The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) (Arabic: حي السفارات, romanized: Hayy as-Safarat, lit. 'embassies neighborhood'), also known by its Arabic name as-Safarat, is a diplomatic enclave and an affluent residential district in northwestern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in close proximity to Irqah. Spanned across 800 hectares, it hosts most of the foreign embassies and some of the government departments in the city besides being a popular tourist attraction.[1] Until November 2018, it was administered by the Irqah Sub-Municipality before the district's responsibility was placed under the newly created Diplomatic Quarter General Authority.[2]
Diplomatic Quarter
حي السفارات | |
|---|---|
 A view of Riyadh from the Diplomatic Quarter | |
  Diplomatic Quarter | |
| Coordinates: 24°40′52″N 46°37′22″E / 24.68111°N 46.62278°ECoordinates: 24°40′52″N 46°37′22″E / 24.68111°N 46.62278°E | |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| City | Riyadh |
| Established | November 25, 1975 |
| Founded by | Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz |
| Government | |
| • Body | Royal Commission for Riyadh City |
| Language | |
| • Official | Arabic |
| PIN | 12511-4 |
HistoryEdit
The Diplomatic Quarter was established on November 25, 1975, through a Council of Ministers resolution during the reign of King Khalid upon the relocation of the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Jeddah to Riyadh. It was the brainchild of Riyadh's then governor Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.[3] On 27 November 2018, a royal decree issued by King Salman instructed the creation of the Diplomatic Quarter Authority[4] which would be independent of Riyadh Municipality's Irqah Sub-Municipality and would be responsible for the administration of the district. In February 2021, the authority was abolished and its administration was transferred to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.[5]
LandmarksEdit
- Tuwaiq Palace[6]
- Oud Square
SchoolsEdit
- King Faisal School
- British International School, DQ campus
ParksEdit
- Al Khuzama Park (The Groves)
- Richard Bodeker Park
- Yamama Park
- Rock Park
HotelsEdit
- Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter
- Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence
MarketplacesEdit
- Al-Kindi Plaza
- Tamimi Markets DQ branch
- Al Fazari Plaza
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter: Where peace reigns". Arab News. 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "السعودية.. ماذا يعني فصل حي السفارات عن مدينة الرياض؟ (فيديو وصور) | إرم نيوز". web.archive.org. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ ""حي السفارات".. تحفة معمارية من صناعة الأمير سلمان". جريدة المدينة (in Arabic). 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "تحويل إدارة حي السفارات إلى هيئة عامة باسم "هيئة حي السفارات"". www.alriyadh.com. 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ^ "إلغاء هيئة حي السفارات وترتيباتها التنظيمية | جريدة أم القرى" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "Saudi Ministry of Culture releases mini-documentary on Tuwaiq Palace". Arab News. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2022-07-06.