Riyadh is the capital city and seat of government of Saudi Arabia.
The city lies in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a broad plateau. Its name comes from the Arabic word for gardens, reflecting the area’s historic oases and fertile patches. Riyadh became especially important after the Al Saud family captured it in 1902, an event that helped launch the modern Saudi state.
Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s political and administrative center, while Jeddah is the country’s major Red Sea port and a key commercial city. Mecca and Medina are Islam’s holiest cities, but neither is the national capital. The modern capital includes government ministries, diplomatic missions, universities, and the King Khalid International Airport.