Which capital city's name means 'gardens' in Arabic?

Riyadh is the capital city whose name means “gardens” in Arabic.

The name refers to the oasis settlements that existed before the modern city was consolidated. Riyadh is the plural of an Arabic word associated with gardens or meadows, an evocative name for a place that once stood out as a green, watered area amid the surrounding Najd desert.

The site was previously associated with Hajr and later divided into several settlements, including Migrin and Mi'kal. In the 18th century, these oasis communities were brought together behind a defensive wall, helping form the city recognized today.

Riyadh became the capital of Saudi Arabia in 1932, when the modern kingdom was established. A common mix-up is assuming the name describes Riyadh's present-day climate; it is a historical reference to the area's former gardens and water-fed greenery, not a claim that the city is naturally lush today.