Al-Dirah (Arabic: الديرة, romanized: al deira, lit. 'the abode'), pronounced as ad-Dirah and alternatively transliterated as Dheera, Deirah,[1] Deerah or Deera, is a neighborhood in southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located south of al-Futah and west of Margab in the sub-municipality of al-Batʼha.[2] Forming the kernel of the old city region, the northern part makes up the ruins of the extinct settlement of Duhairah meanwhile the remainder consists most of the Qasr al-Hukm District. It lies in the geographic center of the city's downtown neighborhoods, whereby its eastern strip partially forms part of the al-Batʼha commercial area.
ad-Dirah
حي الديرة | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Masmak Fort, 2014 | |
| Country |  Saudi Arabia |
| City | Riyadh |
| Region | Old Riyadh |
| Government | |
| • Body | Baladiyah al-Batha |
| Language | |
| • Official | Arabic |
Named after Deirah markets,[3] it is today a popular tourist attraction as it hosts several historical and traditional landmarks, such as the Justice Palace (Qasr al-Hukm),[4][5] al-Masmak Fort,[6][7] and Deera Square. The origins of the neighborhood can be traced back to 1737 when Deham bin Dawas al-Shalaan took over Riyadh.
In popular culture
edit- Baby (2015), a fictional city in Saudi Arabia named Al Dera that hosts the Chop Chop Square.
References
edit- ^ Morgan, Francis. Vacation Goose Travel Guide Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Soffer Publishing.
- ^ "الإدارة العامة للنظافة". archive.is. 2015-04-19. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
- ^ "سوق الديرة القديم". www.alriyadh.com (in Arabic). 13 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "A rare look inside the enormous 'Qasr Al Hukm' in Saudi Arabia". Al Arabiya English. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
- ^ "القصور الملكية تحكي تاريخ العهود السعودية في رحلة البناء والتطوير". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
- ^ "Tourists throng urban heritage sites". Arab News. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
- ^ "Riyadh city a jewel in the desert". Arab News. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-15.