Riyadh must-dos?
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Riyadh must-dos?
At the risk of an unusual question, I will be in Riyadh for the first time two weeks from now, staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in the center. I have read various websites with advice, but just have to ask this community whether there is anything that is both safe to do and should be done/visited in the city itself. Also visiting Muscat that week, also for two nights. Advice for that appreciated too.
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Momo
I'm tempted to say the best thing to do in Riyadh is go back to the airport and leave, but that would not be entirely fair.
I have stayed at this property and it is a decent enough place (the Radisson was fully booked, so I took this as an alternative), located at the end of Olaya Street.
Normally it is quite safe to walk up Olaya St to the Al Faisaliah mall (about 10-15 mins, take care as you have to cross the main drag.)
You can pass by the computer market and buy any pirate software CD for 10SAR (about 2.65CHF) or just have a browse around - sometimes you can get a decent deal on equipment, but haggle ;-)
The Faisaliah mall has a foodcourt upstairs, with some decent fast food options (Aladdin, if you like Indian, is good IMHO and inexpensive.)
Other things to do, take a taxi to the Kingdom Centre and pay to go up to the top, viewing Riyadh from high is interesting; they also have a mall underneath.
If you like Japanese, the Shogun restaurant at the Radisson is excellent, if a little costly.
Of course, do check with reception as to whether it is okay to walk about; Riyadh is normally safe, but with the current unrest in North Africa and Bahrain, things could change quickly.
Despite the bad press that the Saudis get in the west, I've found most people in this part of Riyadh (which is upmarket) to be polite and courteous to foreigners and your encounters in malls etc will be mainly with asians (Pakistanis and Philipinos) who are also generally pleasant.
Enjoy the trip.
A small tip, the only transportation from the airport to the hotel will be by taxi and the airport taxi drivers can be a little difficult, so if you have to get a taxi there, try to choose a pakistani driver.
But preferably pre-order a transfer through your hotel. Expect to pay around 120SAR, but you should be in a Toyota Camry or similar, with comfort and air con.
I'm tempted to say the best thing to do in Riyadh is go back to the airport and leave, but that would not be entirely fair.
I have stayed at this property and it is a decent enough place (the Radisson was fully booked, so I took this as an alternative), located at the end of Olaya Street.
Normally it is quite safe to walk up Olaya St to the Al Faisaliah mall (about 10-15 mins, take care as you have to cross the main drag.)
You can pass by the computer market and buy any pirate software CD for 10SAR (about 2.65CHF) or just have a browse around - sometimes you can get a decent deal on equipment, but haggle ;-)
The Faisaliah mall has a foodcourt upstairs, with some decent fast food options (Aladdin, if you like Indian, is good IMHO and inexpensive.)
Other things to do, take a taxi to the Kingdom Centre and pay to go up to the top, viewing Riyadh from high is interesting; they also have a mall underneath.
If you like Japanese, the Shogun restaurant at the Radisson is excellent, if a little costly.
Of course, do check with reception as to whether it is okay to walk about; Riyadh is normally safe, but with the current unrest in North Africa and Bahrain, things could change quickly.
Despite the bad press that the Saudis get in the west, I've found most people in this part of Riyadh (which is upmarket) to be polite and courteous to foreigners and your encounters in malls etc will be mainly with asians (Pakistanis and Philipinos) who are also generally pleasant.
Enjoy the trip.
A small tip, the only transportation from the airport to the hotel will be by taxi and the airport taxi drivers can be a little difficult, so if you have to get a taxi there, try to choose a pakistani driver.
But preferably pre-order a transfer through your hotel. Expect to pay around 120SAR, but you should be in a Toyota Camry or similar, with comfort and air con.
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Don't under any circumstances take a yellow taxi - they are largely unlicensed and uninsured. Get the hotel to book your taxis and this will get round the problem.
If possible, try to visit the main souk downtown, near the meat market and what is known locally as "Chop Square" (or it used to be). There is a fine carpet souk here, together with other souks and it is a fascinating place to wander round.
If possible, try to visit the main souk downtown, near the meat market and what is known locally as "Chop Square" (or it used to be). There is a fine carpet souk here, together with other souks and it is a fascinating place to wander round.
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Al Faisaliah
Leaving for there tomorrow. Have now changed from the Hilton to the Al Faisaliah. Any final advice welcome. I operate under the assumption that meeting ministers and business people requires suit, white shirt and tie.
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Most definitely formal business attire. My partner and I do frequent business in the ME at senior government minister and exec level and he wears dark pinstripe suit, white business shirt, tie, cufflinks and for me it is a conservative formal business suit or dress and jacket, stockings and court shoes.
Enjoy and all the best - we have always found it to be a hospitable place.
Enjoy and all the best - we have always found it to be a hospitable place.
Momo - from my days as an export manager, I was always of the opinion [and I stand to be corrected by those with more experience], that if in doubt, it is better to be 'over-dresed' than too casual.
Strangely enough, it is more difficult sometimes to decide the correct dress-code in the UK- eg ASDA went through a US 'dress-down' syndrome at one stage, and it was difficult to know if jeans or tie was the order of the day.
Towards the end of my days, I decided that I would take the middle road - jacket and tie, chinos/casual trousers - much easier for me and I offended no-one [I hope]
Sorry Mods - thread drift into fashonista territory.
Strangely enough, it is more difficult sometimes to decide the correct dress-code in the UK- eg ASDA went through a US 'dress-down' syndrome at one stage, and it was difficult to know if jeans or tie was the order of the day.
Towards the end of my days, I decided that I would take the middle road - jacket and tie, chinos/casual trousers - much easier for me and I offended no-one [I hope]
Sorry Mods - thread drift into fashonista territory.
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Great trip to the two countries...
The Al Faisaliah is a really good hotel, and our office is in the tower. Dinner in the Globe restaurant at the top of the tower with about 30 resellers. Customer meetings went very well. Our company has gone from employing five women in 2004 to about 30 now in Riyadh. They have the choice of working in a separate area, but most choose to work in the open plan area for at least part of the day. Some women do drive in the country, even if they are not allowed have a driving license. Travel agencies also give them international driving licenses when they are on vacation overseas.
Oman is clean, well-organized, and the locals are well-educated and want to work. We only have nine people there. The Grand Hyatt is a fabulous hotel on the beach.
The Al Faisaliah is a really good hotel, and our office is in the tower. Dinner in the Globe restaurant at the top of the tower with about 30 resellers. Customer meetings went very well. Our company has gone from employing five women in 2004 to about 30 now in Riyadh. They have the choice of working in a separate area, but most choose to work in the open plan area for at least part of the day. Some women do drive in the country, even if they are not allowed have a driving license. Travel agencies also give them international driving licenses when they are on vacation overseas.
Oman is clean, well-organized, and the locals are well-educated and want to work. We only have nine people there. The Grand Hyatt is a fabulous hotel on the beach.
