great gallery about the remarkable architecture of Riyadh.
John Hamers21-Nov-2015 13:26
Great collection of beautiful images of amazing architectural styles. V
gerard belbeoch21-Nov-2015 11:53
tres jolis batiments architecturaux
Nirvan Hope21-Nov-2015 02:57
I'm sure the architects of these buildings would be delighted with how well you show them off in your photos! I also wonder who the architects are who come up with such futuristic designs.
Dave Petersen Photography18-Nov-2015 22:34
These structures are so modern, creative and impressive. This is a really nice start on this gallery. I feel like I am on a guided tour being able to view these beautiful buildings so masterfully captured in your images. Voted++
William Barletta18-Nov-2015 19:16
Great start for the gallery. Plus you are saving money by not shopping ~V~
Hennie & Lies Lammers18-Nov-2015 10:18
Beautiful pictures of these modern buildings Helen
click on thumbnails for full image