Old Riyadh

Old Riyadh (Arabic: الرياض القديمة, romanized: ar-Riyāḍ al-Qadīmah) is an umbrella term used for a loosely defined region that primarily lies in the southern portion of modern-day Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, encompassing neighborhoods and settlements that emerged from the ruins of Hajr al-Yamamah in late 16th century or existed during pre-Islamic era,[1][2] the erstwhile walled town (today Qasr Al Hukm District) enclosed within the defensive fortifications and its immediate vicinity prior to its demolition in the 1950s,[3] villages and former towns located along the outskirts of Riyadh (such as Irqah and Manfuhah) that got incorporated into the metropolis following multiple phases of expansion and modernization between the 1950s and 1970s.

To some extent, neighborhoods excluded during Riyadh's rapid urbanization during the same period are also categorized as part of old districts, with most of them situated in the modern downtown.

Consequently, Hajr underwent severe economic and political decline due to prolonged droughts while simultaneously being indulged in feudalistic conflicts with its neighbors such as Diriyah and Manfuhah.

[8] Following the death of Faisal, there was rivalry among his sons which situation was exploited by Muhammad bin Rashid who took most of Najd, signed a treaty with the Ottomans, and also captured Hasa in 1871.

[8] Internecine struggles between Turki's grandsons led to the fall of the Second Saudi State in 1891 at the hand of the rival Al Rashid clan, which ruled from the northern city of Ha'il.

[10] Abdul Rahman bin Faisal al-Saud had sought refuge among a tribal community on the outskirts of Najd and then went to Kuwait with his family and stayed in exile.

[11] The old city area in southern Riyadh today is characterized by its low-contour earth-structured derelict buildings inspired by the traditional Najdi architecture.

Some of the neighborhoods like Jabrah got inhabited by foreign workers after the influx of skilled labors into the country between the 1970s and 1980s in the aftermath of the 1973 oil embargo whereas some settlements such as Duhairah went extinct around the same period.

Some of the neighborhoods like Hillat al-Ahrar also hosted a large population of Afro-Arabs who were emancipated in 1962 following the nationwide abolition of slavery during the reign of King Saud.