Page 15 - U4SSC Factsheet, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 2020

City Profile: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3

City Profile

Inhabitants 6 506 700 City GDP USD 144 537 324 484.59
Area 3 115 km 2 Household Income USD 23 772
Households 1 116 339 Inflation Rate 4 %

Riyadh is the most populous city in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the country’s capital. It formed
from a small, fortified village in the 17th century on desert lands that had long served as a centre for
trading caravans traversing various parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Today, the City of Riyadh comprises several branch municipalities. It houses more than 4 000 mosques,
several modern shopping centres and traditional ‘souks’ (marketplaces). Large-scale construction
projects in Riyadh during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century have created a
vibrant, modern and busy metropolis. This includes the extensive Diplomatic Quarter where embassies
and the offices of international organizations are located, and the redeveloped Qaṣr Al-Ḥukm (Justice
Palace) district that houses most of the central shops. Other important construction or revitalization
projects in the last few decades include the Government Centre, King Saʿūd University, the Islamic
University of Imam Muḥammad ibn Saʿūd, and the King ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Historical Centre.

Several ‘industrial cities’ have also been developed that serve as centres for various businesses and
industries. Various banks are also headquartered in the city, including Saudi Arabia’s central bank.
Almost one-third of Saudi Arabia’s factories are located in Riyadh, producing a range of products
including machinery, equipment, metallurgical goods, chemicals, construction materials, food, textiles,
furniture, and numerous publications.

The U4SSC KPIs for SSC project comes at a timely moment for Riyadh. The city underwent sweeping
redevelopment and modernization in 2007, which saw the implementation of nearly 2 000 new projects
to improve the city’s financial, medical, educational, telecommunications and utilities infrastructures.
Therefore, the city is well-positioned to align its further development with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) through becoming a smart sustainable city (SSC).

The first year of Riyadh's U4SSC KPIs for SSC project has concluded successfully with the active support
of ITU.

U4SSC Factsheet | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | June 2020 9