Riyadh and Jeddah
7 Then and Now
The old, oasis town of Riyadh was an area of about one square
kilometer, with a population of about 14,000. There were many
mud-brick houses, mosques, and other buildings inside the walls of
the city.
Today, most of the buildings and walls of the old city are in ruins.
But the Al-Masmak fort and some parts of the walls were restored
and are in better condition.
Nowadays, Riyadh is home to a population of almost 5.5 million
people and covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometers.
Modern building complexes and skyscrapers like the Kingdom
Center, the Al-Faisaliya Center, and the Riyadh TV Tower are now
attractions of the new city
Balad, the old part of Jeddah,
was a group of three- to fi vestory
buildings, with beautiful
wooden balconies. The roads
were narrow to protect
pedestrians from the sun during
the hot months and off ered
shelter from strong winds. All
the woodwork was beautifully
carved and decorated.
There were plazas and souqs,
where vendors from diff erent
places showed their products.
Present day Jeddah is an
attractive, modern port city with
tall buildings, beautiful homes,
and a wide range of stores and
hotels.
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